Dark days indeed on Coronation Street. I have a big interest in this storyline as I've had personal experience of what Carla is currently going through, and was dreading them getting it horribly wrong. Given Corrie's recent overly-desperate ratings grabbing, sensationalism was a major concern. My impressions so far? I thought the rape scene itself was far too "low key", given that rape is such a vicious crime. But then again, I'm not sure how else a pre-watershed soap could have handled it. Perhaps if they can't cover them properly soaps shouldn't handle these difficult subjects at all? But that's for another discussion. On the positive side, some of the post-rape scenes were extremely well done, harrowing and very hard to watch - and rightly so. I thought Alison King's acting was superb.
Chris Gascoyne has been fantastic, as well - as always - as has Jane Danson. I'm not keen on Andrew Lancel's performance, which I'm finding a bit wooden to be honest.
Spoilers say that Carla will hit the bottle (again) and attempt suicide as a result of her trauma. While this is a fairly realistic reaction, I would far rather see her "staying strong", getting support, and ensuring that Frank Foster gets well and truly banged up. I think it would give out a very powerful and positive message. Anyone else have any views on it so far?
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14 comments:
I think it's been handled very well. Yes it's a difficult subject to tackle. Carla hitting the bottle and the pills? With everything that has happened to her over the years and her already known struggle with the bottle, i'm not surprised she hits bottom. I'm hoping this will pull her up and we'll see how she rebuilds her life
I was dreading this storyline but so far Corrie have done it amazingly
I did think that Frank confronting Carla in the factory mirrored that brilliant scene when Alan Bradley cornered Rita in her house in 1989. The fear in her eyes.
Frank is just too cool for school and I doubt the cops are buying into it but he's got that little trump card over Carla and when Leanne finds out it was her that ran down her Mum the $hit is really going to hit the fan!! Can't wait!! Brilliant acting all around. You can really feel the tension between Carla and Peter (why does he keep coming around anyway)? I hope they finally scratch that itch...would serve Leanne right for being such a cow to him.
If Carla doesn't spiral downwards then Corrie would be accused of making light of rape. Victims have to be shown to really suffer. Soaps should stay away from this subject as it's just one cliche after another. Watching this is not how I want to relax after a long day.
I think that Corrie has done really well with this sl. The thorough research is clear and Alison King has been really, really good this week. I too find Andrew Lancel a bit wooden but i think this week is the best i've seen him.
It is a subject close to my heart as my sister went through something along the same lines. I think they've done it justice with a brilliant subtlety, not going ott which they could have done.
i felt like crying at the storyline carla acting is great ihope frank is going to get what he deserved he give me the chills especially the bit when he confront carla
leanne will soon find out it was carla that ran over her mum and she going to hit the roof
i say all great acting from the actors involved
I think it's been a good storyline so far, with strong acting from everyone involved. Frank is chillingly convincing, and I've really liked the way Maria has supported Carla. I'm not even a fan of Carla, but obviously I feel sympathy for her.
I agree with seapenguin, it would send out a positive message if Carla can pull through and get justice. But sadly, that doesn't always happen in real life, and it would actually be interesting (although very dark) if they explored that. However, I'm sure Frank will get locked up eventually, because it's soap law.
I agree with you Seapenguin. The "rape" was not dramatic. Pre-watershed it never can be. Since then, Alison King has done a good job at conveying the horror and shock. Andrew Lancel has been good at carrying on as if nothing ever happened, because that is what he does. He is wooden.
The story has played on victims fears that they won't be believed or taken seriously and that they will be harrassed, confronted or intimidated by their attacker. It has been badly written and yet again, Alison King and others have been called on to make a silk purse from a sow's ear.
I wasn't surprised that it was handled really well and had enough twists and turns to keep the actors on their toes too. I don't think the police were portrayed as idiots. Frank, who at first appeared bland & cardboard-y, showed his true psychopathic self in that first interview - fooling them brilliantly. I almost believed it myself that Carla could have connived to not marry him and keep her business by lying that he raped her, he was that good.
His switching from lying to whispering in Peter's ear that he really did do it was really frightening. Frank knew his taunting would incite violence and get Peter arrested, especially since he lied to the police that Peter & Carla slept together, thus the hard questions Peter got.
And he keeps the duplicity up. One minute he's threatening Carla that he'll reveal that she drove into Stella while drunk, the next he's babbling like a crazy innocent when Sean and Maria run into the factory to protect Carla. I just wonder how much of this was pre-planned on Frank's part. He's certainly making much of it up as events unfold. But he always knew he had one over on Carla regarding the car crash lie. And so did she. Which makes this whole storyline more than one only about the rape, and pretty riveting.
Why did Frank who has so far seemed to pull the wool over the polce eyes suddenly break his bail conditions by turning up at the factory. The acting has been good but i cannot feel any sympathy for Carla and I know being forced to have sex mus be a horrible thing but its not exactly the same as being raped by a stranger or strangers. She was sleeping with him within a few weeks of meeting him anyway and I dont wear this big victim thing, will she attempt suicide - she may do but of course we all know she wont succeed.
I think Frank has himself convinced he's done nothing wrong most of the time. It's his factory too and he's pathological enough to justify it all to himself.
I think sexual assault by a known attacker is just as terrifying as by a stranger. Most assaults are done by people known to the victims anyway. There is no comfort in a rape. Sorry to be off Corrie topic, but I can't let that kind of misinformation go unchallenged.
"Morse Code said...
Why did Frank who has so far seemed to pull the wool over the polce eyes suddenly break his bail conditions by turning up at the factory. The acting has been good but i cannot feel any sympathy for Carla and I know being forced to have sex mus be a horrible thing but its not exactly the same as being raped by a stranger or strangers. She was sleeping with him within a few weeks of meeting him anyway and I dont wear this big victim thing, will she attempt suicide - she may do but of course we all know she wont succeed. "
You DON'T seem to know that rape is a horrible thing.
Rape is RAPE. Honestly.
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