Coronation Street double episode review, Friday 11 December 2015

There’s another visit to Rob on the cards for Tracy, but in the meantime, Johnny attends for his. It transpires that Rob has seen a photo of him in the paper connecting him with Underworld, and this, combined with a memory of his drunken mother telling him about a one night stand she had with Johnny in his Vauxhall Cavalier, is enough for Rob to presume Carla is his daughter. Johnny’s reaction is all that remains to convince him that it’s true. Johnny’s weak deflections are not enough to dissuade Rob, and £10,000 is the price to keep him quiet. While Johnny seemed ruffled, his departure was somewhat triumphant, revealing that Tracy is shacked up with someone else, and announcing that he’s off for a pint.

To me, this feels like a storyline that’s been wedged in, with explanations peppered about to justify it. Why haven't we seen so much as a glimmer of this possibility in any scenes between Johnny and Carla? Why did Rob never tell Carla about his mother's confession? Apparently because he never believed her. Why would Rob, who was so traumatised at the prospect of going to jail again and whose sole motivation for keeping his murder of Tina a secret was keeping out of prison, risk adding time to his sentence by engaging in further illegal activity? Who knows. What we do know, is that his deviousness arises from boredom. The insertion of a Bill Clinton-esque line from Rob, “Did or did you not have sexual relations with that woman?” seemed rather odd as he was referring to his own mother, and didn’t appear to be making a joke. I did enjoy what were strong scenes between Johnny and Rob, however, and it’s great to see the return of Marc Baylis.

Johnny later attends Nick and Carla's engagement party at the Bistro. After telling a concerned Carla that Rob merely wanted to know how things were going at Underworld, he looks wistfully on as she asks Roy to give her away. I found this to be a rather awkward scene. Roy saying it would be an honour was lovely, but Carla made some rather strange expressions in response. Considering their friendship, and Carla’s ever confident demeanour, I didn’t think her response to a question she had posed would cause her to feel so uncomfortable.

Elsewhere at the party we had ill-wishing Gail swilling the sauvignon, Sally discussing Tim’s toenails, and a frankly bizarre set of scenes involving Aidan’s missing silk seal-pup-like socks in which emergency phone calls to Spain, thievery and flirtatious sock related one-liners all played a part. In fact, I can’t decide which was the stranger; the socks, or Johnny buying a green shirt on the basis that he heard Liz liked Errol Flynn’s Robin Hood. In any event, she likes the shirt, and almost hears a confession from tipsy Johnny, but Carla interrupts and her parentage remains a secret for another day.

Ever the good friend, Roy is disappointed that Ken doesn’t make it to the ball. After Audrey deliberately gives Nessa the updo from hell, and Amy has a good laugh at her expense, Ken's lady friend swaps her party frock for Tracy’s dressing gown and a takeaway. He can’t say or do anything right, and judging by the disgruntled looks on his face throughout, he appears to be wondering if all this is worth the hassle. He still agrees to her staying a second night, which leaves me wondering, who’s looking after Alex?

Sadie Shimmin is doing a great job at portraying this playful, nosy, coy, yet strangely insecure character. Nessa has a presence about her, and I can see a role for her on the street, but not with Ken. At least the Renshaw twins thought her hair was "chic", and I would pay good money to see David Platt cutting their hair simultaneously.

Sarah Platt seems to be under an unwarranted amount of surveillance with Kylie now getting in on the act by reading her phone and searching her bag. I’m not sure what Kylie ran out of the pub for on finding an address for an abortion clinic in Sarah’s purse, as she didn’t urgently impart the news to anyone, and the next we saw of her she was calmly doing her make-up at the kitchen table. In any event, she squeezes an admission from Sarah and sympathises with her at the news that she has booked in for an abortion.

It’s a bit of a contradiction to find Rita joining in with Norris and mocking Mary and her “crackpot convention” while at the same time showing concern when she realises Brendan is married. While she is coming across as interfering, she seems to have Mary's best interests at heart, and one of my favourite scenes of the two episodes was when she revealed the news to Mary only to learn she is already fully aware.

