I loved Coronation Street last night, I really did. Watching that wonderful hour, I struggled to come up with one single criticism. It may have been the best episode of Corrie in quite some time.And for obvious reasons too. Roy and Hayley stole the show. The Blackpool scenario was superb - it was like going on a trip with two lovely old friends. There was so much affection and love between the two characters it almost came bouncing right through the screen. Julie Hesmondhalgh and David Neilson must be right up there with the best acting talent on our screens right now. With no disrespect to Corrie, the quality of their performances takes the programme to a different level.
I loved the little touches of humour laced with pathos. Roy wandering around with the toy elephant protruding from his shopping bag; the sight of poor old Roy struggling to get his socks off and going for a paddle; Hayley's sheer childlike joy at the ballroom. All classic, human Corrie moments. The Roy and Hayley journey continues to be amazing, even though we know how it's going to end.
The other major story running through Corrie last night was the climax of the latest Platt family dramas. To be honest, I was dreading this slightly. It really feels like the bubble should've burst on this storyline a long time ago. It has become a tad tedious, despite terrific performances from Jack P Shepherd and Paula Lane in particular. Was it all a bit cliched? Yes of course it was, but somehow it still had me gripped. Big secrets always seem to come tumbling out at a big, public events. How many times have Emily and Norris sat on bum-numbing church pews while weddings have crumbled, brides have fled and babies have gone unchristened?
As for the rest, well Gail's acting all pious (Ivy Mark II) despite being in on some of the lies, Kylie's now a single mum and David's out in the cold. It's poor old Audrey I feel the most sorry for in all this. She's the only one who knew absolutely nothing of any of it. Why she doesn't just ditch the lot of them is anybody's guess.
So what did you think of last night's Corrie? Do you agree it was the best episode in a long time? Good or bad, let's have your comments.
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23 comments:
I go along with everything you say, but I think the character to watch is Nick. Co-incidentally, the actor has always looked too old to be Gail's son but now, after his accident, he looks positively ancient. The change in his appearance is deliberate in order to show the extent of his suffering. No longer will he be Gail's little angel but a grown man who might just tell his mother where to go once she starts interfering again. I see Nick and Leanne reuniting to become a mature couple who are meant to be together despite all the evidence to the contrary. Hope the actors stick around for a long time.
What hit me the most about last night's episode was Audrey. Not many lines, but enough, especially her reaction to David: "Oh David. I wouldn't know what to say."
David didn't care about hurting Gail, but seeing his gran disappointed in him did hurt David I think.
The Croppers as always were great.
Kudos has to go to Paula Lane, Jack Shepherd, David Neilson and Julie Hesmondhalgh.
The only downside was to see Stella and Gloria. They have no place in the street - get rid now.
Yes I agree LLifon - Stella and Gloria stuck out like a sore thumb. They should really have left after the Karl saga had ended.
You are right about Audrey - that scene at the end with David was excellent.
Nicely written Graeme. I am looking forward to these episodes. I do wish Gail would join her daughter in Italy forever and I do hope that some how they improve Leanne's attitude if she and Nick are to stay together. To be honest I don't understand why Nick doesn't kick her out as she is negative and bitter and not at all someone we look forward to seeing in any episode.
Audrey is a stellar rock and the only decent member of that family. If only she could "get rid" and find happiness with Lewis. Am interested to see Ben Price now creating, or acting, as a different character with brain injury. I've never really cared much for him as Nick, but am gaining admiration for his acting ability working this character through a life-changing situation. As for Stella and Gloria, I completely ignore those characters -- likely they have to be shoe-horned in to finish up the two actor's contracts. Good article, Graeme.
Totally agree, last night was one of the best. Must say I did like seeing Nick and Kylie together, I think they would be a good couple. The only fault I have is the idiotic munching of an apple at the christening, even Mary wouldn't have really done that, stupid idea.
Yes I didn't understand that either Rosie! If it was there for humour, it fell a bit flat for me. Nick and Kylie are good together...hmmm...
Loved last night's episode. Even my husband who is a part-time watcher (he usually knows what's going on from me telling him) sat down and watched the whole thing, he thought it was great.
What bothered me was why they even invited Norris and Mary to the christening in the first place. I get why the writers would want to put them in there, but it's hardly believable they would get an invite.
The Nick, David and Kylie storyline is a total rip off from Days Of Our Lives and every other American soap opera it has been done to death
Yes, why on earth would Mary and Norris be invited to the christening - very bizarre and if it was only to have Mary munch like a maniac on that apple - well, 50 lashes for that writer! There seemed to be some kind of connection going on between Kylie and Nick - wouldn't be surprised if they got together again, especially if sucked-a-lemon Leanne drags out a reconciliation.
