And so we have Jenna who's settling in nicely and believable as Lloyd's daughter, I feel. Krissi Bohn who plays her is an excellent actress and while she might be romantically drawn to Sophie Webster right now, I think she could do so much better and hope she'll move on and find another lady love soon.
But what about Mandy the mum? What do we fans think about her? Well, I'm in two minds about this one.
On one hand, I don't think Mandy fits in. For me, she's not believable as either Jenna's mum or Lloyd's romantic interest. It just doesn't work for this fan on that level.
But on the other hand, ooh, the other hand, and here's where I think her strength lies, I'm absolutey loving Mandy working behind the bar of the Rovers. There's a touch of the soul of Betty about her with her crossed arms under an ample bosom, the knowing looks, the 'don't mess with me' countenance as she serves up the hotpots. I'd like to see more of Mandy as her own woman rather than as Lloyd's lover. She's a strong woman, independent, forthright and funky. I like her and hope Corrie make the most of Mandy. What do you think?
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
21 comments:
Once again, the writers shoved a character into the mix too quickly IMO. I like Mandy but she's so negative about eveything. She needs to crack a smile once in awhile. Evey bar-maid doesn't have to be a hard-ass if you get my meaning. Betty had a gob on her but she tempered it with words of wisdom and kindness..we need more of that and yes, Mandy needs to accept her daughter. The writers already did the "My daughter's not a lesbian" thing with Sally when Sophie came out so they should move on from that asap.Jenna and Sophie don't do if for me though.
I agree with you FN that she's Betty-esque with her tut-tutting and her matronly stature. I like Mandy tbh. She's a strong, mature woman and I think she should be friends with Eileen, Gail or Deirdre.
I think it'd be great for Mandy to have a heart-to-heart with Sally about their lesbian daughters.
“She's a strong woman, independent, forthright and funky”.
I was hoping we'd get a lot more of the funky - cool and hip like Lloyd's music. They could have run fantastic music nights at the Rovers. She's turned out bad-tempered and narrow-minded. The difference between Mandy and Betty is that the latter had a ready laugh. She had a great sense of humour and people have said Betty Driver near enough played herself in that respect. Pamela Nomvete looks uncomfortable and her peck on the lips with Lloyd couldn't be less passionate. Give the character a sense of humour, make her roll with laughter and put a twinkle in her eye. Let Lloyd give her a playful slap on the posterior now and again just to remind us that they are a couple. Lighten up, girl.
As for Jenna, this story with Sophie is killing her character stone dead. The jury's still out as far as I'm concerned and I can't wait for the relationship to end.
I can see her more in the St Ella role. She has a street-smarts about her. Rover's regulars should confide in her more. That would give us a chance to know her better. I understand her stance upon discovering her daughter is a lesbian. If Jenna is struggling with it herself, why does she expect her mother not to? I think every parent would rather their child not a marginalized. Despite the strides of the LGBT community, the world is still an easier place for hetros. I think that is all Mandy was saying to Jenna.
I agree that the Rovers definietly needs better bar staff. Shaun and Tina are awful.
I'd love to see Mandy strike up a real friendship with one of the other women - Eileen would be perfect, they have the same snarkiness I LOVE, and the gay child thing to bond them. Sally's too negative and not funny enough. I am torn about Mandy so far. She needs to be developed on her own more so we are invested in her as a character. I love Lloyd, so I hope they build this up better. Jenna's ok, but I find there is NO chemistry between Sophie and her, so it's not very believable. Again, writers, hope you're reading all this. Give Mandy some independence. (and as someone else noted here, the music thing petered right out, which is a shame because she and Lloyd have excellent taste!)
I agree. I think it would be fun if she teamed up with Eileen and had a laugh every once in a while.
Rebecca
I think Mandy has lots of potential but her "every (wo)man" nature would have left her flat if they didn't give her the Rovers to develop her character (and maybe get into some adventure/trouble). I don't really buy her as Lloyd's ex-lover so I'd really like to see her stand on her own, make some friends/alliances on the Street. She definitely seems like she'd have a better background to take on the St.Ella role, but her softer side needs to show. She'd definitely make a great mate for Eileen and she and Sally could have some very interesting scenes dealing with their lesbian daughters. I do hope for Jenna's character that either she inspires Sophie to reach her full potential or finds a partner more suited to her work ethic/background and interests.
