The 'Radio Times' soap supremo Gareth McLean has cast his eye over prison-related storylines in this week's issue. His basic moan is that although the lead up to a character's incarceration can be dramatic, the viewer is then rewarded with dull scenes set in the slammer. A case in point is dear old Fiz, moping around wearing a netball bib looking frightened. From weepy Deirdre to maudlin Gail, HMP Weatherfield has never been a place of great excitement or interest. 'Prisoner Cell Block H' it is not. Deirdre never had her head jammed in a steam press and Gail never tried to escape in the back of a garbage truck.
The fellow prisoners are usually deranged (Graeme Proctor), demented (Jackie Dobbs) or look like Les Dawson in a frock. These days it seems to be the case that most soaps have a string of petty criminals. Taking a look down the Street, those who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law include Steve, Becky, Deirdre, Gail, Fiz, Kevin, Tracy, Dennis and even Ken. It can only be a matter of time before Rita is hauled before the courts for dealing . . . mint humbugs.
Are the prison plots value for money or just dull as ditchwater?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
You might also like...
-
I must admit that I was dreading this episode when I read the preview. The youngsters take LSD. Oh god. lots of jump cuts, lots of swirl...
-
Wednesday 25 June 2025 SUMMER AND NINA’S SECRET STARTS TO UNRAVEL Summer and Nina retrace their steps from the night before. Will they find ...
-
Jack Carroll, who plays Bobby Crawford on Coronation Street, has left the show. His final scenes have been filmed. A Corrie insider told The...
-
Welcome to Friday night on t'Street. There were some great bits in tonight's episode so let us start with this one. Ronnie armed w...
-
Here are the major storylines for the week ahead on Coronation Street, all wrapped up nicely in 50 words or less. Monday 30 June to Wednesda...
-
Monday 30 June 2025 TODD’S SYMPATHY BACKFIRES Millie panics when Theo reveals that he’s off to see Millie’s teacher about her pregnancy. Tod...
-
Friday 27 June 2025 NINA CONFESSES TO ROY When Nina opens up to Roy about taking hallucinogenic drugs at the party and reveals what she can ...
-
Kevin spots a message on Abi’s phone from Carl this week, can you talk us through her reaction – is she worried? She is worried about it. S...
-
Last week's Yay Or Nay asked Is There Too Much Drama On Corrie? The comments agreed with a Yay, with user Adam Reckitt saying " Th...
-
This may be very controversial, but here goes. I really dislike Leanne. I am sick to the back teeth of her whining, moaning, arguing and ha...
14 comments:
Rita was hauled before the courts before, when Cilla sued her for "assaulting" Chesney.
Deirdre's was good because of the brilliant character of Maggie Veitch, otherwise, I agree. Hayley's time in the clink was particularly unmemorable - which is possibly the reason you haven't mentioned it!!!
They're one of the staples of soaps as much as love triangles are. I don't mind. Justice is always done in the end. They've got laws about these things ;)
The flip-side of what Tvor says is that given the characters always get out of jail - unless the character is to be written out - there's no suspense about what's going to happen. Wouldn't it have been more interesting to see Fiz develop into a mature, independent, brave woman just by being in that situation without all the phoney drugs drama. It would need sensitive writing, though. Is that expecting too much?
Emily was fined at sent to court in 1965 for driving up a one way street lol I think it was Swindley's fault !!
I was gonna say the same about Rita - she spent a night in prison for contempt of court!
I was thinking about this just the other day. We're only up to the part where Gail's being questioned for Joe's (long overdue!) death in NZ. Talk about a tough neighbourhood - given the criminal history of the majority of characters on the street, I think it might be safer to live right where I am.
Sunita was arrested on her wedding day after being set up for marrying immigrants, Gary spent time inside shortly after arriving, David,,, say no more, the street is full of crims!
I personally would love to see one of the cobbles characters end up in the slammer and end up thriving a la Bad Girls. No, not in a predictable Becky way, but just have a mini personality transplant purely as a survival response and turn suddenly into a manipulative leader, dominant personality/bully or someone who goes hyper-violent so they can get themselves thrown into solitary confinement and then become "friends" with some crazed loonie in the next cell. That'd make it interesting.
Jail plots are like pregnancy/baby plots -- they're exciting at first, but fizzle out, and they're a cheap way to drum up interest in a story.
I think Dierdre's prison sentence set a precedent and after that instead of getting a rest from characters and enabling the actor to go off on holiday, we have to endure tiresome prison stories and scenes with people in tabbards like the one about to unfold with Fiz.
Eileen was hauled into the cop shop after Owen filed a complaint that she embezzled $ from him. Isn't he the charmer now though.
Tvor:
That's what I thought.. but everyone seems to have "forgotten" the fact that Tracy killed someone in cold blood.. because he cheated on her!
If you take all of those that are or have at some stage being involved with the police, and were arrested for some reason or even went to court, then there might be only ___ left. Who I ask myself? No, I cannot think of anyone!
Post a Comment