Coronation Street, Thursday 8 December at 8.30pm
A day in the life of Peter Barlow, alcoholic. As Peter heads to the hospital, to visit his sponsor from AA who’s had a relapse, it’s clear he’s still battling the cravings to drink himself. In the hospital he’s shocked to see how far Jonno’s health has deteriorated since he fell off the wagon and the prognosis isn’t good.
Back on the street reminders of last year’s tram crash are all around. Revealing he’s now been taken off Jack’s birth certificate, Tyrone admires Peter for being able to put Leanne‘s infidelity behind them. But as Leanne makes plans with Stella for their wedding anniversary drinks tomorrow he wonders if he really has moved on?
Relieved to get out of the pub Peter heads to the doctors with Leanne to get her scan results. But when Matt reveals her fallopian tubes are damaged and she won’t be able to conceive naturally it’s another crushing blow for Peter who struggles to find the words to comfort her.
Aware he’s on the brink Peter heads to an AA meeting where he sees Carla. Peter tells the group his fears over making a speech at the memorial, while Carla speaks openly about her rape and how she wouldn't be here now without the help of a good friend. The pair exchange knowing looks but when news is delivered that Jonno has just passed away Peter’s devastated. Back at home he tries again to write his speech but with no luck. Reaching for the bottle, will Peter drink to douse the pain?
6 comments:
I am bored of pint sized Peter and all his demons and problems and selfish and self destruct behaviour.
Frosty-It may be hard to watch but Peter (the character)has a disease and really can't just turn his drinking on and off.I do agree he can be very selfish and too judgemental of others.
I think that Peter's story (and his character in general) is very human, and I disagree about him being only selfish. A case in point was his bigamous marriage. Now, don't get me wrong, of course what he did was terribly wrong, but you really saw him struggle with the decisions he made, and he was often motivated by not wanting to hurt someone else, and I think this is the case here too. Add to that his human weaknesses and his addiction and you have someone who is basically a good guy but struggles on a daily basis, constantly disappointing himself and others. I love the character of Peter, and also Leanne - both flawed, but ultimately likeable, and of course brilliantly portrayed by the actors in question.
Would you prefer a world where problems are like David's epilepsy, only brought out for dramatic convenience? Consistent characters are more believable. Roy Cropper's awkward eccentricities. Sally's airs and aspirations. Emily the nice church lady. By staying true to themselves, these characters are more realistic and endearing. Peter is an alcoholic, a disease that should be a lifelong struggle. But that is only one facet of his character - he's a dad, a husband, a son, a businessman, a veteran, a best friend to Ciaran (I will miss C with P, not C with Michelle) and all those aspects come through. That's what makes him interesting. Bring it on.
I think Peter is one of the more realistic characters on the street. He's flawed, he means well but he's weak and tries to please everyone and ends up in a place where he can't please anyone. He seeks approval and confirmation in himself that he doesn't believe he has and ends up messing up because of it which proves to himself that he's not worth of approval.
I agree that Peter represents the flawed human. When you consider how much focus there is on alchol consumption in the UK, is it so unrealistic to have a couple of people on the Street suffering from alcoholism? I also agree that Peter is not necessarily selfish but weak and undecisive; also common traits.
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