Mary proceeds with their day out together, and as they talk of their mutual enjoyment of the convention, the pair kiss. There was a point some time back when Mary’s character took an unwelcome turn, but in these scenes, and over the past few weeks, she has been one of the highlights of every episode. From confessing that her favourite part of the convention was the moment when Brendan put his hand on her knee, to bashfully telling him “I’ll be thinking of you”, she was a joy throughout. I never would have had Mary down as a mistress and can see her character being vehemently against infidelity, but I feel the manner in which this has played out justifies a change of heart on this score. She is focussed on what she wants it to be rather than what it is. As Mary continues to reside in the afterglow of her magical day, Rita persists with home truths telling her Brendan doesn’t love her, and won’t leave his wife. “I can’t stand back and say nothing” she tells Mary who replies, “You can and you should" and accuses her of being sanctimonious and bitter. 

While I'm no fan of infidelity, you can't but feel sorry for her, as I do fear things will turn out as Rita predicts. Here's hoping the outcome is that it won't be long before Mary meets someone who deserves her, as being loved and in love certainly becomes her.

By Emma Hynes

www.emmahynes.wordpress.com

Twitter: @ELHynes

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Coronation Street double episode review, Friday 27 November 2015

Debts appear to be mounting for Tyrone, with Fiz none the wiser. Considering the manner in which she often treats him, I’m not surprised he’d try to deal with it privately, even though that probably isn’t the best idea. As the battle mounts between what he can afford, and what he wants to be able to, he buys an inflatable Santa for the front of the house, and makes Fiz believe it’s a gift.

The suggestion of help from Roy to inflate it is met with disdain from Tyrone and is followed by some deplorable treatment when they arrive home from the hospital to find it deflated. Sure, the money worries have him stressed, and he wants to give Hope a perfect Christmas, but none of this warranted his behaviour towards someone who has been consistently good to him and, as street residents go, is one of the very best. Nor was it typical of Tyrone, even in the worst of circumstances, to behave in such a fashion.

Cathy continues to be Roy’s champion, and not in the aggressive way some are on t’cobbles when it comes to defending their other halves. She is delicate and subtle, yet solid. Nor does she dismiss the offender, encouraging an awkward Tyrone to stay and chat with Roy over a brew. Her reaction is similar to Roy’s in that he forgives, and remains concerned about Tyrone despite his poor behaviour. Roy feels there might be more to the aggression than meets the eye, however, and guesses it might be money. Calling to their house, Roy tactfully and sensitively offers Tyrone financial assistance, but his pride won’t allow him to take it, and after Roy leaves hoping he hasn’t embarrassed him, Tyrone dials a loan company.

If you put his refusal to take help down to anything, it must be the manner in which he’s regularly emasculated by those around him, including his own partner. It follows that his inability to stand up to those he should sees him assert himself with one he shouldn’t. I feel the real Tyrone, finding himself in the circumstances he’s in, would swallow his pride, and take Roy's assistance; after all, the consequences for his family of not doing so are too great.

Things go from bad to worse for Steph as she begins receiving messages from friends who have seen the pictures Jamie disseminated online, and her parents find out. As she cries in the Bistro kitchen, Leanne shares her own stories of humiliation, offering words of encouragement about how she can deal with it.

Meanwhile Luke and Andy are roughing Jamie up at his local and revealing his true colours in front of a potential next victim who tips a pint over his head before storming out. As they leave, Steph, Leanne and the police conveniently converge, and Jamie is arrested.

While this was an interesting and important subject to tackle, I’ve not really enjoyed this storyline, namely because of the manner in which it has played out. From the start it has struck me as an issue seeking a plot.

In any event, I found it questionable that, following Jamie’s arrest and Andy’s suggestion of a weekend away, Steph would joke about going somewhere without internet access. I half expected to hear canned laughter followed by some comedy exit music and the credits rolling over a freeze frame. It would have been far better, and more realistic, to see Steph escorted away in tears as she prepares for a period ahead of coping and coming to terms with it all, but thankfully surrounded by those prepared to support her through it. Instead, I fear we will see her back to normal by Monday, breezing around the Bistro in the refreshing way she normally does. I do, however, look forward to many more stories involving the brilliant Steph.

