Sewende Laan is the best. Most American soapies if not all, are about as exciting as watching onions pickle and probably take longer to get the point then onions take to pickle. Sewende laan has got pace, is natural and realistic but doesn't take itself too seriously and they don't stare (in SA we know its rude to stare)- above all else its wholesome even educational- there's no almighty villain or saintly lead characters everybody has a 'bad day' now and then. plots don't revolve around sex and swinging- cause there's no sex! or anything immoral for that matter.
Sure its simple and sketch-like sometimes but its always sensible escapism-thats its appeal, its like theatre TV. interestingly however there are always multiple plots and the characters are truly diverse unlike the stereotyped grouping that occurs in US soaps.- I never ever thought i'd watch soapies but believe me, one or two episodes and you're hooked. ...oh and if somebody dies or leaves sewende laan, that character is out and a new different character is introduced, they don't get resurrected as somebody else playing their part- how innovative is that!!!