I really hoped that Lloyd's next partner would be someone fun and sexy, or someone that genuinely cared for him. Instead he got lumbered with moody Mandy. It would have been nice to see a woman pursuing him for a change instead of him trailing like a puppy after yet another disaster (Liz, Cheryl now Mandy).
The trouble with Mandy is that she hasn't been introduced as a likeable character. She cheated on her husband, spent a lifetime lying to everyone to protect herself and then had the nerve to treat Lloyd badly for wanting to get to know the child she deprived him of. None of this goes any way to making her sympathetic. I like Jenna but Lloyd deserves someone better than Mandy.
I think Mandy will work she just needs to chill abit. It would be great if some of the lovely ladies of Weatherfield would take her under their wings and get to know her and her them. She loves music maybe a fun music evening at the Rovers to break the ice - she will be a great asset to the show if the writers will let her develop more. Eileen and hayley would be good starters to welcome her to the street - a good laugh is needed.
Frosty doesnt mind Mandy although she is a bit of a misery but look what she has to contend with! Yes she made a mistake and had an affair with Lloyd with resulted in Jenna. Jenna seems to be a source of constant trouble and angst, first not speaking to her mother when she found Lloyd was her father and now with this coming out business, she is just a proverbian pain in the butt. Its Jenna I think is miscast, she doesnt look much younger than Lloyd who is supposed to be her daddy.
I think the writers are trying desperately to make it work. Once she started filming they probably saw that she wasn't a very strong actress and has no chemistry with lloyd at all. So they quickly moved her into the rovers away from lloyd and gave her one of betty's old scripts. Yes, there are hints of betty's ghost but once again the actress is not strong enough to pull it off. I'd like to see her burn in the rovers fire, its good to get rid of dead wood in a dramatic way and let the good actors leave in a taxi.
mandy as to GO!! for all the above reasons jenna not bad as lloyds daugter BUT sohpie can not act any story line shes in is boring so if we are going to see jenna develop dont pair her with sohpie put her in own phisyo practice
I like Mandy, I like the actress. I think she needs to make some friends and working in the pub should help there. it's too bad that there's so much acrimony between her and Sally at the moment because Sally could help Mandy adjust to the revelation about Jenna's sexuality. I also like Jenna, and the actor. Well, i don't like Jenna with Sophie but i think she, Mandy and Lloyd make a nice family and we just need to give them time to settle in now that everything is in place.
Mandy is too much of a sourpuss to be a match for a nice guy like Lloyd. The writers need to cheer her up a bit ... or a LOT!
And Jenna & Sophie? Ugh. Doesn't make any sense at all. Maybe Jenna could open a physio office inside the medical centre? Someone to share the load with Dr. Carter? As for Sophie, maybe Jenna could convince her to actually get an education. She WAS the smart one between her and her sister - what the hell happened to her??
~JB in Canada
She works as a Betty substitue behind the bar, and as Jenna's mum, less so with Lloyd. Woaaah, Black Betty!
Sophie will drag Jenna down and will make her as uninteresting as she is, where to now? More single sex weddings, Jenna working in the knicker factory, rows with Sophie? A bad and lazy pairing.
Mandy has already taken over the role of St. Ella, she was bossing Tina around a few episodes ago...who made her supervisor in St. Ella's absence? She doesn't fit with Lloyd at all....should have been brought in as his sister maybe and Jenna the niece. Sophie and Jenna are a disaster in the making...hopefully this story has been derailed by the new producer.
I was hopeful at first but overall I don't think the character has brought much to the show yet. There was a glimpse of something special when she discovered Jennas sexuality but they have made her too miserable in general. I don;t believe lloyd would be with someone so down. If the writers can cheer her up, and I believe the actress is good enough to pull it off, there may be hope but lets not try and tag her as the new betty just yet. Betty was straight talking in her time, especially in her latter years, but don't forget the warmth and humour she brought to the rovers. So far Mandy is a very poor substitute.- Micky
Post a Comment