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Monday 17 February 2014

Tina and Peter: Classic Corrie or contrived and dodgy?

Tina and Peter. Whichever way I look at it I think it's just wrong wrong wrong! I know this storyline has been put together to give Michelle Keegan an "explosive" exit and Chris Gascoyne the opportunity to take another break, but it just feels so contrived and dodgy.

First of all, and probably most importantly, I just don't agree that the characters work well together. I don't see the chemistry. Stuart Blackburn has done some interesting things so far with Corrie, some good and some less so, but this isn't right. Blackburn has said how much he is enjoying this storyline so far and I just cannot agree with him. There was no slow burn with this one. One minute Peter and Tina would pass on the street without the faintest interaction or glimmer of recognition, the next they are up those shakey stairs and into his pokey flat, tearing each others clothes off like there's no tomorrow.

Also, Carla, femme fatale of Weathefield, has a less than glittering track record when it comes to female friends. However yet again, Carla and Tina are suddenly buddies, despite having previously had nowt to do with one another. Contrived, or just plain odd?

I know Peter has an addictive personality but would he become so quickly, passionately obsessed with Tina little more than five minutes after marrying the most eligible woman in Weatherfield? I for one very much doubt it. The man was snogging Tina at the wedding reception for goodness sake! I've come to really loathe Peter of late. Chris Gascoyne has always been brilliant, however the sleazy lothario we see before us really is one step too far. Even his previous bigamy storyline didn't feel as sordid as this - although maybe I'm wrong. As Bet Lynch once commented on one of Elsie Tanner's dubious boyfriends "He'd be shouting gerrup them stairs in a bungalow!"

As for Tina's motivation for the affair, who knows. Yes I know she was heartbroken when Tommy Duckworth ran off into the night. And yes, I know Tina was heartbroken over the Izzy/Gary/baby Jake/Joe fiasco, but would either of these developments really fling her into the waiting arms of Peter?

I really didn't like Tina the other night when she convinced Rita she was staying in Weatherfield just for her. We all knew the real reason. Down the line I can see Rita blaming herself when Tina meets her supposed grizzly end.

So are you enjoying the ongoing Peter/Tina storyline or are you, like me, suddenly finding yourself volunteering for household chores whenever they start locking lips on screen?


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38 comments:

Anonymous said...

Couldn't agree with you more, no chemistry whatsoever it just doesn't ring true

Alison said...

Hate hate hate this - definitely contrived and dodgy! Agree with everything you've said above. I also feel sorry for the actors. In the interviews I've read they're obviously having to be positive about the SL but the way they answer questions just screams that they hate it too. And their acting has definitely taken a hit particularly Chris gasgoyne. He has been so wooden and weak in many recent scenes. I hate how the simon/Faye/grace bullying was immediately swept under the carpet clearly a SL only there to try and make peter and Tina seem legitimate - very poor writing!! They're all suddenly so out of character that its painful to watch! The only right decision they've made so far was to keep Tina away during Hayley's death and funeral.

S.cott said...

I agree with every word!

Contrived nonsense is what this storyline is. I will be glad when it's over.

Anonymous said...

These two characters just don't work for me. Their affair is like an encapsulated oddity, inserted out of no where, doesn't ring true and makes both characters unlikeable as they act out an improbable storyline.

Anonymous said...

Totally agree... lazy slackass writing for quite some time now. If the viewing audience spends more time being incredulous rather than enjoying the journey into the Cobbles, it's a good sign that things are slipping even further down the gutter.

Anonymous said...

A couple of months back, Tina went ballistic when Gary 'tried' to give her a kiss. She acted like he'd tried to rape her. Now, Peter looks at her sideways and off come her knickers. Her 'morals'..out the door and, she's on her back. What a load of tosh..about exciting as watching flies feck.

Hilda's Murial said...

Wow, I never thought about watching flies that way. Please erase that picture from my mind. Also erase Tina with Peter while you're at it. Thanks.

--Hilda's Murial

Anonymous said...

Thank goodness for PVR/DVR's and I can fast forward through this storyline. I really don't care. Come to think of it, I'm fast forwarding through a lot of Corrie crap.

Humpty Dumpty said...

I guess the writers were hoping for outrage on behalf of Carla and disgust with Peter. Mostly, I think people feel nauseated and the actors don't look all that comfortable either. A lot of matches in recent times have seemed to come out of nowhere - Marcus and Maria went quickly from friendship to passion which I never found convincing altho I like the couple; Dennis/Gloria is another whirlwind romance like Peter and Tina - totally unbelievable. The slow-burn couples like Tyrone and Fiz, and Kirk and Beth work so much better. When either of these couples marry, it will seem completely believable.

