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Friday 25 October 2013

Coronation Street double episode review, Friday 25 October

Tyrone’s Friday feeling went south quickly when he had a spoiler delivered to the garage: the news that Tommy had done a runner. Tina gets the brunt of Tyrone’s anger, but she’s unfazed, and seems convinced of Tommy’s return. That is until later on when Tyrone tells her he has received a call from Tommy, that he won’t be coming back, and he can’t say where he is. Tina is furious, but appears more concerned with her feud with Tracy.

While increasing scenes between her and Peter hint strongly at a future storyline, you won’t get a bolder indicator than the pair of them stood in the street helping each other pick knickers off the ground.

Tina takes the opportunity to plant a pair in Rob’s car while it’s being serviced by Tyrone. Tracy cops the culprit quickly enough, but this doesn't stop Rob asking Tyrone at the garage if he’s a cross dresser and refusing to pay the full cost of the service. When the prime suspect arrives, he warns her to stay away from Tracy. All this is too much for Tyrone who accuses Tina of losing him custom and his co-worker, and tells her “Rob doesn't need to get over himself, you do”.

Ignoring him, obviously, Tina takes a trip to Barlow’s Buys where Tracy turns her cruellest, and disrespects the memory of her father. Tina sees red, and throws a brick through the window. The satisfied grin on her face was a heartening sight.

Once Tracy has threatened Tina for what she has done, and always quick to make the worst of a bad situation, she starts smashing up the shop contents to maximise the insurance claim. We again see Rob pushed to his limit with her, and wonder how long their pairing can continue. If he does consider leaving, he’d better hide any statues lying about.

Meanwhile an unrepentant Tina doesn't feel the need to apologise to anyone, even Peter despite him owning the premises. He doesn't seem to mind though, and even warns Tina about Tracy, reminding her to “see Weatherfield cemetery for further details”. We also see the first close up of Peter looking at Tina in a way he hasn't quite done before.

Not everyone is as forgiving though, as Liz tells Tina her behaviour is bad for business and she doesn't want to be in a position where she has to fire her. Tracy’s warning follows, and Rob makes me laugh for the first time when he quips "This really is the last chance saloon”.

Tim’s attempt at saying sorry via a box of shell-shaped chocolates ends badly as they find themselves in Sally’s bin. After overhearing Sophie asking Dev for air freshener to get rid of him, as he’s like a bad smell, he obviously has a bit of thinking to do. It’s ironic that his most considerate moment to date comes in deciding that Sally is too good to be treated in this way, and the fairest thing would be to dump her. Even so, he tries to slither out of it until Dev firmly tells him to get it over with. 

When he arrives at Sally’s, he is offered a golden opportunity to get out of the relationship guilt free when she starts taking the blame for it not working out. Was anyone else shouting at the TV in disbelief when she started listing all the good things she had done for him as reasons why she deserved to be dumped? “That isn't just a lily-of-the-valley plug-in you can smell” she tells him, “it’s desperation”. She’s not wrong. Is that the same air freshener Sophie approached Dev for I wonder? If it was meant to get rid of the bad smell that is Tim, it hasn't worked. He decides to give it another go and wipe the slate clean, as it seems to have dawned on him all of a sudden that Sally might be worth the effort.

Julie’s mind is set on fostering and she talks up a disinterested Brian to Sally who questions whether or not he actually wants children. Julie is too kind to be hurtful, so we have to presume that her slight about Sally’s fashion sense being forsaken for the sake of being a mother was a dig in response to her nosiness. Sally would appear to be right though, as Brian has none of the enthusiasm which has Julie beaming. It seems he has his eye on a new career at the museum and a future which doesn't involve children.

As Stella settles in at the Bistro, Gail tries to get her to contact Leanne, fearing that Nick will never make a full recovery without her.

Predictably, the end of the line has come for Jenna and Sophie. After seeing tensions brewing over the past while, it was no surprise.

Finally, Chesney is not covered by insurance as the lock up was left open, and has therefore officially lost everything, but Sinead assures him that they’re in it together and will get through it. When she tells him his butty is out of date, it seemed apt. I’m all for the portrayal of reality, but the lack of excitement in their lives makes it feel like they’re already past their sell by date. Dev comes to the rescue, employment wise at least, and offers a delighted Chesney the job of manager at the kebab shop. Here’s hoping the hot sauce and sizzle won’t be restricted to the pan for this pair who definitely need a bit of spice in their lives.


The episode ends with a vicious Tracy telling an apparently carefree Tina that there are “seven kinds of hell heading your way girlfriend”. With the kind of hell Tracy can unleash, do we need the other six?

By Emma Hynes
Web: www.emmahynes.wordpress.com
Twitter: @ELHynes

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15 comments:

abbyk said...

I guess today was a break from all the good stuff we've been seeing of late. Lets call it Out of Character Friday:

- Tina is headstrong, but she's also street smart and she isn't violent. The woman who helped an illegal friend get a visa and sidestepped Terry & the Baddies went on a taunting spree and then threw a (fairly small) rock through a window?
- Sophie is normally dull and underwhelming, but today she was a bratty blabbermouth. When has she ever whinged to Dev on the street? Never.
- Rita and Nick continue their nasty streaks.
- Tim and Jenna were pleasant and had some dimension.
- Rob evoked empathy.
- Peter looked at someone young enough to be his daughter??? Lucy, Leanne and Carla were/are all younger but not that much.

All that, and Dev gave the manager job to Chesney without a moment's thought to longtime employee Sophie?

