Lady of Leisure: Mon May 2, 2011 Corrie Episode Review

 

7:30pm

Written by Martin Allen, directed by Durno Johnston

Gail is bored with her life of nothing-ness and refers to herself as a “Lady of Leisure.” Nick offers Cheryl the bar manager job – much to Gail’s chagrin.  I’m sure Leanne will love  hearing that her rival now has her esteemed old job.  Cheryl hires Gail on as a cleaning lady behind Nick’s back, and he seems upset by it.  They did need a cleaning lady, so why not Gail?

Graeme and Xin are cosy, plus Xin got her visa, so smiles all around, or are they? Since now she’s leaving Graeme soon. How will Xin manage to stay in Graeme’s life?

Frank is trying to win points with the workers by giving them the afternoon off and buying them a drink at the Rovers.  He certainly wins points, but Carla smugly points out he didn’t have to do that.  Is he winning Carla over too?  Or just the opposite? 

Mary is still living “homelessly” at Emily’s since she can’t locate her camper van.  I don’t know how HOW that giant thing could go missing. Later, Gary comes into the Kabin and says that he saw the camper van on Viaduct Street.  Who do you think is doing this?  Norris thinks it might be crazy Mary herself.  I think it’s Tommy Duckworth since he fixed her car so he could have access to it without breaking in.  Norris accuses Mary of relocating the van so she can stay on longer at No.3.  Wow, talk about feeling unwelcomed!  Mary is most disappointed to think he sees her that way.  Oh, I think he sees you as much worse! Mary refuses to stay in her camper van until she gets to the bottom of it’s disappearing act.  Norris wants to know why and Mary’s afraid someone will “break in when she’s in bed.”  Who is pulling this prank?

Steve tries as quickly as he can to shuttle Amy and Tracy back to Weatherfield in secrecy to avoid the wrath of Becky.  Steve’s actual wife – Lloyd – is fed up with his shenanigans, especially since he charged the cab mess from Sunday to the company account.  He wants to know when it’s all going to end – me too!  Steve is shocked to see that Tracey brings Amy over and has a cease-fire with Becky.  What is she up to now?  before Tracy packs Amy’s bag for her night next door, she slips something into it.  Could it be the photo of the three of them in Blackpool?  No, couldn’t be.  What is Tracy up to now? 

8:30pm

Written by Joe Turner, directed by Durno Johnston

Graeme is having trouble telling Xin she’s got to go – as per Tina, especially since she’s so keen on helping him window clean.  Plus, let’s face it – he’s going to miss her.   Tyrone tells Tina at the Rovers that Tommy’s not paying him any rent or chipping in, and Tina says to tell him straight, but Tyrone says she doesn’t understand men.  Tina tells Tommy later that they’re just mates – nothing more.  She also tells him to pay Tyrone some rent and stop sponging! Graeme is supposed to be holding the ladder for Xin (whilst staring up at her bottom), but when Tina comes out and talks with Tommy then they hug, Graeme loses concentration and lets go of the ladder, causing Xin to fall over.  Xin’s ankle is now sprained and Graeme pledges to look after her – much to her delight 'I’m sure.  Where will this all end up between Graeme and Xin?

Later, in the pub, Tommy hands Tyrone over some money to pay for rent but Tyrone says there’s no need much to Tina’s shock.  But Tyrone eventually accepts the money and it’s all down to Tina.  Tina comes back to her and Graeme’s flat to find Xin sat with feet up and wonders how long she’ll be there for.  Graeme figures it’ll just be a few weeks and time will fly.  For a sprained ankle?  seriously?!

Mary’s still going on about her mystery camper van thief to Norris who still thinks she just parked it in the wrong place and forgot.  Mary and Norris leave the Rovers to find her camper van has gone missing again – and she was with Norris the entire time.  They see it parked over by the medical centre and Mary begs Norris to tell her she’s not losing her mind.  She figures that this is a terrorism scheme.  Norris is determined to solve this mystery.  Mary thinks they’re dealing with non-human intervention?  What, as in aliens are stealing her van? Norris thinks this has Gary Windass written all over it.  Too bad he’s missing a motive.  Mary thinks its all a curse laid upon her by an old Scottish crone. 