I love how Jonathan Harvey writes for Mary, and she looked positively glowing as she enjoyed a drink with Brendan in the Rovers. She’s overjoyed to be asked to accompany him to a convention; that is until he rather slyly drops the bombshell that he’s married. Patti Clare’s performance was second to none as Mary’s heart broke in her eyes, and she fled to the bathroom. Her dignity in the face of being so cruelly deceived spoke volumes as to her character and showed Mary at her best.

It’s a shame that Norris and Rita have incessantly sneered at her new found joy, and in the aftermath of Brendan’s revelation, Dev proves himself to be a better friend than either of them. There was thankfully nothing patronising about the scene in which he respectfully offered her kindness and a shoulder to cry on if needed without embarrassing her by putting words on it.

I think I was as disappointed as Mary to learn Brendan was married; not so much because I thought they were well paired, but because I feel it high time that Mary had some joy and a storyline that brings out the best in her. I hope she’s whisked off her feet by someone better deserving as she picks herself up from this inexplicable disappointment.

Meanwhile Simon has been to counselling but Leanne tells Robert and Eva that he remained silent throughout. I do love Eva, but it’s as if her funny laugh and often inappropriately timed gags have become 'a thing' now, and I’d find it regrettable if she was to slide into the 'comedy Gail' category. She’s better than that; and so is Gail.

Over at the gym, Sharif still has reservations about Gary, but Zeedan encourages his grandfather to give him a chance, reminding him that it was Alya, not Gary, that compromised their relationship, and telling him that he no longer wants to work there himself. While Sharif accepts his grandson’s desire to move on, what really seems to resonate is Zeedan’s talk of Gary's connection to Kal through the army.

Bolstered by Gary’s discovery and eviction of a gym goer on steroids, and without taking any time to think about the situation, Sharif promptly offers him the job of manager, and Zeedan tosses his badge in his direction. Failing to think has Sharif in a situation where he has offered an irrevocable contract to someone he has doubts about, and so I thought he might at least sleep on this latest decision. In any event, I look forward to seeing what lies ahead for Zeedan as he departs the gym. I have high hopes for one that has fast become one of my favourite characters to watch.

By Emma Hynes

www.emmahynes.wordpress.com

Twitter: @ELHynes

Deirdre: A Life on Coronation Street - official ITV tribute to a soap icon. Available here.

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Coronation Street double episode review, Friday 4 September 2015

Simon continues to cause trouble for Leanne. This time, he’s sent home from school for getting in a fight. Leanne tries to assert her authority, but after blaming her for the jeers he received about his phone, and refusing to wash the dishes, he attacks her, leaving her bleeding and out cold after hitting her head on the table. Simon may have escaped the flat, but the running bath tells a tale by dripping through the kebab shop ceiling.

Comedy Dev is back, and after a rather peculiar conversation with Tim in which they appear to spend a tad too long imagining Leanne in the bath, it takes the arrival of Mary for decisive action to occur. Finding her on the floor, an ambulance is called by TV medi-drama expert Mary who nearly has to be admitted herself when the men in uniform arrive.

Simon watches from the shadows as Leanne emerges from the flat, but an oblivious Zeedan makes his presence very much known, and insists on accompanying her to hospital. After the concerned nurse leaves her with pamphlets on domestic abuse, Leanne confides in Zeedan that Simon is the cause. The actual confession isn’t depicted, we learn this in the aftermath, and while I usually balk when key moments aren’t depicted, it seemed fitting here as this isn’t a storyline that should be sensationalised. I was so relieved to hear her tell somebody, and Zeedan was a fitting confidante. I’ve long been celebrating his character development into a sensitive, intelligent, upstanding and respectful individual, and I continue to enjoy every scene he’s in. In what is a brilliant scene between the two, he tells her she shouldn’t have to put up with it, but Leanne swears him to secrecy and resigns herself to coping. This will be a challenge for Zeedan’s upstanding character and it will be interesting to see what he will do.

