Coronation Street double episode review, Monday 5 August

So, we know Nick knows, but Leanne doesn't know Nick knows. Gail doesn't know David knows and Gail doesn't know Nick knows and Kylie doesn't know David knows and doesn't know Nick knows that David is the avenger.

Of course Nick is tense this morning because he has realised that the person tormenting him and hell bent on ruining his life, is his very own brother, David. When Simon asks where his goggles are Nick snaps at him, but Leanne is on the case asap. Good to see Simon (but not to see him shouted at so unfairly) and he looks decidedly more grown up because that's what children do - grow up. Gail confirms this when she says to Izzy who is holding baby Jake, to enjoy it because 'it all goes so fast.'

These days cheers greet Deirdre when she appears on our screens - and tonight, once again she demonstrates why. It's opening day for Rob and Trace's shop. Deirdre tells her beloved daughter that she believes Tracy would sell her if she thought she could get a few quid. And with  a comment foreshadowing future events, Deirdre says, 'It's a car crash waiting to happen.'

Peter, always on the look out for ways of upsetting Rob, succeeds twice tonight - once by being the first customer and twice by cunningly suggesting that Tracy should move in with Rob. Of course, we strongly suspect that Rob has no intention of committing to Tracy and Amy. Peter reminds Tracy that she is living with her mum in a cramped terraced house and that Rob has a rather nice spacious flat which would be ideal for Tracy to move into. Of course! Why hadn't she thought of that? Excited and no doubt anticipating an enthusiastic yes, Tracy puts the idea to Rob. His response, as we viewers and Peter had strongly suspected was decidedly cool. He begins a run through the excuse route beginning with 'We've just opened the shop. There's no time to think about other stuff.' Tracy latches on to what she perceives as an insult. 'So, I'm other stuff?.'

Tina is back from her holiday and the first living being she sees is baby Jake - maybe still baby Joe to her. She also speaks to David and is clearly anxious about what he might be capable of. 'My plans are coming along nicely,' he tells her.  Nick notices the two talking and asks her what they were talking about. Nick tells Tina that he's worried about David and Tina lets slip more than she had planned. She tells Nick that he won't listen to her and that he has found out that Kylie had slept with someone else. 'He's angry, he's bitter and I'm scared how far he'll go.' Nick has the confirmation he needs and starts to plan.

Meanwhile there is the business about Steve's complicated back problem, so painful that he can't lift a box of crisps. There's Jenna finding Sylvia challenging, Mandy keen to sort her out, despite the fact that Jenna is 29.

Then there's Craig and his theft of the plastic paper boy and Kirk's description of being terrified on opening Craig's wardrobe and seeing the eyes of the plastic paper boy. Yes, there's all that but sadly none of it really hits the spot - it is at most mildly amusing, at worst disappointing and a bit irritating. Just one of these incidental bits worked and that was when Tracy tried to get Simon to work for her and with the wisdom of someone three times his age, he asks, 'Do I look like I was born yesterday?'

Inevitably now to the trip  the two brothers make to the fake wine venue. Maybe because of the hype surrounding the crash it would inevitably disappoint. I never enjoy being negative about this generally wonderful soap but something convincing was missing throughout the brothers' discussion and the eventual crash. Such a shame.

Writers PLEASE make more of Craig. He has superb comedic potential but at the moment he is being presented as a slightly dumb dolt. Again, such a shame.
         
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