Coronation Street double episode review, Monday 26 August 2013

So it's Bank Holiday and the rivalry is about to begin between Anna and Sally. Anna is having a barbecue but Sally is having a garden party. Sophie is understandably embarrassed by Tim and Sally's show of affection. It seems Sally is attracted to a man in stripes as she tells Tim he looks gorgeous in his stripey shirt as it accentuates his shape.

Sophie tells her mother that rain will fall but Sally says, 'I don't even care if it's a monsoon; this garden party is going ahead.' Of course Sally is being absurdly snobbish about her garden party, but she is kidding no one but herself with her pretentiousness. Why do it Sally? You look ridiculous, as does anyone who claims to be what they're not. People are much more likeable, whoever they are, when they are themselves.

The playing out of Sally's snobbery does provide some comedy, though parts of it descend into farce. Sally wanders around with a cake-stand and as Rita tells her how nice the table looks, Sally informs us of the effect she is trying to create - retro-chic it seems is her plan, with an air of the village fete. 'It might be in Weatherfield but some of us are looking at the stars.' Not sure what Oscar Wilde would have thought about a version of his words appearing on the Street, but I'm pretty sure he would have been honoured. While Sally is cooking prawns, next door Anna is defrosting burgers. Dolly Parton for Anna and Susan Boyle for Sally. At least Tim wasn't wearing a joke apron. Anyone else troubled by Owen's apron cleavage and accompanying tassels?

Steve wasn't happy with the prawns, Michelle called that 'cheese thing - rank.' Wonder what the truth is about the halloumi surprise. Sally continues her 'better than next door' competition by blasting out Katherine Jenkins and saying how she loves opera. No problem with anyone loving opera, but it's the using it to impress that is so objectionable. Sally is so much more personable when she says that at her age she just wants someone who is nice. Rita thinks Sally and Tim are well-suited, but Tim did spend rather a long time at Anna's, but his daughter Faye was there. Michelle did her best to point out to Sally that looking longingly across the fence might come across as being a little too needy. Michelle says, ' You know when you see a dog in a window waiting for its owner to get home...'

The arguing over the bottle of tomato sauce with both Anna and Sally grabbing it and refusing to let go, was just ridiculous really, not even slightly amusing. When you think of Deirdre's brilliant lines recently, it does look poor at an attempt to create comedy. And anyway, where was the wonderful Deirdre? Not at either barbecue, which was a big disappointment. We didn't see her with Eileen either, who attended neither barbecue. Poor Julie - doing her best to cheer her sister up, she was having no luck. Nothing she suggested by way of Bank Holiday fun was of any interest. Though a search for the next Rhianna would not be everybody's idea of fun. Still, there was no need for Eileen's request in the pub for 'a body bag for my sister.'

Welcome to baby Lily and well done Kylie. So, whoever is the daddy, Lily is Gail's grandchild. So what now David? What an escape David had as he was just on the point of confessing to Leanne, forced into it of course by Tina. No question - he had to go.

Leanne's angst about whether she was to blame for the crash was heartbreaking, so convinced she was that it was her phone call that caused the crash.

Welcome back Roy and Hayley, but Sylvia has gone to her sister's, Roy's Auntie Jean. Rather poignantly, Roy says that, 'Whenever things get difficult, she turns her back.'

Not everyone is a fan of Mary, but when she and Norris come into the cafe, Mary asks for 'a cheery disposition.' He has obviously found it difficult being 'roomies' with Mary, though he tells us that he has had 'the pleasure of Mary morning, noon and night' to which Jenna responds, 'Oh aye?'
Mary explains that Norris is despondent today because he has been invited to neither barbecue whereas she has been invited to both. 'Two coffees and an iced finger. Norris will pay.' And off she goes.  

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