Heartbreaking scenes unfold as more learn the news of Hope’s illness, and while performed impeccably, and with sensitivity by all, I found myself a tad confused. Wednesday’s Corrie concluded with the doctor telling Fiz and Tyrone the tragic news that a cancer diagnosis was “very possible”. Thursday’s began with the same scene in which the doctor advised that “It could be [cancer], but we won’t know for certain until we have the results of the biopsy”. In a scene which reduced me to tears, Fiz then told Roy it wasn’t good, and they “think” she has cancer. However, in a later argument with Tyrone , Fiz declared “my daughter’s got cancer”. I wondered if I had missed something. Had the final diagnosis been given? My confusion continued in tonight’s double episode when she broke the news to Chesney, Sinead, Beth and Kirk, and nodded when Beth asked if the doctors were positive. As Aidan threatened to sack Fiz in the absence of a sick note, Tyrone intervened and shouted, “do you want to know why she’s been off? Because our daughter has got cancer.” Yet when Roy later sought certainty regarding the diagnosis, Fiz said they were “pretty sure”. This may seem like nit picking to some, but should there be such uncertainty?

Surely the news for Roy, the rest of the family and Aidan is that Hope has a tumour which needs to be tested and the results will confirm whether or not she has cancer. This ambiguity aside, Roy’s contribution has been beautifully heart rending as David Neilson unsurprisingly enriches every scene he’s in. I also enjoyed the scene between Cathy and Yasmeen as they discussed grief, and how to be there for Roy. Cathy proves she’s the perfect support and I’m delighted to see her character blossom after her liberation from the secrecy surrounding her hoarding habit. Indeed, there were strong performances from all concerned with a special mention for Shayne Ward who rose to the challenge with such sensitive material.

If I was a friend of Carla, with the best will in the world, my patience would be shredding at this point. Nick tells her he loves her and will help her despite her essentially stealing from him to gamble, but his reward is to be thrown out of her flat. Having heard about all of this from Nick, Michelle later calls over and orders her to call Steve’s therapist or they’re done. While this seems to jolt Carla out of her rut, she later tears up the business card while quaffing red wine and engaging in yet another spot of online gambling.

After Sally makes Tim believe their wedding will cost thousands, he panics and suggests they postpone it. A playful Sally reassures him that she was joking, and she’s happy to dispense with the frills in order to marry him. While this is endearing, it can’t possibly spell the end of snobby Sally, and I look forward to her quest for a classy do at bargain prices.

By Emma Hynes
www.emmahynes.wordpress.com
Twitter: @ELHynes

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Coronation Street double episode review, Friday 28 August 2015

Aidan: “It’ll take some getting used to working with a load of women. The banter’s different.”

Michelle: “Hm. It’s called intelligent conversation that babes.”

Steve: “Yeah, I often have chats about renaissance art with Beth Tinker.”

And so begins Friday’s double Corrie. Written by Chris Fewtrell, they continue in this vein, and are a treat for anyone who appreciates the joy of well woven storytelling and beautifully crafted dialogue.

“You are a prisoner of other people’s aesthetic prejudices” Mary informs Eileen, whose only experience of painting has involved a skirting board. Her pushy recruitment tactics nevertheless see the community centre filled with budding artists in anticipation of Cathy’s class. It’s always welcome to have a character representing the viewer, and Cathy’s reaction to both Mary and Yasmeen’s overbearing theatricality endears her even  more.

Tim’s playfulness, Craig’s artistic integrity and Roy’s assertion that “This is the land of Lowry” are small but wonderful details that add to the rich palette of the episode. All this provides the backdrop for Cathy regaining her lost confidence and faith in her abilities and crediting Roy with being the catalyst. In what is a touching scene between the pair, he tells her, “The worst has already happened to you and me, nothing that comes now will ever compare, so in a peculiar sort of way, that’s liberating.”

