We don’t know much about Karl, granted, but what we have seen is pretty much all good from where I’m sitting. He’s a bit of a lazy so-and-so, to be sure, but he also appears to be a really lovely, warm-hearted bloke who is deeply devoted to his missus. He also appears to be a natural father, despite not having any kids of his own.
The revelation that Stella is Leanne’s mum came as just as big a shock to Karl as everyone else and it clearly hurt to realise that Stella had kept such a huge secret from him – yet he proved a tower of strength for her throughout that crisis, as well as providing a shoulder to cry on for Eva and expanding his worldview to accommodate Leanne as his partner’s new daughter. Then last night, in the wake of Stella’s accident, even in the midst of his own emotional turmoil and distress, he was fantastic with both Eva and Leanne, supporting them both and keeping the peace between them, for Stella’s sake.
Yeah, I’ve decided that I like Karl rather a lot – and would love to know more about him! Here’s hoping the show starts to give him a bit more development now that he’s been established.
I’m also thoroughly enjoying the tense dynamics being explored within the Barlow-Price extended family unit – contrived though the circumstances of Stella’s accident were, it nonetheless provides an opportunity for this set of characters who are connected but don’t know one another properly to bounce off each other in new ways, exploring the issues that both link and divide them. I’m looking forward to seeing how the storyline continues to play out!
