I admit, he's always been a bit... well, hard to take. Jimmi Harkishin's always made, let's say, interesting acting choices. Dev is a riot of harumphs, eye rolling, and squeals, meaning you're never quite sure how he's going to react in any given situation. He could explode with rage or do a whinnying horse impression; we just don't know. Dev's provided some great comedy over the years, with his combative relationship with Steve, his womanising (this is the man who bedded both Dierdre and Tracy, never forget!) and, of course, a certain thirty foot high nude photo.
Some people hate him. I've always found him strangely hilarious, perched on his stool in the corner shop, giggling at the people who come in. He's also a genuine Alpha male, one of the few left on the Street after the death of Mike Baldwin and the Connor brothers. Since Sunita's return, however, the character's lost a lot of his appeal. He's ceased to be who he once was.
Part of this is down to the loss of Amber, who was always willing to prick his pomposity and superiority complex with her razor sharp tongue. His exasperation as she casually ran rings around him was always a joy, and she's seriously missed on the Street.
We've also been asked to accept too many unlikely circumstances in too short a time. Firstly, Dev's new found paternal instincts toward the twins, who haven't even been seen or even mentioned over the past five years. Then he and Sunita reconciled, with her swiftly dumping a fiance and apparently choosing to ignore his many other unmentioned children, even though this was what drove them apart in the first place. Finally, the two of them move out of Sunita's massive home in the suburbs to the tiny two-up, two-down that is number seven.
All of this was hard to swallow, and clearly there just to enable the return of Shobna Gulati. I like Sunita, but I think these developments have damaged Dev, possibly beyond repair. He's been weakened by being dragged into these plots, and he's lost a lot of his appeal along the way. Dev no longer rules the roost: Sunita controls him completely, and it's strange to watch. The women in Corrie have always been the dominant force, but some men need to retain their hairy chest and double whiskey attitudes: would Mike Baldwin have given up his penthouse flat in Weatherfield Quays as quickly as Dev sacrificed Victoria Court?
The situation's compounded with the current Aadi storyline, which again has nothing to do with the Alahans, and everything to do with writing out the Peacocks. It's required Dev to be brutal and unpleasant to people he's lived alongside and trusted for years, and it's not working. He's lost most of his humour. Dev needs to be back to his strange, unusual, unique self before he's damaged goods.
What do you think? Do you think Dev can be redeemed, or should he be under a tram come December?
11 comments:
I agree with this, I actually really liked Dev last year, but the return of Sunita has made him annoying, the little family he had last year was great
I think he can and I hope he is! and yes, bring back Amber!
BRING BACK AMBER! I said at the time that it was a mistake to let this wonderful character go! She may not have had so many scenes but I rather enjoyed her scenes with Dev and the rest of the Cobbles characters as well as with Minnie...
The more i think of it , the more i can see he could be one of the Tram victims. That would leave Sunita as a single mum in a small house, just the right size for her and the kiddies. Or she'll bugger off back to the big house (which we haven't heard about so don't even know if it sold or is being rented)
I agree. They spoiled Dev by bringing back Sunita. I miss Amber and Darryl.
Oh PLEASE let the Tram have Dev's name on it. The most unpleasant, unrealistic, badly acted character in the whole show. Personally, I would like to see Sunita stay, as without being saddled with Dev, she could be a good character.
Let him go please and bring back Amber and Darryl.
Div is long past his sell by and Jimmi must be a friend of the producers for them not to see what is staring them straight in the face - an excellent character when first brought it that has aged and palled and the acting is embarrasing to watch, funny noises and arm waving is not acting. The acting by most on the street is first class and Dev is dragging the street down by making it a laughing stock and not in a good way. The tram PLEASE, we need a new fresh family in the corner shop. I cannot understand why Sunita was brought back either, just because the actress obvoiusly couldnt get any other work.
I have to say that was a very well written post, Merseytart! You managed to sum up the "Dev problem" in a way that isn't vindictive, but oh so true. I have some hope that Sunita could prove to be one of the regulars again, but it would have to mean Dev goes. I loved the actress in Dinnerladies! It would have to mean some really good storylines for her though, not just someone to warm up Dev's bench in the corner shop.
idont like dev never have cant stand the character or jimmis acting-i do hope hes under that tram when it crashe
i feel he overacts all the time
Tram please, and then bring back Amber.
Just wanted to comment on Karl Swedehead's remark: "I cannot understand why Sunita was brought back either, just because the actress obvoiusly couldnt get any other work." For the record, Shobna Gulati left a national theatre tour of 'dinnerladies' to return to the Street. Please don't assume that because an actor isn't on tv every five minutes that they aren't getting any work. Treading the boards is still a major part of most actors' professional lives.
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