I’d been thinking about this for quite some time now. But, after last Monday’s episodes, I really thought “what about Gail?” What on earth has happened to this character? She really has gone through the ringer, of course. Within the last year alone she’s become a McIntyre, marrying a man indebted with loan sharks and stupid ideas that eventually got him killed. Gail almost went down for his death and spent enough time in lock-up until she was finally cleared. Bad turns to worse as she ended up losing her job at the Medical Centre which she’s had for what seems like forever since, well, she’s not too sharp when it comes to patient-doctor confidentiality and seems to think “being a mum” to her adult son trumps that fact.
Since September of last year Gail has been unemployed and basically useless. Not only does she not have a job, she ceases to have a purpose. She attempted to think about finding another fellow, but that idea was quickly dismissed after Jeff fell for Sally instead of her. So, nothing in the romance department. Other than being a miserable back-story to David and mum Audrey, what does Gail have going on? No one cares to listen to her. As evidenced by Audrey completely patronizing and dismissing her concerns about David, Kylie and the salon. Not to mention David ignoring his mum’s concerns to the point of making a joke out of it.
Has Gail been put out to pasture? What do you think? Is anyone missing Gail and wishing she had a storyline or are we enjoying her on the sidelines? Perhaps, we viewers don’t even notice her ourselves!
I have always been on the fence with the character of Gail Potter Tilsley Platt Hillman Platt McIntyre, admittedly. However, I don’t like the thought of useless characters (queue Kirk Sutherland). So, if Gail is to be on the show, please give her a refreshingly new storyline? (writers? please?). I’d personally like to NOT see Gail hook up with another useless man. I’d love to see her in a storyline where she gets out of her shell a bit. Perhaps she’ll have an idea to start a business since she can’t find a job and will start looking for investors/partners. And guess who is one of the ONLY people on the street right now with a bit of dosh? Yes, doesn’t Tracy still have some of her Gran’s money?
Any other storylines you’d like for Gail? Or would you like to just keep her in the corner?
I think she's being put to better use - we don't really need more drama from Gail after all that happened in the noughties, having her in the background for a while is showing a more light hearted character than the one were used to - one of my favourite Gail scenes was her in the Salon peering through the blinds...then them falling down at the end of the scene xD
ReplyDeleteHaven't you heard? Kirk Sutherland is resident babysitter so that Maria can go to work. Almost as bad as Tracy disappearing upstairs, never to be heard of again.
ReplyDeleteGail would have been a much better candidate for Carla's PA int'factory, but then they wouldn't have been able to foist the "attempted rape" crap on us.
It's probably good for Gail to spend some time in the background, after all the dramas she's been involved with. She definitely does need to be given some kind of interest outside of her family, though! She is way too obsessed with keeping her sons tied to her apron strings, and it doesn't do any of them any good!
ReplyDeleteShe does seem to be evolving into a very Ivy-esque kind of character of late, mind...
Gail seems to be the token whinger on the street now. I'd like to see her working at Norris' News pitted against Mary....that would be good for a laugh or two! She needs to get out of the house, away from David and Nick and her unnatural need to treat them like two-year olds with that whimpering cooing and stroking of their faces....oh, makes me ill.
ReplyDeleteHey... maybe Gail can buy the Rovers!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice for her to be in the background - 2010 was a big year for her. At least she's still on our screens and not disappeared. Still, it brings another side to her - humorous.
ReplyDeleteI find the older cast members have been relegated one liners and are sort of being used as props. All Ken says anymore is "Tracy, that's uncalled for", or "Deidre,that's enough"..while frowning. Or Rita..spouting off a few words of wisdom now and then and that's it.I also wish they'd take that dead animal carcas from off of Rosie so she can quit looking like a hooker. Would like to see her up the stump.
ReplyDeleteI love to hate Gail and I also thought she would have been ideal for Carla's PA, we would have got lots of sucking lemon faces as she tried to control the "girls",. What is she living on, her job seekers allowance cant cover David and Kylie's living costs as well as her own? Instead we get this contrived depressing drivel with whining Maria and creepy Frank instead of humour.
ReplyDeleteGail's mother dosn't even consider helping Gail via a job of some sort in her lucrative salon...Audrey hints of being disappointed Sarah wasn't at the helm but is totally clueless to helping Gail with any job and she gave David her grandson from hell a chance....Gail is a decent actress.....the writers should utilize her talents!!!antin
ReplyDeleteGail's jobless state is a total "suspension of reality". At least Kylie mentioned it the other day. The way she spoke to Gail was terrible though! It does seem as though Gail is treated as a joke by everyone including her own family... it's a bit sad really.
ReplyDeleteBut yes, the older characters are really being sidelined, I agree.
I think Gail's great, and I love the idea of her working with Norris. Helen Worth has great comic timing, which needs to be put to use somehow.
ReplyDeleteGail annoys me at times, especially when babying her sons (Nick in particular). I don't mind her in the background but viewers at LEAST deserve an explanation of what she's living on. As a side note - the photo & caption made me laugh out loud! Cheers for that.
ReplyDeleteI think Gail should start her own online Dating/Matchmaker service.Pretend she has a gift for putting other people together. Not only would it be ironic, but it would open up the possibilities of SO many short-term storylines/new characters.
ReplyDeleteA little less Gail is a good thing for my television remote. Whenever Gail's got a dramatic story line, I'm either turning up the volume so I can hear her when she's murmuring lovingly and/or whispering tragically, or turning it down because she's shrieking angrily and scaring the cat.
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