It's a requisite part of any continuing drama that the characters will eventually have to be killed off. Not everyone of course. The very nature of drama means that those we have known and loved, or even loathed, will never pass away quietly under a snowy white duvet, friends and family gathered around, teary-eyed yet thankful for a life well-lived.The rumour of an impending fire at t'Rovers has very little appeal. Even the prospect of St. Ella of the Back Room perishing like Joan of Arc is perhaps that great a draw. Death in Weatherfield is not what it used to be.
Personally, for shock value alone, I'm taken back to episode 1772, broadcast in January 1978. The day Ernie Bishop met his maker. The preamble to his demise has been well-documented over the years. Actor Stephen Hancock was less than happy with the programme's slightly odd idea that certain members of the cast were paid regardless of the number of episodes they appeared in. Hancock was not one of the lucky few and having been told by Bill Podmore that this system would not change, the end of Ernie Bishop was nigh.
The general agreement amongst the management was that Ernie would have to die. It was unlikely that the character would have had an extra-marital affair, given his Christian beliefs, so death was the only possible exit.
Death, in most dramas, tends to be overplayed these days. We get used to characters falling from rooftops, being clubbed over the head or exploding in sets that require a makeover. These kind of endings are simply run-of-the-mill. Using the death of a little loved landlady in order to build a shiny new Rovers, if it turns out to be true, will be shockingly ordinary.
You can follow us on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog and Facebook: CoronationStreetBlog
All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License
8 comments:
I actually found the death of Charlie Stubbs horrifying..not just that he was clubbed to death by a character that is still on the streets but that it was pre-meditated murder and the culprit is walking around large as life without any regret what-so-ever. It's time for the writers to make this right and get rid of T Barlow...maybe she can be one of those who meet her demise in the Rovers fire.
They will try desperately hard to make it 'edge of the seat' stuff. Stella covers a face with a wet towel and drags Sunita to the exit. But too late! Here comes the reworking of Ashley's death (insert Sunita) but our saint won't leave the burning wreckage. Grief, let it end soon.
I think Gail would be a great landlady--she has the requisite snobbery, another Annie Walker in training.
When Emily was attacked and Maxine was murdered, that truly shocked me. That was the first tragic soap death I remember clearly and it did upset me at first, like Ernie's did with you David.
Since then, nothing has shocked me on soap. Although, yes, Betty's death did bring a tear to my eye.
Excellent post, David. Thanks. These days I find it hard to be surprised as the show officially releases storylines in advance to generate viewership. Back in the Bill Podmore days (and before) leaking a story was a firing offence. But when the show deals with deaths on the streets compassionately and sensitively, it is a joy to watch. But fire, murders, death and destruction are not nearly as "gripping" as the quiet, sad deaths -- Jack and Vera come to mind, waltzing off to heaven together. Or Hilda, sobbing over Stan's eyeglasses.
With the exceptions of Jack, Vera, Betty, it has been a long time since I felt any sadness or regret over the death (or departure) of any character. Explosive exits are not that, not even when they are literally explosive. They are just predictable and frankly dull.
Firstly you have to care about the character. There are few in that category for me. Then good writing and poignancy win over sensationalism every time. I'd rather watch Hilda crying over Stan's glasses than 1000 explosions or fires. But then explosions are what win ludicrous awards like "Best Exit".
I thought Ashley's heroic death under the viaduct very sad even if it was sensational in the midst of the tram crash.
I find it too hard to believe of all the murders accidents, fires, viaduct crashes, abductions suicides over the years for such a small Street. Looses any credibility, even though it is only a soap.Poor old Rovers certainly has it share of bad luck over the years.
Post a Comment