It really was excellent. I too question why Norris and Mary would have been invited and who were all those strangers at the back of the church?? I also quite liked that the Vicar was very kind to David after it all blew up.
Mary chawing on that apple like a hog was disgusting and not necessary - unless it is to show how unhinged she's becoming.
Love Haley and Roy - it's just so sad to think about what's ahead.
Kylie and David - who cares anymore. This should have concluded long ago IMO. I didn't need to watch Michelle giving her dad a telling off either, and how about Liz doing some sort of Spanish type flop about just in time for Michelle's dad to come in and give her the big come-on. As if!!
I would imagine the Norris & Mary weren't actually invited but as churches are public places, anyone can enter at any time to pray etc, no matter what ceremonies are going on at the time. I also imagine there are plenty of people in real life who turn up to sit at the back of christening and weddings just to have a gawp.
(Also, aren't there laws in the UK about weddings having to be in public buildings in order for the public to access them in case of that question "if any person knows of any lawful impediment..." ? It's been a while since I lived there but years ago when I was engaged and looking at venues it was the reason you couldn't get married in a back garden like I did here in Aus).
Am I the only one who was hoping that the fortuneteller would predict a miraculous recovery and Julie wouldn't leave after all?
But yes, it was a remarkable, beautiful episode and I fell in love with Roy and Hayley all over again.
Beautifully shot and told story of Roy and Hayley's visit to Blackpool thankyou for the old Corrie story telling again. Why was Mary at the church? What a stupid moment of Mary eating an apple surely she could have excused herself and gone outside to eat - that poor apple being monstered by her...not a good sight. Boo to the Stella beige group of ladies felt embarrassed watching them snibe at Nick - no class what so ever... Run Kylie take the barnes and run away now.. David will always be the devil in carnate and get away from that house hold. Poor Audrey sack david and get a lovely bubbly person in the salon.
Oh, yes, the best episode in a very long time. Of just about any series, not just Corrie.
All that with Roy and Hayley, and the fortune teller seeing the Death card first. Now I don't believe in Tarot, but she did, cottoned to what was happening, and pulled of an extraordinary random act of kindness for a dying visitor. More of that in the real world, please.
I was very pleased with the way it all turned out chez Platt, with Gail FINALLY taking her blinders off, and Kylie acting like a parent instead of a stroppy teenager. I guess David will sleep on Tina's couch for a while, more dramatics to come. And angry Nick seemed more like tired, sad Nick in the end. I do hope he and Leanne reconcile - they were drunk and miserable, it did only happen once, and it amounted to nothing.
Mary is not funny. She is ridiculous, useless, completely unbelievable, make her go away.
Nits: Where was best friend Sally? No gift, card or call from Aunties Becky & Sarah Lou?
More nits: surely Hayley and Roy must have been to Blackpool hundreds of times already?
It's hardly Timbuktu.
Yes although a tiny bit contrived Roy and Hailey in Blackpool even brought a tear to Frostys eye. But as usual with a church gathering the Christening was preposterous with Kylie waiting untl everyone was assembled to shout out the Platt family secrets - er wasnt this all brought on by her sluttish behaviour in the first place. Gail is beyond irritating and how does she order David out of his own house? I know Helen Worth has a job for life but she really is an exhausted character now. And as for Mary eating that apple like a pig in a church, words fail me, is that what passes for Corrie 'humour' these days? I am just praying they dont team up this repulsive oddball with Roy after Hailey's demise.
I really hated Gail with a passion last night. Also why did David not say that he did not try to kill Nick only stop him telling Leanne? How could Gail order David out of his own house? I felt the whole thing was her trying to make Nick seem innocent when really even Nick sees that he did an awful thing and David was in pain. i seriously considered stopping Corrie as I just felt it was too odd!
I loved the part when Roy and Haley were standing in the ocean and both of them jumped over a wave as it came towards them. A perfect moment, perfectly played.
Eva gets on her high horse despite the fact she tried to drive a rift between Nick and Leanne and caused their breakup on Christmas when Leanne was to run off with Peter. I know her and Leanne made up recently, but still.
Sick of the Price women, they can't leave soon enough. Tired of them rolling eyes and getting high and mighty.
I found it really jarring the way they switched between Roy and Hayley in Blackpool and the misery at the Christening. Those two things didn't really fit in the same episode for me.
I'm finding the Platt storyline quit frustrating because I can't decide what the writers version of the truth is. It seems like they meant to suggest that David deliberately meant to injure Nick whereas the way it actually appeared was that David panicked because Nick was scaring him. So it's pretty frustrating for me because people keep yelling "you tried to kill your brother" and I don't remember any such thing happening, which means my sympathies obviously lie in a different place to everybody else's.
Tonight, 30th October here on the Pacific coast in Canada we saw the tower dance. More than just a few tears here, such moving scenes.
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