Salesman: Sun July 18, 2010 Corrie Episode Review

Written by Peter Whalley, directed by Pip Short

Ryan runs into the Rovers to find Michelle to help him out with Sian, who’s doubled over in pain at the bus stop. Owen is at the bar, and overhears, saying he knows some first aid, so Liz ushers him out to help. Sian’s crying in pain and Owen takes Sian in his arms and heads towards his car to go to the hospital. They arrive at the hospital, and Sian is taken straight through. Michelle called the Websters to get Sian’s parents number to let them know what’s going on. Therefore, Kev arrived to pick up Sophie from her prom to take her to the hospital to see Sian. When Sophie and Kev arrive, they’re told by Ryan and Michelle that Sian’s got a burst appendix and she’s been taken to theatre. It’s good news for Sian, her appendix has been removed, and she’s in recovery. The doctor says it was all down to how fast they got her in there, all thanks to Ryan. Ryan and Michelle talk to Sian first, as there’s only two people allowed at once in her hospital room. Kev tells Sophie that it’s too bad that her big night was ruined. Sophie tells him she knew something would happen since it was too straight forward for them to go and have a good time together. Kevin is somewhat confused by this statement. Sophie goes to see Sian and to ask if she’s alright, and why she was with Ryan. When Sian falls asleep, Sophie kisses her and says she loves her.

Kirk has been having drinks with Izzy in the Rovers, who is happy her father isn’t there for the moment. Owen returns from the hospital, and Liz has a fresh drink waiting for him and a whole lot of cleavage and flirting. Izzy is still obsessed with her father taking over her life. Owen buys Izzy and Kirk a drink saying there’s something he needs to speak to her about. Owen wants Izzy to dissuade her fifteen year old sister, Katy, from going on booze and drug filled holiday. Izzy has to leave, since she thinks her father’s influence is too close for comfort.

It’s a cosy tea at the Windasses with Ches and Fiz over, sans John. The Windasses continue to go on about John and how good of a furniture salesman he is, and Ches is having a hard time keeping straight, for his disdain of John. Fiz manages to usher him out soon enough. After they leave Eddie figures that John and Fiz must have had a tiff over the fact that John hadn’t bought her as nice a new sofa as they have. They then begin to cuddle nauseatingly on the sofa and I turn my eyes.

Meanwhile, John is preparing himself for what may be the MOST awkward drink in recent Rovers history. Yes, this is the meeting where he’s invited Colin Fishwick to have a drink with he and Charlotte so that he can tell him that he’s stolen his identity. The sentence alone boggles the mind! Colin is quite jet-lagged, but that doesn't stop John from wanting to strike when the iron’s…er, hot. Colin tells John why he went to Canada to begin with, as though he cares or something. Colin says that he went to go see this woman, Vicky, but turns out she’s married to a guy who’s been serving three years and’ll be out in three weeks. Long irrelevant story short, Vicky left him and he’s lonely, so he’s back home – for keeps. John is quick to ask if he’ll be going back into teaching, and Colin says he most definitely won’t be. Colin asks what John’s been up to. What a loaded question. John wants Colin’s assurance that he won’t go to the coppers, and he gets it. Well, for now at least. Charlotte tries to get John to go out for a drink later, but he declines to go home. It seems that John knows he hasn’t seen or heard the last of Charlotte or Colin. Again, how does he sleep at night?

No prizes for guessing who ISN’T happy with Colin’s assurance. She figures it’s only a matter of time before Colin calls in this favour he’s done for John by not going to the police. Fiz tells John he’s not a fool, so asks why he’s acting like one. Oh, he’s a fool alright! She also knows that Colin could put John back in prison, and sooner or later he will. Is that foreshadowing at its best?

John and Charlotte plainly tell Colin that they’ve stolen his identity. So plainly as though they’ve decided to tell him that they borrowed his car while he was gone. Colin figures this is some kind of a joke and they’re putting him on. John tells Colin all about the school he’s teaching at and how they think that he’s him. John even brings his pay stub to show Colin to prove it. Colin doesn’t know what to say. John assures Colin that none of this was done to harm him, or even deceive him. John says that Colin can do whatever he’d like, and if he' does him in that he’ll be straight back inside. Colin says he doesn’t want that, but he’ll need time to think about it. Charlotte asks everyone if they’d like another round. Seriously? You’re going to have another drink sitting there in that awkward air? Colin looks like he’s about to be sick.

Lloyd’s still driving Cheryl to all her new lap-dancing job interviews. She feels that Lloyd judges her for lap dancing, and well, he does. It looks like Cheryl’s gotten the lap dancing job, much to Lloyd’s disapproval. She says she’s sorry for not being what he wants her to be. Oh, she’s pretty close I’d say.

HIGHLIGHTS
- I’ve never seen someone so stunned as Colin when he’d been told that his identity had been “borrowed.”
- Chesney poking fun at John for being, well, insane at this point.
- When Colin asks how he’d gotten forged documents, Charlotte offers that “John is very big in the Manchester underworld.” Pffft.

LOWLIGHTS
- How it looked as though Kirk was buying Izzy a pint, then she asks for her change as he’d pocketed it! Oh, that Kirk.
- Kevin asks Sophie if she’d like to go home to change first before seeing Sian in the hospital. Oh yeah, because that’s a priority when someone’s in hospital. Your outfit.
- Why on earth did Charlotte need to be at the meeting between Colin and Stape? They could have done without her “an homage to you” tidbits!
- Izzy obsessed over her father “watching her.” Kirk points out all too rightly that Owen is talking to Liz, and that’s really his current interest at the moment.