Coronation Street double episode review, Monday 20th May

Sylvia's lines tonight deserve special attention. As her daughter-in-law states that it's not good for Roy to keep his feeling about the death of his father bottled up, Sylvia responds with short shrift. She wonders why a nation so keen on analysing itself has ended up in such a mess. So it seems neither Roy nor his mother are great believers in the talking cure.

Sylvia also gave us a glimpse into her past as she pointed out what Roy must have known on some level, but like all children, it is very difficult to think of parents as young people and for Roy it can't be easy to imagine Sylvia as a once attractive 19 year old queuing up to see Bill Haley, attracting the attention of the now deceased St John. She also points out that things were different then. You got on reasonably well, so why not get married?. Society's expectations were such that people did get married without having much experience of life or other relationships. She must have been profoundly affected by St John's abandonment of her and Roy.as she states that she hated him for leaving her and Roy.

Despite the sympathy we must feel for her, she doesn't always help herself.  It's not always so much what she says, but how she says it. She points out to Gary that, 'Good manners cost nothing, young man,'  and then follows it up by telling him that she'll be having words with his mother.

Peter and Rob put on a good show too tonight. Rob really does think he's something and under Tracy's influence he's not going to get a lesson in modesty. Let's just hope they don't breed. So Tracy and Rob are enjoying some afternoon delight but the coffee machine, Rob's baby (hopefully his only one) plays up in his and Tracy's absence. 'Get here now,' yells Peter on his return. Just like last Monday mops are featured again. Not just any old mops but mops with names on them and apparently Peter has one with Rob's name on it.

Tracy feels that Carla is pushing her luck when she asks Tracy to drive the van due to Kirk's absence. She gives Carla a number of bullet points as to why she shouldn't drive the van. But Tracy is no match for Carla and Carla gives her own bullet points right back at her. As Tracy leaves the office, Carla asks Michelle, 'Whatever possessed me to employ her, again?'

Maybe this isn't everyone's view, but Owen's reaction to Ryan is understandable, isn't it? Ryan has a bad reputation, he is with Katy in the afternoon in Anna's house and Katy, in Owen's head at least, is not doing her best by Joseph.  Even Michelle has some sympathy for Owen and recommends that Ryan goes to talk to Owen, hence the apparently legendary vegetable curry. Amusing dialogue between Steve and Michelle was another highlight tonight - so realistic and natural. When Steve offers to intervene in the Ryan/Owen debacle, Michelle tells him he sounds like the Mafia and then adds that, no, he should, 'Never try to help.'

As regards the business about Gary attempting to kiss Tina, well, it's all becoming a bit of a bore and Tina and Tommy are being so ridiculously  precious about it. If all couples split because of an attempted kiss by one or the other, then noone would be with anyone, almost. Of course, it's all a build up to rumours that Tina may not be willing to give up the baby. Sadly though, this story doesn't convince.

And why not Chesney? If the boy wants to become ripped or hench, as the vernacular has it, why not? 'Three months from now, I'll be a different person.' Watch out Ryan.

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