There have been mixed reactions to Corrie of
late with some feeling it’s not the best it can be. For my part, there have
been some brilliant episodes mixed with those that have not been so great. The pending arrival of pop stars and lamentable departure of some great actors aside, I’ve
been thinking a lot lately about what may not be working as well as it could, and
I present Corrie’s Seven Deadly Sins as I see them.
- Considering comedy as second to
high drama
Corrie is deservedly marked out for its ability
to combine the dramatic with the comedic. However, drama seems to be considered
more important and it sometimes feels that humour is put in to keep up the
show’s reputation for it, thus making it feel forced. Comedy
comes via one liners and subplots which is fine up to a point, but it needs to
have a more central role. Sally’s sofa and curry night are recent examples of
great comedy, but they are little more than temporary subplots while serious
stories are prolonged for months on end. Comedy then fulfils the role of light
relief, but continuously relegating it to this position is a mistake as it can
be just as powerful as drama. I’d love to see a light-hearted, funny story take
centre stage for more than a few episodes. It would be essential that it is rooted
in character, the reason why Sally’s graffiti worked and Sharif’s chickens didn’t.
- Overdoing the ‘explosive’
This is a term which comes up again and again. Corrie
is brilliant at delivering high drama, and I’ve spent many enjoyable hours on the
edge of my seat courtesy of the programme. But I fear relentless fireworks could result in burn out. Viewers crave normality and Coronation Street
- Personality transplants
Nobody that watches Corrie should ever have cause
to say “ -- would never do/say that”. The show is approaching its 55th
anniversary. Characters that were born on our screens are now
married with children. What makes it so special is that we have grown up with
these fictional people, and this is the very reason why we expect faithful adherence to who they are. It's frustrating when someone acts
completely out of character, and the only reason you can think of is to further
a plot. I don’t believe Gail would have failed to tell Michael about Gavin
before his funeral or have married him harbouring
such a secret. Nor do I believe that Owen would have meekly accepted his
daughter dating a drug dealer. It’s crucial that a character reacts
faithfully to any scenario faced.
- Privileging the nasty
From cruel comments to bad apples, sometimes it
feels like nastiness pervades the cobbles like a creeping moss and it sours the
programme. There are good characters, but even these can be surprisingly cutting at
times. We need good natured, big hearted people who do not waiver to infuse the
show’s spirit with integrity at all times. It would also be good to see a few
more transformations like Maddie’s to assure us that badness isn’t terminal.
- Undermining the Seldom Represented
The fact that Roy Cropper is in Corrie at all speaks volumes about the programme. He represents those in every community who
are seldom televised and his portrayal shows the value they
bring and ensures they get the respect they rightly deserve. It’s irking then
to see him patronised or made little of. This needs to stop. While they can only dream
of being the person Roy is, Mary and Norris are two other examples of such
people, but the former has become unbearably unhinged, and the latter’s serpent
tongue can be disarmingly cruel. It would be better to celebrate their positive qualities rather than negate them through poor behaviour, otherwise their portrayal does more damage than good and you'd question the value of having them there.
- Amnesia
As above, we have almost 55 years of rich history to
draw from, so let’s do it. It doesn’t take much, and we don’t even have to go
that far back. Why does Michelle have nothing to do with her nephew Liam? Why
have we not seen a scene between Sarah and Faye considering Sarah's return and Miley's birth coincided? What
happened to Nick’s brain injury? Why is the bus crash no longer discussed considering Sinead still suffers? Why has Jenna not been mentioned since Lloyd's return? After a disappointing issue-led literacy storyline, Tim's progress is barely mentioned. Corrie fans don’t forget and thinking of
the programme as an intricate tapestry woven over a lifetime enriches our
experience. Neglecting to remember can be a big irritant for viewers.
- Forgetting the source of reality
There are those who like to enlighten soap fans
that, “it’s not real you know”. Yes, looking at any long term Corrie character
and considering everything that has happened to them can tell quite a tale, but
this is not where the true reality lies. When it comes to a programme like
Corrie, the reality is found in characters’ reactions to events. If a flying
saucer lands on the cobbles tomorrow, we’ll be happy once Norris is phoning the
Council to have it removed, Tony is eyeing it up for scrap value, Julie is
planning a welcome party, and Sally is wondering if they’re from Hale Barnes.
Not quite, but you get the picture. I maintain that the reality lies in how a
character reacts to a given situation, no matter how far fetched. It’s thanks
to Corrie itself that we know its characters inside out and portraying them
realistically both rewards our knowledge and guarantees our enjoyment.
For those feeling a bit of despair at the
moment, it is all completely fixable. If there weren't brilliant examples to draw from, we wouldn't know what needs to happen to make it right. I am sure our faithfulness will be rewarded and see us through as it always does.
By Emma Hynes
Twitter: @ELHynes
All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License
16 comments:
Excellent points, well made. The powers that be should be listening!
Absolutely spot on as always, Emma. Going on from your comment about 'it's not real, you know', I really do think the producers would like us to think this. Why else would they roll out the actors to give interviews on why their characters are behaving in such-and-such a way? We might see the lovely Debbie Rush explaining why Anna is being so harsh to her daughter. Of course, it's PR but I'm cynical. We're supposed to be so charmed by the actor in the interview that we tend to forgive the ropiness of their character's development. This is surely the only reason that Tracy has survived for so long, and probably Sophie, too, simply because the actors come across as lovely people. Those of us who have watched Corrie for years aren't duped. We want consistency and truth in our characters, not explanations by the actors on day time TV.
Brilliant, Emma.
Well written. Many thanks for your time and consideration.
Thanks for coherently writing all the thoughts that were jumbled in my head!
Absolutely right! Well done, Emma.
Excellent post. In days gone by, the actors maintained the integrity of their characters and writers and directors would have deferred to them. An example that springs to mind is William Roach refusing to play Ken passively during the Mike/Deirdre affair. And there's no way Pat Phoenix would have allowed Elsie to be portrayed inconsistently with her core character. To what extent does that happen now, I wonder?
A lot of viewers objected to Hayley's right to die storyline, but the actor herself came forward and explained why it was consistent with Hayley's character to choose that way to die. So it sometimes goes the other way, with viewers getting it wrong as well.
Good points. I might add another sin: sex. There are motives for human behaviour other than sex. I realize adultery is a staple of soaps but when it is over used, it loses dramatic impact. Also, the consequences of unprotected sex are more than getting pregnant. Have the writers not heard of a small, incurable epidemic that had been killing people around the world for the past thirty years? They call it HIV.
Absolutely cannot stomach Mary. I don't find one thing remotely comedic about her.
Very well presented to us Emma...I absolutely agree with your overview.....
About that flying saucer: Tim is asking if they need their windows washed, Ken recommends good books that they really should read, Yasmeen commandeers the space for a lending library/reading room, and Kevin informs them that he can't possibly have it repaired today as he has too much work on.
As always Emma,a lovely, balanced read!
When I try to express the same frustrations on this blog, my comments get deleted for being too negative. I'v actually stopped watching 99% of the time and peek in every so often just to see if I can stand it again.. which I cannot yet.
I'm waiting with hope that one day, it will smarten up and be what it could and should be again.
I also read this blog once in a blue moon these days, and was happy to read I'm not the only one feeling this way about the show lately.
Thank you all for your comments, it's always appreciated when readers take the time to leave a few words about our work.
Thanks so much for this Emma! I especially agree with number 4. I still think that they made a mistake bringing back Tracy: she is a killer (and we all know that she killed her boyfriend.. just because he cheated on her).
Rebecca in TO
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