The class subject, a bunch of flowers, sees varied interpretations. Mary’s painting of the grim reaper “proferring a bunch of nettles” is glorious as she explains to a bewildered Cathy, “for me, cut flowers are synonymous with death and also betrayal. They’re a time honoured pathetic male gesture made in the wake of some act of infidelity, negligence or cruelty. The nettles therefore represent the hidden sting that lurks beneath every bouquet.” Magnificent.

As they depart, and Tim is reminded he was supposed to cut the grass for Sally, he asks Cathy’s permission to take the flowers with him; a marvellous validation of both Mary’s assertions and the intricacies of Chris Fewtrell’s fine storytelling. I was just as happy as Yasmeen to hear Cathy will be giving more classes.

Aidan is far from happy with Carla’s attitude towards the business. First, she refuses to attend another important meeting with him, and then he realises she’s lost another £500 to online gambling. They make up, but not without a firm telling off and a request that she allow those who care for her to help her. An increasingly burdened Tracy agrees, albeit reluctantly, to lend her support to Maddie’s charity night at the Bistro, and you'd wonder if her wish for Carla to move on from what was an accident speaks to her own desire to eradicate it from memory. Carla overhears and admits that she does blame herself for the deaths of Maddie and Kal, and always will.

Liz has spent the night with Lloyd, and her shifty behaviour leads Michelle to suspect that she’s hiding someone upstairs. Thinking it’s Tony, Steve calls Lloyd for back up only to hear his phone ringing as he sneaks down the stairs. The following scenes are comedy gold, and result in Steve giving the couple his reluctant, and comically unnecessary, blessing.

Unwilling Lloyd is cajoled by Steve into bringing her on a date, and despite confessing to Dev that he doesn’t want a relationship with Liz, both jaws hit the floor when she arrives out from behind the bar dressed to impress. However, as they are about to leave for the Bistro, Andrea arrives with a full on apology and the record she stole and sold. She begs him for another chance, but it’s too late for Lloyd who can’t trust her again. After he admits he slept with Liz, Andrea ends up crying in Eileen’s face on Maxine’s bench with zero regard for what she’s going through. Lovely.

Once Tony learns from Jason that Callum was responsible for his beating, he turns full alpha-male and returns the favour in the ginnel behind the Rovers. David Platt’s cheeky grin complete with protruding lollipop is hilarious. After a protracted tête-à-tête in which bloodied Callum wheezes and Tony exerts brute force, Liz interrupts, and convinces Tony that this isn’t the way. After Callum scuttles away shouting that Tony has made a big mistake, Liz counsels him. “You can still be a good father to him, but not like this” she says, but Tony is concerned that this is the only way he knows how and it’s all he can do for his son.

Todd is shocked to hear that Jason might need a kidney transplant and goes to the hospital to offer his. He cries tears of relief for his brother on learning that it won’t be needed, and he’ll make a full recovery. Eileen overhears, and asks him to stay, acknowledging that what he did took guts.

Todd is humble throughout, telling her “Some people don’t know me as well as they think they do, and some know me too well. I’m sorry about what I did. I know it makes no odds, I know you won’t believe me, but I am”. Eileen suggests that they try again and this reduces him to tears of gratitude. She hopes he doesn’t expect forgiveness, but he is nevertheless happy to be given this chance. For me, this absolutely has to constitute Todd’s final and complete redemption. If not, then we are left with a pantomime villain who does a disservice to the character’s potential. There is a role for him on the street as a good person who, at the very least, can enrich episodes with his wry slant on proceedings and witty asides.

Chris Fewtrell's double episode was a work of art in its own right and, as ever, I look forward to his next installment.

By Emma Hynes
www.emmahynes.wordpress.com
Twitter: @ELHynes

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Coronation Street double episode review, Friday 21 August 2015

Norris Cole is more likely to keep his nose out of a juicy indiscretion than I am to arrive at Saturday not having seen any episodes of Coronation Street in a given week. Nevertheless, today was one of those rarest of occasions where I watched all episodes (in this case six) in one go. So, without further ado, as I pack up my tent, and find myself reeling from Jason’s attack, I give you my review of Friday’s Corrie.

