I know Todd has only been back a week, and the reasons for his harsh unpleasantness may soon be revealed, however I must admit I'm really not enjoying it.
So far he's cost his mother £500 she cannot afford and will probably never see again, given her a load of cheek and strop, freeloaded from Julie and anyone else who looks his way and attempted to blag a job from Nick Tilsley. Yes, the guy he tried to snog while being shacked up with his sister. Not bad for a week's work.
He is only still under his mother's roof because he knew Sean would be a soft touch. After all Sean has been through, would he really be that gullible? Probably. Would Todd really think asking Nick/Gail for a job would be a good idea?! The only chink of light I can see in all this is that it may lead to a rematch on the cobbles between Gail and Eileen. That scene from 2004, all wet hair, pursed lips, camp insults and towelling fabrics askew, will stay with me for years to come. More please!It would appear Todd is going to set his sights on poor Marcus in the weeks and months ahead. Obviously that means Todd the terror is going to remain Bruno Langley's characterisation for the foreseeable. If Marcus and Maria do split up, I hope it is because Marcus or Maria realise the relationship is not working, not because Todd has decided to propel himself and his dodgy haircut directly at Marcus Dent's face. I don't think I can cope with Maria going into another hysterical meltdown. If she did, Audrey might have to get David back to cope with the Renshaw twins, and that would never do.
Perhaps lovely Marcus, who we hardly see at all, sadly, will be the one to make Todd see the error of his ways? Mr G certainly needs some sort of positive influence, otherwise he's destined for a life of Eileen's cottage pie and forty hours a week in Packing. The one thing that Todd's return has made me realise is just how far Ryan Thomas has come as Jason over the past thirteen years. When the brothers first hit our screens I couldn't stand Jason, much preferring the more sensitive, kindly soul that was Todd. Jason's character has grown onscreen, more consistently of course because Ryan Thomas has stuck with Corrie throughout. I think that's paid dividends though, as Jason is by far the stronger character now.
So do you like what you've seen so far from Todd? Are you happy to see the character back on screen? What are your hopes for Todd, and indeed the other Grimshaws in the months ahead?Follow Coronation Street Blog on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog and Facebook: CoronationStreetBlog
All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License
Who knows how the Todd story will unfold? Pretty certain he'll only be around for a short time because the actor will want to do something else. But I really agree with you, Graeme, about Jason developing as a character. Much of that is down to Ryan Thomas developing his acting skills. The same was true for Simon Gregson until they started messing around with Steve's IQ. Not all long-standing characters develop as well as this. Look at Sophie - awful character but not helped by BV's portrayal.
ReplyDeleteThe eyes have it, as they say. Jason, particularly, has very expressive eyes, like Eva, which will make them a great couple given the right script. So many of the other actors have blank faces until directed to grimace or sneer like they're in a panto.
Early days..I'm looking forward to seeing how Todd's storyline unfolds. He'll find a soul-mate in Marcus I think. Anything to get Marcus away from Maria.
ReplyDeleteI think it's really disappointing that they've gone down this route with Todd. Many characters have been given personality transplants over the years,but this one seems particularly inappropriate as Todd was much loved as a character particularly in his "coming out" story. Perhaps they felt that all the gay characters are already too nice,and they needed a nasty one. But,lets face it Marcus and Jenna are terminally dull and should be dispatched pronto. Even if they'd wanted to go down a less sympathetic route with Todd,they could have done so without turning him into another one dimensional baddie. They've done so with Peter Barlow who is a flawed and often selfish character. But he's also a believable and sympathetic character. Todd's currently en route to being a male version of Tracy. The only hope is that we gradually see him develop into a more rounded character. It happened with Owen who started off as another psychopath in the making but is now a really believable man. Maybe,it's down to the actor and how they play the scenes. Let's hope Bruno Langley manages to pull it round.
ReplyDeleteThe episodes of the past week had me really wondering just what the writers are thinking. I get that it's television and they are just characters and you need great stories but there are some things that are happening that all the years of character development would tell you isn't in their nature.
ReplyDeleteTodd would not have gone to the Bistro looking for a job. Even if he thinks Nick could get past what happened, Gail wouldn't. And Gloria wouldn't just let someone in off the street behind the bar.
I think Marcus leaving Maria for Todd would be another instance of the writers going against what has already been established as a character's nature. He would already know about what Todd has pulled in London and that he's covering something up and I can't see him getting involved with that sort of nonsense.
I find Todd a bit of a prat and dont really have any interest in him and his sponging off his mother yet thinking he is a cut above everyone. At this rate I hope he doesnt last long,
ReplyDeleteThis is extremely boring and just shows the writers in a bad light with zero imagination.
ReplyDeleteWe've already had Ryan in the past year come back from university a failure. Sponge of his once proud mother and had to endure his pratish behaviour. He split up Katy and Chesney, so if the rumuours are true Todd will do the same with Marcus and Maria they've just dusted off old scripts and changed the names. (The only difference is that at least Todd came back with the same head and Ryan didn't).
We all put the bunting out for Ryan's departure and only a few weeks later along comes Todd to re-enact the same...... Come on Mr Blackmore earn your $$$$$
Beth - don't forget Uni drop-out Amber the year before, who returned a prize prat, sponged off her Dad and split up Sophie and Sian *yawn*
ReplyDelete