Chris undresses in Maria’s place and tells her that she needs to put on a nice frock and enjoy a night of wine tasting! Maria thinks that the wine evening was a great idea, and Chris says it’s not his only one.  Oh, fantastic?  LOL.  At the wine tasting, Audrey offers Maria her old job back and Maria accepts with exaltation.  Couldn’t she have just asked Audrey for her job back?

Nick is clearly embarrassed by his mother, and tells Gail to clear off before people start arriving.  Nick wants “Mrs. Overalls” out of his sophisticated affair.  Gail feels a bit like Cinderella and gets insulted – rightly enough.  Gail finds a fairy godmother within the blink of an eye and returns to the wine tasting looking as though she’s attending a posh funeral.  Nick says she looks perfect now.  Nick thanks Gail and calls her indispensible.  Gail thinks he’ll sack Cheryl and give her the manager’s job but he says no. What does Gail expect?  How many people go from receptionist in a medical centre to running a wine bar?

Claudia sees Audrey and Marc hugging at the wine tasting and gets suspicious.  Could this be the start of something new, or just a friendly situation?

Becky, of course, finds the photo of Steve, Amy and Tracy during their Blackpool day of fun in Amy’s bag and her heart skips a beat.   Later, Becky dresses to the nines (or sixes), in a very revealing sheer tight black ensemble.  Tina wonders if Becky has something special planned and Becky says she does indeed asking her to let Steve come through the back when he arrives. Becky traps her pray with her outfit and goes on to tell Steve about how he’s such a dashing hero helping that old lady to the funeral etc.  Becky asks all sorts of questions – that Steve can’t really answer – about Basingstoke.  She wants to know if Basingstoke has a beach or a tower.  To which Steve gets suspicious, especially when Becky asks if it’s got what Blackpool has.  Becky then produces the photograph of Steve and his “happy family” at Blackpool.  She wants an explanation and Steve can only tell her the truth.  Becky, as to be expected, can’t handle the truth and tells Steve-y-boy that she’s going out on the town to get wasted and might even cheat on him with a lucky bloke.  Fantastic.  Get rid, Steve!

HIGHLIGHTS

- Bonus – Chris takes his shirt off again  and more!  We even get him down to his skivvy’s! Sorry for being a bit naughty – but someone’s gotta do it.  

- Mary begging Norris to tell her she’s not crazy since she’s seen “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, plus the story of the Old Scottish Crone’s Curse!

LOWLIGHTS

- What on earth is going on with Lloyd’s hair?!Between that and the cardigans it’s a  complete 70’s revival!  Both Steve and Lloyd really need a haircut.

- Ouch! I can see Nick not hiring Gail as the bar manager, but not even as a cleaning lady?! “Surely you can hire something better than this.”  Nick is such a snob who needs a reality check.  His “sophisticated” wine tasting night is headed by a cross dresser, in a bar ran by an old stripper, with some pompous corner-store owners as prime guests in a back street location.  I think his ex-con (not convicted) mother in a cleaning outfit really rounds out the bunch, personally. 

- Audrey asks Maria back to the salon, and we’re where we left off before that whole factory/Frank attempted rape situation.  What was the POINT of all that?!

- Even if I’m a fan of Becky’s (or at least WAS), I still think it’s WELL over between her and Steve and it’s irritating to watch now.

- I’m not really that impressed with Corrie lately.  To be honest, I’m just looking forward to when John Stape completely loses it.  The Maria-Chris-Frank/Tracy-Becky-Steve and Tina-Xin-Graeme storylines are really draining.  Best bits this episode was the parts with Mary and Norris and that’s really only a sub-plot!