With Jason hospital ridden and in a coma, and both doctors and family fearing the worst, it is heartening, while rather sad, to see Eileen and Tony unite over their son in such dreadful circumstances. As if it wasn’t hard enough to learn of your brother’s assault from the police rather than your own mother, Todd arrives at the hospital in time to hear Eileen tell Tony that he used to be her favourite, and how she was blind to the fact that it was Jason who had been the better son all along. Bruno Langley’s tears in those moments are really effecting, and together with those of Sue Cleaver and Terence Maynard, proved the hallmark of the consistently quality performances we have come to expect from all three.

While Eileen reacts with relief and gratitude at the news that the swelling on Jason’s brain is going down, meaning he doesn’t require another operation, Tony is angry and frustrated that he can’t be woken up to reveal who attacked him. He shoulders guilt for not being there for his son as a child, and failing to protect him now. Hell bent on revenge, but with no means of exacting it, he broods over a whiskey at the Rovers; and nobody broods quite like Tony, do they.

Meanwhile Max is out of sorts having seen Jason's beating, but unwilling reveal why. He takes to throwing out everything Callum has given him, including the toy he sleeps with and his baseball cap. Kylie and David notice this and are further perplexed when Max sees him in the street and begs them to keep him away from him. Callum is as stunned as David and Kylie as to why this might be.

There is a lovely scene where, following a football game in the garden, David and Kylie try to get him to talk, even if it’s to no avail. Finally, on hearing about the seriousness of Jason’s injuries, Max asks Kylie if he’s going to die before confessing to seeing Callum kicking him. What a little actor Harry McDermott is. His scenes are performed with professionalism and imbued with experience beyond his years, and I really enjoy David, Kylie and Max as a unit.

The Grimshaw’s weren’t the only family to take a trip to hospital as Beth’s rash is of enough concern for hardened mountainy-man Dougie to suggest a visit. While there, Hope is also given a once over at the recommendation of the worried receptionist. Diagnosed with anaemia, Fiz and Tyrone are to take her to the GP when they get home.

This departure from camp allows Craig and Caitlin to bond further over their love of art. She reveals how her Dad wishes for her to go on to study something practical instead, and Craig insists she follow her heart. They enjoy a kiss, but it’s not long before Dougie catches them. His initial fury dissipates when his daughter reveals that he hasn’t been as fun to be around of late and he becomes regretful over the revelation. It was merely a little vignette, but added a nice dimension to the comedy driven ‘man’s man’ character executed with aplomb by Paddy McGuinness.

Love is in the air elsewhere at Victoria Court. There’s not a Christmas morning that could compare for Nick as he finally wakes up with Carla. He’s rather deflated, however, to learn that she still fully intends going away and sees himself and Erica continuing as they are despite the fact that he won’t have come home that night which surely won’t go down well. The second problem is promptly sorted when Erica breaks up with him, and Roy puts paid to the first problem by encouraging Carla to stick around.

There is of course the smalls matter of the sale of Underworld (typo entirely deliberate, apologies etc.) To Sally's and Alya’s offer is added a third courtesy of old friend Aidan Connor. Contacted by Michelle with Nick’s assistance, he arrives into the factory expressing an interest in buying a share. Gathering all three prospective owners in the Bistro, Carla announces her change of heart to varying reactions. Alya storms out, Aidan grins, and Sally admirably displays a rather hearty stoicism as she accepts both her fate, and her old job back. There could still be a deal in it for Aidan once he sees three years worth of books, and Nick is quickly forgiven for his well meaning meddling.

It proved a strong debut for Shayne Ward. As I’ve said before, I consider him well suited as a member of the Connor clan, and it looks as if we might now safely tick the final box on the strength of his promising performance tonight.

By Emma Hynes
Twitter: @ELHynes
www.emmahynes.wordpress.com

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