Dead as a Doorbell: Mon Oct 5, 2009 Corrie Episode Review

Written by Mark Wadlow, directed by Pip Short.

Tyrone is excited about getting his games room. Molly and Kev are far more excited about spending their weekend together on the ruse that they'll be on a 10k run in Glasgow. Only for Sophie to point out that the 10k in Glasgow is called the '10k Glasgay run' and is for homosexual rights, to which Kevin replied that he was very open-minded. That's not all he's open to. Molly and Kevin spend a sickeningly romantic weekend together in a posh hotel in Chester where they both agree that even though they are in love with one another, neither of them will leave their significant other. Well, duh.

Little Simon has a recorder recital and the entire Barlow clan is very excited about it. This will be the first time that Peter has attended Simon's school for a function since the alcoholic incident last Christmas. Well, Leanne's having troubles at her new job and had to miss the recital as a result. Peter tells her that he really needed her there. He tells her that he got back with her, not for her to be a mother to Simon, but more or less to mother him as well. Men.

Claire's got Ashley beggin' for it (literally) and won't give him any in the bedroom until he's had the vasectomy. Claire's using abstinence as a precaution (and punishment). Isn't celibacy more painful than a vasectomy Ashley? Ashley's in a rage and Graeme tries his best to calm his mate's nerves. Including caressing his head telling him he'll be okay. Well, Ashley gives in and tells Claire that he'll have the vasectomy after all. Finally!

Graeme's still on a mission to cure what ails Ashley and on his agenda is the door dinger of Umed's. Graeme comes up to Dev's in his rickshaw under the alias of being a window-washer and offers to do their window for free. Well, in his cleaning efforts, he "accidentally" breaks the dinger. Umed is upset, but Dev pays him for a job well done. Thanks Graeme!

Now the big talk of the episode was the round-robin letter that all residents of Coronation Street got from John Stape. Stape wrote to every resident in hopes that he could soften them before he moves back to the street. Well, Sally's not having any of this and decides to hold a Stop-Stape meeting in the Rovers. This doesn't really go over well, since well, as Norris put it best, no one has any pity for the criminal or the victim. Plainly put, outside of the Websters, and possibly Dev, no one really gives two figs about Rosie Webster OR John Stape. Fiz gives Sally's speech a run for it's money and gets an applause from the community. It seems that we'll be seeing Stape traipse around on the cobbles yet again. Until the next drama, that is.

HIGHLIGHTS:
- Dev referring to John Stape as a "pompous nutcase." If that's not the kettle calling the pot black!
- Fiz asking Chesney if he's still staying at "Hotel Windass." I wonder if they offer a continental breakfast?
- Roy, in reference to John Stape, reckoning that John should be able to "take his place in the community - the mark of a civilised society!" Pffft. Where does Roy think he lives? Is he new here?
- Graeme's sneaky removal of the dinger at Dev's. Graeme is just coming more and more into my favour each day!
- Umed trying to blow-dry his dinger back to health. Good luck!
- The general symposium nature of this whole episode. It's not often we see this community discussing issues that affect them all. Well, not in this manner at least!
- Fiz's winning speech over Sally's at the Stop-Stape meeting. Stand by your man, woman!

LOWLIGHTS:
- Ashley going nutters after not getting any from Claire. Honestly! He needed to get that operation done a LONG time ago.
- Kevin trying to make Sally feel guilty for not letting him go on the 10k Glasgay run. If I were her, and found out about all this tomfoolery later, I'd never let him back.
- At the Stop-Stape meeting, Rosie acting as Sally's "Vanna White" as Sally was delivering her speech. That girl is nauseatingly vain.
- Roy referring to Sally's speech as something he'd hear at a Klu Klux Klan meeting. Erm, hardly! Roy should check his facts. A mother speaking out against a convicted felon who kidnapped her daughter and an extremely cruel and racial faction are not synonymous. That comment alone is going to make me take whatever Roy Cropper says in the future with a grain of salt.

For those who enjoy the scenic route, check out the full review scene-by-scene here.