I wonder, would people pick over an episode of East Enders in such a way?

I'm sure some people would! Some people just like picking over minutiae. I don't think it means those people don't have the gut response going on as well.

My comment wasn't about the fictional (mythical?) story of Musgrave and Lady Barnard - which is pretty powerful & direct in whatever version - but about the (minor) changes that are introduced by differences between one version and another. In Nic Jones's version Musgrave doesn't get a blow in against Barnard before he's killed, and Barnard doesn't regret killing him; it goes to make Musgrave that much more helpless, & Barnard that much more monstrous, than in versions where Musgrave puts up some resistance & Barnard mourns for him.