Stuffed Marrow: Sun July 4, 2010 Corrie Episode Review

Written by Jonathan Harvey, directed by Terry Dyddgen-Jones.

Tina’s still upset over the mean things that David said to her other night. I’m almost shocked that he managed to get to her this much, actually. I’m often shocked that David manages to get to anyone really though. Graeme tells her to ignore David that that he’s just weird. Uh, he’s a bit more than just weird! Tina wonders how many times she has to tell Graeme that she can’t stay at his uncle’s minging place anymore! Seriously Graeme, figure it out! Tina can’t do EVERYTHING. Oh, wait. Tina asks Graeme to stop being so nice to her in the next sentence, and looks for pity from everyone else. Tina suggests to Graeme that perhaps they just need to leave the street entirely. Graeme says that it’s not the street, that it’s *him* (David). No, it’s not just David, it’s the street – she should leave now, but don’t take Graeme!

At the Kabin later, Tina’s looking through the paper for a flat but finding that it’s more than she can afford. Has she ever paid rent? Rita offers the spare bedroom in her flat for Tina to use until she finds a place. Tina, of course accepts her next meal ticket. At Rita’s, Tina notices a framed picture of a young girl. Rita tells her it was Jenny (Jenny Bradley), another girl Rita was able to help. Tina asks where Jenny is now but Rita says it’s sad that she has no clue. After a drink with Rita in the sitting room, her and Graeme run into Tina’s new room all excitedly to unpack her “luggage.” Later, Graeme takes Tina on a romantic date and the two of them cycle off the street in the rickshaw. He in his only hoody left, and she in her top-knot, flowers from Dev’s and all.

Natasha’s over at Gail’s singing “Make You My Man” into her hairbrush with the stereo turned up to “loud and obnoxious.” Nick walks in to find her there and wonders why she’s there, and why she’s singing. He looks at her like she’s absolutely bonkers. Okay, I know he’s not in love with her, but does he even LIKE her? It seems Natasha still has a key to Gail’s and came to get some scrunchies she’d left behind. Nick doesn’t understand how that equates to her singing into her hairbrush at the top of her lungs. Neither do I. Nick is clearly disturbed with her throwing the “we” word around when talking about his business. What is with Natasha? Is she going to start living in a mobile home next?

The factory girls talk about Hayley’s wedding and what each of them would like in a wedding dress. Fiz wonders when Trev and Carla are coming back. Nick marches in in a rage barking at the girls to get back to work and for Kirk to do what he was put on this earth to do: pack boxes. Nick’s in a panic to get this Stokes order done. At factory-nouveau Janice is outside puffing a fag and tells Nick that insides it’s absolute bedlam! Nick isn’t looking forward to this and marches inside with scowl on his face especially when he sees the girls not working, but dancing salsa. They surprise him and tell him that the order’s done, much to Nick’s relief. Underworld: We can rebuild her.

Eileen (not Eilene) is noticing Lloyd’s dampened mood towards Cheryl and says she can send someone else, perhaps Fat Brenda, to go down and get her. Of course, Lloyd takes the fare anyhow since he can’t go on avoiding her – or his responsibilities at work! Lloyd goes to Cheryl’s club to wait for her and sees her coming out of the back arguing with her boss. It seems that her boss Mel doesn’t want her to work since she’s got a black eye. Lloyd assumes that Mel was the one who gave it to her since he “knows how these places work.” He gets ahead of himself and goes to attack Mel causing him to get bopped in the face by security who have thrown him out and Cheryl to lose her job. Cheryl’s not happy that she lost her job, but goes to fix up Lloyd’s face for him at his. There, she tells him that it wasn’t Mel who hit her, but her husband Chris. Cheryl tells Lloyd that her husband hit her after he found a text from Lloyd to her. Uh-oh.

It’s Deirdre’s candle-lit supper with guests of honour Audrey and Lewis tonight. Lewis is looking forward to it, but something tells me Audrey would rather have watch paint dry. Audrey points out that Deirdre is good company, but not Ken so much. Lewis cares not for Ken, but only for Deirdre as he fixes his coif in the salon mirror before meeting the pair at the Rovers.

Deirdre is going to outdo herself this evening by preparing a gourmet dish for her company: stuffed marrow. Ken thinks that that dish is a bit ambitious for the evening but Deirdre thinks it’s just right and that her Tracy loves it! What does Tracy have to do with any of it? She’s not going to have a piece. Deirdre’s listening to some motown and Ken suggests a more classical selection for dinner. Deirdre agrees so long as it isn’t anything too…weird. Ken figures that Lewis is a cultured man and he sees a lot of himself in him. Oh, just wait until he sees a lot of Lewis in….ahem. The two couples meet in the Rovers and Ken talks of how they’re going to turn Blanche’s room into a study.

Sean-y boy is back on the street and a new shade of crimson/tan. The other barmaids are excited to see him and want to see all his trip photos. Later, Michelle tells Sean about the speed dating night and how Ciaran got off with some trout and how she caught them snogging out the back. Michelle figures that Ciaran won’t be seeing trout-face again since the only one he’s in love with is himself. Sean is upset with all of Becky and Steve’s adoption-talk since he can’t even see his own little babbie. Can’t he get a paternity test, or go the legal route here? He must have some rights. I feel like he’s not going about this the right way. Why doesn’t he write Violet a letter or something?

HIGHLIGHTS:
- Lady Gaga has swept the street! We had Graeme “singing” Poker Face, Lloyd sitting in the lap dancing club listening to “Just Dance” and “Paparazzi” playing when Graeme goes to pick up Tina in his rickshaw for their special date.
- Eileen might not have a lot going on in her life, but her hair is looking really great lately!
- Lewis fixing his hair in the salon mirror before meeting Deirdre. He’s a cad, but he’s a well-done character!
- Deirdre tells Ken that her stuffed marrow is a beautiful dish and it’s full of iron. Ken sarcastically coming back at her that when people go to a soiree they always hope that there will be plenty of iron. I usually hope that there’s enough protein, but to each their own.
- Nick telling Kirk to get back to what he was put on this earth to do: pack boxes.
- Rita reckoning that she has a very high boredom threshold after working with Norris for so many years.
- Rita: “Norris, would you get me a Garibaldi biscuit as well.” Norris: “What did your last slave die of?” Rita: “Insolence. Chop, chop.”
- It’s nice that the writers mentioned Jenny Bradley. I like it when they mention old characters, it gives the regular characters (and the soap) depth.

LOWLIGHTS:
- Tina being “homeless” and all and forcing Graeme to find someone for them to sleep. What exactly happened between Tina and her mother that made sleeping on “Uncle Derek’s” couch a better option? Am I missing something here?
- Is anyone wondering whatever happened to the kebab shop? It doesn’t seem like Tina works there anymore, and clearly Theresa and her son don’t either, nor does Amber. Plus, we have seen NOTHING of Minnie since last year. Who on earth works there now? It can’t be Sunita, but I’d sure like to see her slinging kebab meat.
- Audrey pointing out that Ken isn’t the best company. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard someone utter this same sentiment (besides Deirdre and her late mother of course!) and I find it interesting. Perhaps John Stape is the new Ken – shortlived however. I really like Ken Barlow, as he’s one of my favourite characters but I guess I’d never really realized how much of an old windbag he can be!
- Nick looking at Natasha (and treating her) like she’s a nutter. Does he even LIKE her? Why is he still leading her on?
- I’m sorry, but I still find the relationship between Tina and Graeme unbelievable. Especially when she seems so happy to be taken on a ride in his rickshaw. She’s too high-and-mighty for that!