Anonymous said...

I can't find coronation street 10/25/13 on you tube!!

Anonymous said...

The Peter/Tina scenes were ridiculous. They have only just started interacting.

Sadly I will end up hating Tina by the time she leaves. Same goes for Peter.

Unknown said...

The review of the double episode actually made it seem appealing as opposed to the show itself. I found it rather dull and the feud between Tracy & Tina very petty. The brick smashing through the window seemed something to offer shock value, and not a well thought out part of the storyline. I think that there should have been more of a build up to Tina smashing the window, if it had to happen. I think we should have seen her reach rock bottom and show her at least talking about missing Tommy, shedding a tear, showing more frustration at the crumbling world around her first, so we could empathize more with her, so when she did what she did which was utterly foolish we could kind of just get it more. But then it's Tracy Barlow so any chance to destroy her life is welcomed I guess. All in all, this double bill was the dullest it'd been for a while and I was anticipating a sweet scene with Hayley & Roy to save it. Gail as usual was being the over protective, annoying mother, and I'm finding her character more and more annoying, but I do feel for David I do but I reserve further judgement until I see what is to unfold. I totally agree about Sinead and Chesney, they are a rather boring youbng couple, I fear that they are both old before their time. Maybe Corrie are still trying to firmly find their feet with the pairing but a bit of spice indeed is needed. But nevertheless I am looking forward to what is to come: Simon's bullying storyline, Todd's return, Jimi Mistry and Hayley Tammerdon joining the show, Dennis wanting to start a pop career, the rest of Hayley's storyline. Not so much Tina & Peter's affair but again I reserve judgement for now. But yes despite today, Corrie firmly remain my favourite soap and I look forward to what lies ahead! ..

Canuktuk said...

Great write up! I am really wishing Brian would just hurry up and leave already, this whole fostering thing is going to be more of the same drawn out blather we endured with Anna Windass (and look how well that's turned out)!

Is Jenna leaving the Street? Finally realized that she is a highly trained professional who should do something meaningful with her life?

Just because Sophie has been whinging behind Dev's grocery counter for awhile doesn't mean she has the same entrepreneurial savvy that Chesney might. Besides, this is Dev, it's not like he'd offer a woman a position of authority!

Jam said...

These two episodes were, for me, the worst that have been on for quite a while. I've been feeling that things have been getting back on track recently and really enjoying the programme again, but the constant confrontation and aggro were a throwback to the worst of the Collinson era. And when exactly did CS become the Tina McIntyre show? I thought for a moment she was going to start giving Roy grief counselling in the café. For me, her departure can't come soon enough. If she could take Tracy and Sophie with her, then all the better.

Frosty the Snowman said...

I am not sure who the writers were yesterday but the scenes seemed disjointed and frankly quite boring. Sophie yelling and moaning again and Jeanna quite rightly fed up with her - Sally acting like a total doormat over the gnome lookylikey which is out of character and becoming a tad tiresome now, Tracy;s over the top ridiculous behaviour - smashing perfectly good lap tops? The woman would have been sectioned years ago for behaving the way she does. Julie droning on to Brian about fostering when we all know he is leaving and who fill out important and confidential documents on a lap top in a busy caff? And pointless stupid Stella lording it up in the Bistro and patronising Gail with her 'advice'. All pretty dire.

Billy Niblick said...

I'm afraid I simply cannot see the point of the character that Tracy Barlow has become - a sort of absurd pantomime-ish cross between Penelope Pitstop and Dick Dastardly. Even less can I understand the blatant script manipulation (a "technicality", eh?) that permitted the frankly very poor actor that plays the role to return.

There's simply no enjoyment in watching Tracy's ludicrous hate-feuds any more. Not that there ever was.

Glenda Young said...

Excellent review Emma, made me chuckle!

Humpty Dumpty said...

A small brick completely shatters the shop's front window. This used to be a bookies, and then had a completely new shop fit which, apparently, didn't include toughened glass. Never mind neighbourly feuds, what about theft? The bookies would surely have had it, anyway. The glass would simply have cracked.

The main problem with Tracy is she's a woman in her late thirties who behaves like a teenager. There's no depth to the character or the actor's portrayal of her.

Peter and Tina's affair seems highly improbable. Another plot device because both actors are leaving.

I'm looking forward to the story about Simon's bullying. He's played by a terrific little actor.

Anonymous said...

Okay..WTF was Liz wearing? She looked like a large bottle of pepto-bizmol. I get that they want to tone her down a bit but c'mon. If they're bringing Liz back..bring 'Liz' back..the one I know - sexy..dresses cust high and low and lots of fun - not someone giving a scolding to a spoiled brat (Tina). Liz has chucked Tracy out more than once and should've said more than 'one more word and you're out' which of course would be ridiculous because Tracy can't shut up. The feud between T&T is not that explosive. See what I did there?? ;)

Defrost Indoors said...

There are some characters and storylines which feel like a detraction from the main action. Anything with Tracy, Sofa&Jenna, or the deathly dull Ches&Sinead falls into that category. You wait impatiently for the 'real' characters and action to get back on the screen.

ChiaGwen said...

Anonymous - I too can't find 25/10/13 on YouTube either! Very strange and it is Sat 26th already. :(

Anonymous said...

@ChiaGwen, Did you find it yet? Here's a link to Part I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj11sarosmc Part II: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI1HeFX-Sqg

The youtube police are clearly on the case:/ Thus the tilted screen to avoid copyright violation.

Anonymous said...

Thank you.

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