There are some strange couplings occurring in Weatherfield at the moment - Peter and Tina, Dennis and Gloria - and now it would appear, Todd and Marcus. It looks like Todd's persistent unpleasantness is about to finally pay off.Yes, Marcus and Todd are going to get it on. I think we all saw it coming as soon as the newly nastified Todd reappeared from that London with a chip on his shoulder (sadly not from the much missed Jackson's Chippy). The Marcus and Maria pairing was a brave attempt at trying something different, instead of the now standard coming out storyline, we had a going back in plot instead.
However after the initial bluster of sulky Sean and a Rovers brawl it all seemed to die a death as they quite clearly didn't know how to develop them further.
I think it was clear that sooner or later Marcus would question his sexuality again, it was bound to happen. I think he loves all the aspects of life with Maria - they get on well and have the family life he craves, but there is something missing. I don't think any of us thought it would end up being Todd in his current vile, manipulative variation. I hope at some point in the future we are given an explanation of what has happened to Todd to turn him into such an unpleasant character. I really liked him the first time round even though he was initially saddled with Sarah-Lou. I think it is really interesting to see how much Jason has matured while Todd has become quite the opposite.
So what could possibly attract Marcus to Todd? It's not his sparkling personality and Emily Bishop-like benevolence that's for sure. Part of it could be Todd's relentless pursuit - I guess many people would be susceptible to that. However it does seem quite far fetched that one minute Marcus and Maria are playing happy families and planning their life in a new home and the next, Todd is inviting Marcus up the Grimshaw staircase. Marcus is a sympathetic, empathetic character at a time when Corrie isn't exactly chock full of them. He's also always been portrayed as smart and well-educated. Would he really not see through Todd's mind games? Or is the truth that he has seen through them and wants to go for it anyway?
I guess time will tell. However the one thing we do know is that this story will end with us saying goodbye to both Marcus Dent and his portrayer, Charlie Condou. This is such a shame, although I understand why Condou might want to try other things. Marcus has been another character with great potential that has sadly never fully been realised, mainly due to a lack of screen time. Let's hope this final storyline does both the character and the actor justice.
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Todd is a very good looking man and is playing on Marcus' ego. I can easily see Marcus developing an infatuation base on physical attraction in spite of Todd's scheming personality which is why it will only last long enough for Marcus to lose everything, see Todd's triumphant "I told you so" face to realize he has been played for a fool by a tosser and leave town, tail between his legs
ReplyDeleteTodd is a very good looking man and is playing on Marcus' ego. I can easily see Marcus developing an infatuation base on physical attraction in spite of Todd's scheming personality which is why it will only last long enough for Marcus to lose everything, see Todd's triumphant "I told you so" face to realize he has been played for a fool by a tosser and leave town, tail between his legs
ReplyDeleteI think its just pure sexual attraction and Marcus feels embarrassed with himself for still feeling it. Maria and Marcus’s relationship seems quite staid and boring; they never had any kids of their own and has probably just hit a plateau. Maria is pretty menough but isn’t that bright and probably has zero conversation apart from hair extensions and the like. Poor old Marcus it’s like a moth to a flame!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with above, especially about Maria and Marcus. We've never been shown what life is like between M & M, and because of that, I think it must be rather dull.
ReplyDeleteMarcus is very nice, educated, and maybe he misses some excitement in his life.
Todd is sharp, speaks his mind, even when he shouldn't and is a manipulator.
He has a spark in his eye that I've never seen in Maria, Marcus should know better, but that's life isn't it.
I agree with previous comments that Marcus is physically attracted to Todd in spite of his character, not because of it. It really is a shame that they didn't do something more with the Marcus character.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be surprised if Maria finds that she is pregnant after Marcus leaves.
I wouldn't be surprised either. It'll give Maria something to do, create some irony, after he's left the street.
ReplyDeleteThey sure didn't do much while they were both on the street.
Here we are trying to find motivations in a plot when all it really comes down to is that Charlie Condou decided to leave Corrie. There are so many ridiculous holes in this story line. As someone else said, Marcus would have confided in Maria and they would have faced the problem together; Eileen would surely have had a word with Marcus not to trust Todd; baby Liam (again, someone else has said this) would have told Mummy that Todd woke him up to take him to the restaurant. That would have made Maria suspicious and she would have wondered why he brought a sick child out when he could have phoned the Bistro if not a mobile. If Charlie wasn't leaving, then I guess we might have seen him falter at some point and doubt his choice. How interesting it would have been if he and Maria had made friends with a couple, and Marcus was attracted to both. Like Hayley/Julie H, Marcus/CC is getting more screen time on his exit story than he's had in months. I don't like the writers taking me for a mug, expecting me to find meaning in a contrived situation created with a quick flick of a pen.
ReplyDeleteForced storylines to write Marcus out without having to worry about what happens to Maria.
ReplyDeleteIs there anything that would attract Marcus to Todd? I agree with Humpty Dumpty; the only reason the Todd-stealing-Marcus-away-from-Maria-story is even playing out now is because, IMO, the character of Marcus has been wasted. Another case of a stable, well-loved character suddenly adopting a personality from hell.
ReplyDeleteGraeme, you're right about Jason developing and maturing. He's been a bit of a bad boy through the years, but never cruel or malevolent as Todd certainly has become.
I wish they would refer to Marcus as bi as they are really confusing the common folks with him choosing to be straight now and that just ain't true and is a disservice to every gay person in the world.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, i know this is a soap opera (been a fan for 25 years), but what is with all the sleeping around and cheating lately? kind of boring, for me.
Makes sense to me. Marcus has been suppressing his gay side for some time now. He forbids himself from pursuing it so it makes sense that he would be vulnerable to being pursued.
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense to me because Todd comes across as intelligent and interesting with an air of mystery about him following his sojourn in that London. And anyway we all like bad boys, or is that just me??
ReplyDeleteI'd say the air of mystery comes across more as an air of unpleasantness but maybe that's just me!
ReplyDeleteI would have like to see Todd come back as the caring man he was instead of the manipulative little toadie the writers turned him into - as they had so many before him. To me it would have been more believable if he were a kinder, more gentle person who really got to Marcus - made him question who he really was. Instead we have this CRAP. Marcus would no way cheat on Maria. It's just not in his nature so him jumping on Todd is just for the shock value I suppose. This storyline could have been so much more but, as per, it's garbage.
ReplyDeleteEnd of rant.
Todd is handsome, I'd do anything for him even if he's evil. He gets my heart flutter more than Maria ever would so I can see why Marcus would fall for Todd. I can't blame him. Sex must be amazing in comparison!
ReplyDeleteIt would have made far more sense if Todd had come back as a vulnerable, defeated and lonely man. He could have commiserated with Marcus (in the same way that Brian did) and then Marcus, in his confusion and attraction, may have crossed the line with Todd physically. Why Todd had to return as a scumbag in order to win Marcus over, I'll never understand.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Marcus would have had less reason to leave the street if he had fallen for a nice person, rather than a ratbag.
ReplyDeleteAs it is, more trouble can arise with nastiness thrown in than it can with kind, sympathetic characters.
Yet again a character returns with a personality transplant and one dimensional to boot. Time and time again characters are brought back and ruined. The same was done with Amber.such a waste to see their better qualities stripped away just to force plots. Smelloid
ReplyDeleteSo sorry Marcus/ Charlie is leaving. His character succeeded in ridding quite a few people of totally unjust and stupid prejudices. Todd is exciting, more so than Maria - and his persistence is clearly flattering to Marcus.
ReplyDelete