I was never a Tina fan, but I used to adore Peter. He has been utterly ruined. Will anyone care when he leaves? Remember back to the point when he might have died in the tram crash and fans here were so relieved when he survived. Seems a long time ago.

ritaduck said...

i agree hate the plot

abbyk said...

I've always been a Tina fan. She made some horrible decisions but was never malicious and gawd is she pretty. Right now, though, I cringe every time she's onscreen and can't wait for this to end. I so wish the had expanded her relationship with Simon instead of Peter, and, if she had to be killed off, it could have been an accident with many suspects, and devastating consequences for folks left behind. Thanks for leaving a horrible final memory of a favorite.

Anonymous said...

Memories of Leanne and Danny Baldwin are coming back to me! I agree it's a total mismatch!

Anonymous said...

Contrived and dodgy. Extremely uncomfortable to watch, so I don't care anymore about Peter or Carla. Never got hooked on Tina at all, the character, for me, is like Michelle -- mawkish, shallow, back-stabbing. Please, Mr. Blackburn, we don't want anymore.

Carry On Blogging! said...

Very good anonymous, it does remind me of Danny and Leanne too

Carry On Blogging! said...

I still care what happens to Carla. I do look forward to her obliterating both of them, hopefully sooner rather than later

Anonymous said...

I agree with you, Graeme. Personally, I feel like Carla is above this nonsense. I'm curious about what the writers have planned for her.

Interestingly, according to this interview with Stuart Blackburn, Roy will remember that Carla was there for him and Hayley, and there will be a moment in time for Carla when Roy will step up to the mark http://metro.co.uk/2014/01/20/hayley-cropper-dies-in-devastating-coronation-street-cancer-plot-but-whats-going-to-happen-to-roy-4270726/
"He’s got a big debt to Anna and Carla and bit by bit he’ll try and repay that."

Frosty the Snowman said...

Absolute rubbish and difficult to watch. As Frosty previously said there is no on screen chemistry at all between these two and they both seem to be going through the motions on a story they both obviously find uncomfortable. This out of character bon homie with Carla towards Tina is also ludicrous and just not credible. Tina may have been a bit gobby and annoying but now she is just a selfish little slut Both characters ruined with the Peenar trash.

Anonymous said...

Frosty well said! There is zero chemistry between those two. It is almost as sickening to watch as Kevin and Molly ugh! I'm watching in Canada so obviously I've got more of this to look forward to yuck!

Carry On Blogging! said...

Don't make me remember Kevin and Molly!!

Anonymous said...

Too late! Molvin was conjured up as soon as Petina/Tinter came out of the blue...pass the bucket, please...I think I'm going to be sick!!!

Tvor said...

Of course they're a mismatch. I don't think we are expected to believe otherwise. We are expected to know it's a big big mistake on both sides. Peter's affair with Carla while married to Leanne was wrong of him but it had a lot more heart. This doesnt' and I don't think it's meant to have any. Tina is a naive stupid girl who got infatuated and those things do happen quickly esp. at that age after being through a few things that make you vulnerable. Peter has the Barlow genes therefore, this really isn't out of character for him either. He cheated on Leanne emotionally before they were married and physically after so you can't really ride him for snogging Tina on his wedding day. Still not out of character. Contrived? Yes indeed because we know it's going to lead to the exit for both characters. Chemistry? Not really, certainly not like he had with Leanne or Carla or she had with Tommy or Graeme. AGain, I don't think we're meant to think they're going to end up the loves of each other's lives (see above). It's a fling on his part, it's a crush on hers. I like how they're emphasizing how much older he is by changing his hair, showing off that receding hairline and he really is coming across like an aging predator.

I don't like it, but I'm not supposed to be cheering for them, either. Even if I didn't know about the actor exits, I would know that this affair is a mistake from the beginning and is going to end in tears because that's exactly how it's written.

Carry On Blogging! said...

I get what you're saying Tvor, but I still think it's grim and perhaps something other than an affair would have made a refreshing change. It's barely watchable

Anonymous said...

I think that this is it exactly; an affair that's a mistake, and ends predictably in tears is just that, predictable.
However while it would be impossible to hope that every situation would have a surprise ending for the viewers, I just think that these two characters shouldn't even be involved in such a story line together.

SCJ said...

Tina and Peter repulse me so much, I genuinely can't watch. I've missed so many episodes of Corrie due to this ghastly affair.

Carla is one of my favourite characters, so I was never going to enjoy watching Peter cheat on her but there wasn't even a proper build up to this affair. A few weeks of forced interaction between Tina and Peter and then they were together.

Newfy Pearl said...

