Coronation Street double episode review, Friday 1 May 2015

Sally's disdain reaches fever pitch as she insists that Tim remove the tasteless graffiti immediately, and he’s delighted to have the use of Norris’s power washer to ensure the job's a good ‘un. However, Sally’s disgust is tempered somewhat by Roy’s suggestion that she could have a Banksy on her hands. 

After satisfying herself via the internet that spray paint sells, she arrives just in time to throw herself between the power washer and the wall, and takes to guarding the mural with her life courtesy of a deck chair as she awaits an expert assessment from Roy’s historical society pal. 

She fawns at the news he has done a Masters dissertation on the artist until, that is, he tells her what she doesn’t want to hear. There is much entertainment on offer for the small crowd present, as the expert is sent most unceremoniously packing, and both the mural and Sally’s dream of moving to Hale Barnes are washed into the gutter. Her snobbish nature is a delight, but the mural wasn’t the only tribute in this storyline, which was essentially a replica of her approach to the Manhattan Range sofa. Nevertheless, it was enjoyable and Sally and Tim continue to be two of my favourite things about Coronation Street at the moment. I thought Tim pointing out a grammatical error in one of the posters at The Kabin was a brilliant touch after Norris made a mean comment about him buying papers but being unable to read. What has gotten into him? The nasty remarks appear to be on the rise.

Sally and Norris aren't the only pair to have received a dousing as a cheeky comment from Carla sees Sarah begin to doubt Callum's intentions towards her. Confronting him behind the Rovers, he assures her that he's serious, and she's satisfied enough to decide they had better tell David, but Callum's expression makes it unclear as to whether or not he means what he says. I'd have no sympathy for her if indeed he is using her. Nick's right, it's an outrageous relationship to embark on, and if she was half way decent she wouldn't want anything to do with him.

I absolutely love how Roy has been inducted into Curry Club. This time Luke is the chef, but his plan to spike Tyrone's meal with a chili pepper so hot, he claims, it could melt through the floor, goes awry when it becomes unclear as to who has the ill-fated dish. This results in a hilarious scene where they try to prevent Roy eating his by keeping him talking while each pluck up the courage to rule themselves out by tasting their own. In the end, Luke falls on his own sword, and the whole simple but excellent scene is a triumph. These are the kind of subplots, when done right, that make Coronation Street brilliant and if they're as good as this, I look forward to seeing more of them.

As things hot up between Nick and Carla, he receives some news which changes everything. Erica arrives back to tell him she’s pregnant, and while she’s still thinking about what she’s going to do, has a very honest talk with him about how it could be her last chance to have a child and consequently she isn't going to take her decision lightly. A visibly shocked Nick himself says he needs time for it to sink in, and she leaves him to it. Meanwhile Bethany urges Carla to tell Nick how she feels and she marches into the Bistro to do just that when he drops his bombshell. 

They have a very touching chat about bad timing, and she assures him of her friendship. There is a strong 'what could have been' element to the drama which is conveyed brilliantly in the performances, direction and script and it’s all rather heartbreaking in a pleasantly surprising way. I have to say, I’m so relieved that Nick came out with the news at the first opportunity, and that there won’t be any painfully protracted secrecy afoot. It was mature, fitting, respectful and exactly how it should have been. I would ask, however, why they can’t go ahead with starting a relationship anyway? Yes, the timing is bad and he has other things to consider now, but the chemistry is clearly there, and I think based on how this has played out over the past few weeks, that they would make a good couple. 

They say love is blind, but shouldn’t increasing tales of Jenny Bradley’s strange and unacceptable behaviour have Kevin even slightly concerned at this point? Instead he takes her word over his daughter’s every time. Tonight, Sophie calls over to see her brother, and Jenny flatly refuses to let her bath him. As the encounter descends into a one sided shouting match, enter Kevin who again seems to think Sophie is to blame. Sally Ann Matthews continues to be great in the role and conveys brilliantly this rather terrifying side to her character. Maddie and Sophie reconcile, but Sophie refuses to apologise for anything relating to Jenny, and stands her ground.

If Chesney had his way, he’d have Sinead sitting alone in a room staring at a wall. It’s not coming across as concern for her welfare and recovery either, there seems to be a possessive element to his discomfort at visitors which is rather strange. It is true, there’s no doubt that Alya’s heart is in the wrong place as her priority is getting her basques beaded. While Beth thinks Sinead is up to the job, she’s worried that she’ll come off the worse for going behind Carla’s back. This doesn’t seem to worry Sinead or Alya, the former enjoying the distraction, and the latter with her sights set on underworld domination.

These episodes by Damon Rochefort and Jayne Hollinson had strong characterisation, sparkling dialogue, and the right balance of humour and drama, and I thoroughly enjoyed them. 

By Emma Hynes

www.emmahynes.wordpress.com

Twitter: @ELHynes

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