The man who caused havoc for Gail and family was certainly a bad boy but he was never going to be another Charlie Stubbs or a Richard Hillman. Lewis was all about persuasion and seduction and as a baddie, he was more 'swirling cape and twirling moustache' than pure evil.
Some wonderful writing took us all from distrusting Lewis, to having a grudging respect and then all the way back to distrust again. His middle phase, living with Audrey and providing sage advice to Nick at the Bistro was a joy. Lewis was all a bit of a chancer but there seemed to be a realisation that he was getting no younger and perhaps had lost his zest for criminal life. Audrey provided him with the stability and companionship that he needed. Gail and Gloria robbed him of that happiness.
However, despite fleecing Gail of £40K and blackmailing the horrified Kylie, Lewis' love for Audrey never dissipated and although he's gone forever, there was reassurance for heartbroken Mrs Roberts that she was the true love of his life.
Will Lewis ever set foot on the cobbles again? Should he? Is Lewis Archer the ideal Corrie baddie?
Arriverderci!
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I can the door left open for his return with Audrey. Gail being destitute is as temporary as her imprisonment was. However, in soapland villains can never be successfully reformed (see Tracy Barlow).
ReplyDeleteThe best baddie gong has got to go to Tricky Dicky but Lewis is another classic Corrie bad boy!
ReplyDeleteLoved the DVD moment when Gail found out!
I like Lewis and I hope he makes another comeback. :)
I get the feeling that there will always be room for a Lewis revival! Looking forward to it already. Maybe next time it will be the revenge of the House of Potter!
ReplyDeleteLewis's saving grace was that he was punishing someone who had been malicious towards him and the woman he loved. He might just have the moral high ground here. Anything's possible in soapland. He could return the £40,000 in a couple of years at one of his clandestine meetings with Audrey...
ReplyDeleteLewis Archer Corrie's best baddie?
ReplyDelete....Neah, not in my book
- but he IS without doubt, the Guinness Book of Corrie World Records, - Most Charming Baddie EVER to have walked those cobbles - of that there can be no argument, can there?
Did Nigel Havers leave of his own accord? It appears so. Although I did read of one report some time ago, that he was devastated to not have his contract renewed.
All depends on which little bird told you. Round my way they're all big black rooks, crows, pigeons and seagulls; anyone got little birds in their back garden? Because they're the only ones who tell the truth.
So, In the absence of a little bird I'm assuming his contract's up, because he has other projects in mind.
However, I'm not 100% convinced by his character's reasoning and subsequent god-almighty-at-any-cost-quest-for-revenge, exit storyline. Not by a long chalk!
How on earth could he doubt Audrey when he knows his past is not worthy of unquestioning, Jihadist like, utterly blind loyalty?
Because he says, from now on trust me implicitly without question?
Surely a mature and intelligent character like Lewis would realise it's not a deal-breaker??? That the situation was recoverable. That the love of his life had made an honest mistake. Is she prohibited (unlike him) from ever making one?
What a jealous god he is. But oh god no! He had been insulted beyond human endurance ever known to mankind, and had to have his revenge sated
- NO, I don't buy his motivation. I just don't. Just doesn't fit.
Bit of a botch-up in order to get him a quick exit for whatever it is he's doing now. Fully expect to see him back in over 12 months or so.
I'll put money on it! :)
I preferred Lewis when he and Audrey had a clandestine, curious relationship but his genuine affection for her kept him on the straight and narrow. While I understand the bitterness that led him down the path to his exit, I did not enjoy this side of the character and found him hard to believe (not to mention painful to watch at times). However, I suppose that provided an element of reason behind his bad behaviour and that his actions were the result of pain rather than evil. If that's the case, I think we can't really consider him a villian.
ReplyDeleteHe can't be gone forever because he didn't get a ride down the cobbles. Corrie Law 101.
ReplyDeleteUnlike Terry and Richard and Kirsty and Charlie Stubbs and James and, oh yeah, Tracy, Lewis is a likable baddie with socially redeeming values. I soooooo enjoy him as Audrey's better half and as the friendly fatherly advisor to Nick and as the Bistro's touch of class. If there were some modestly convoluted story that could bring him back, bearing Gail's money plus interest, then roll out the red carpet.
I loved what he did to Gail. She deserved it.
ReplyDeleteI also loved Lewis and Audrey together, so I am hoping the writers will find someway for him to make a return to the Street and to Audrey.
~JB in Canada
No no no, not a baddie, just a very naughty boy.
ReplyDeleteWhy did Gail deserve it? She did what she did to try and prove that Lewis was conning her Mother, surely? Gullible for sure, but hardly deserving of losing her home.
ReplyDeleteNow this is the Corrie storyline that we all know and love - Ms Christie couldn't do any better. I do feel sorry for Gail now that she has no house, or job and I think she has lost her mother but perhaps that will be mended in the future.. Oh Lewis what a clever boy plotting and scheming behind Gail's back - The dvd was well done what a nice little twist to the end of the scam. I liked the way after Nick had counted the money and as Gail was stating that she at least had ten thousand back at least _ I cheered as Ausdrey put her back in her place and said No Gail the name on the envelope is mine and she takes the money and leaves. The beautiful bunch of flowers on Audrey's doorstep was a touching end to the story.. I hope more great epsidoes like this will happen. Liz
ReplyDeleteFrosty has to concede that this for him was one of the best exit/endings for a character in Corrie history - the DVD was genius although it would have been better for him to have got the Platts to log on to a live web cam as the DVD is proof. However, this is what it should be left at - an ENDING. It was stretching a bit to bring Archer back a 2nd time, a 3rd time would not only spoil it but be just stupid. Gail would never let this go and he would be arrested. Unless Audrey was going to do an exit story which she wont, Lewis should not be resurrected again.
ReplyDeleteI hope that's the end for Lewis now. The powers that be just about got away with a second inning for this character but a third time would be pushing it. He's not the best baddie but was thoroughly enjoyable to watch when at his slimiest. Keep thinking what on earth would poor old Alfie have to say about the whole mess Audrey has got herself in!- Micky
ReplyDeleteAlthough this story has been good 0ne of my favourite villains was John Lindsay the Airline Pilot/ Tie Salesman that conned Deidre. (I think that has to be one of my favourite storylines too :))
ReplyDelete