I am enjoying the storyline in a sick way. lol
I look forward to seeing Carla getting payback. Remember she cheated with Peter when he was with Leanne. She cheated with Liam when he was with Maria. Haha I say to her.
In terms of credibility? I think it is. Barlow genes, addictive personality - this is Peter. As for Tina - she has always been a know it all. The fact that she has gone against character is not really an issue for me. She seems to have taken a moral highground in the past...but if you look at her choices - Tina does what Tina wants....that is her character.
I do find her relationship more believable with Peter than Carla. Peter's relationship with Simon put him on Tina's radar when she was vulnerable, and how can Peter turn down Tina when presented on a silver platter.
But the relationship with Carla? Where did that come from?? Other than Carla being relieved of Simon duty? Total hogwash.

Anonymous said...

Interesting all the Carla support out there. First of all, we have only seen Carla as a serial cheater. Whatever her relationship with Paul Connor was like before their introduction to Weatherfield, all we know of her is that she has viciously ruined two marriages. She has proven ruthless in business also; for example, covering up the death of the Polish woman who was working overtime for Carla's personal biz (not for Underworld). Carla also had no qualms about sending inexperienced Maria to the alter to get a deal worth lots of money and counselled Maria to dress provocatively to entice Frank Foster. Before the faktry fire, Carla considered Hayley to be a good seamstress but also just a frumpy woman. She only changed her mind and respected Hayley when Hayley was the first to forgive Carla for witholding knowledge of Liam's murder by Tony Gordon (which put Roy in danger). Yes, she has some redemption from her helping Hayley in her illness, but I still can't find the way to care about Carla.

Newfy Pearl said...

Well said Anonymous.
The little bit I started liking Carla - while she was there for Hayley - immediately disintegrated when she immediately moved on to play matchmaker with Rob and Tina. LOL This shows true character as she was encouraging Tina to take someone else's boyfriend. Relationships mean nothing to Carla....she just takes what she wants and darn the people who get hurt I the process.

Anonymous said...

They zilch chemistry and it's a horrible storyline but I will enjoy seeing Carla getting a taste of her own medicine. I'm surprised that Carla has had these affairs especially how hurt she was after she discovered Paul Connor seeing prostitutes

vintgal003 said...

Well I see we are pretty much unanimous here...BIG TIME ==PASS== on this story line for the same reasons already stated in above comments...

In addn....

Marcus & Todd storyline = PASS
Sophie & Madie storyline = PASS

Please Mr. Blackburn, IF you read this at all...let's have more HAYLEY & ROY type people...you can see how MUCH they were LOVED!

John McE said...

I'm afraid Peter has made my flesh crawl for years, and this wretched storyline is simply making it worse.

Affairs have always been one of the staples of soaps, but this seems so damn sleazy.

Please make it stop!

Anonymous said...

There are too many affairs, most of which, by the very nature of "affairs" are sleazy.

Too many,and they lose the power to stir interest, except in viewers who wish to voice their disapproval.
Of course, that alone is generating interest, to have viewers actively talking about a storyline.

I do hope the Maddie/Sophie story gets some depth to it, explores the human nature side to the Maddie character and her family.
It'll take some acting, as I'm not a fan of Sophie.

Todd and Marcus.
I didn't like Marcus with Maria, but am pretty sure the Marcus/Todd pairing will at least produce some activity on screen.

Carry On Blogging! said...

I do agree, there are far too many affairs but that sort of thing has long been the backbone of programmes like Corrie. The Todd and Marcus thing is wrong too - surely Marcus would see through Todd pretty quickly? Maddie could grow on me and at least they are better suited than Sophie and Jenna. They just need to find something for Jenna to do now.

Carry On Blogging! said...

Some interesting comments on Carla. I had overlooked her past infedilities I guess, but I still warm to the character a lot more than I do to Peter, Tina or even Leanne.

Anonymous said...

Graeme N I agree Sophie and Jenna were a non-happening, but it introduced Jenna, however so far, she's like the Dennis Tanner character in her lack of activity.

Yes, affairs have always been the back-bone of shows like Corrie, and granted times have changed since Coronation Street began.
Back in the days, however, an affair had the power to really stir things up on the street. It really meant something and was always very interesting; it was never an over-done storyine.

There were far fewer characters in the show and the storylines were afforded much more time and thought, and it showed.

I think it's a shame when viewers get to the point where they want the character(s) to leave their screen.

Carry On Blogging! said...


Couldn't agree more!

Anonymous said...

I love them together! I know it's wrong but there's something about them when they're together, don't know what it is but it gives me the feels haha. I know, I know, it's creepy but for me right.

Carry On Blogging! said...

Haha oh that made me smile! Glad you are enjoying it!

Anonymous said...

If that was for me then cheers haha

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