Coronation Street double episode review, Monday 27 July

In the café Sarah and Bethany are snarling at each other. Anna suggests it might be an idea for Faye and Bethany to get together. Faye at least says 'hi' to Bethany but Bethany holds fast with the sneering and condescension and barely looks at Faye. Then there’s the sarcasm, as Anna acknowledges that you can’t say play together any more. ‘ We could do colouring and dress up as princesses!’  mocks Bethany.

The relationship between Bethany and Sarah is an interesting one. I cannot recall any other mother child relationship where there is but 13 years between mother and child Because of the young age of the mother, there are bound to be differences between such a relationship and one in which the mother is a ‘normal’ age. With that in mind it does seem as if Bethany almost hates her mother, or at the very least, resents her.

  

 When Bethany asks to take a taxi to the Dog and Gun, on her own, was Lloyd in any way curious as to why a 15 year old girl would be going to a pub, a dodgy one at that, which, as a man of the world, Lloyd would know full well and indeed does as he relates a violent incident outside the pub. In his defence Bethany tells him that she is going to see a friend who lives near the pub, but wouldn’t you then offer to take your young passenger to the friend’s house? Does he also not notice that she is dressed up and is wearing a trowel load of make up?  And, by putting two and two together, might Lloyd conclude that maybe, taking her to a dodgy pub might not be the thing to do, at least without checking with her family first? He does give her his card, which at least something.

In The Rovers, Gail asks Sarah where her daughter is. Sarah says she can’t hold her hand all summer. The conversation takes a rather unpleasant turn as Sarah  criticises her own mother. ‘The men always came first,’ she says and the spectre of  Richard Hilman is raised. Lloyd joins them and tells Sarah where he dropped Bethany. Sarah is horrified and charges after her.

Bethany strolls into the The Dog and Gun, determined to appear nonchalant.

Getting herself deeper in, Bethany offers to do a delivery for Callum. He passes a small packet to her which she slips into her pocket, not long before the police decide to raid the pub. Reluctant as I am to compliment Callum, he did take the packet of drugs off her, so that she wouldn’t be arrested,  so maybe he does have a shred of  decency. Gemma wasn’t so lucky and was taken away.  Amusingly, one of the policemen calls Callum after a Columbian cartel leader, Pablo Escovar. That leaves Bethany and Callum on their own, flirting and discussing feelings.  She reaches forward to kiss him but in fairness again, so a second shred of decency for Callum, he pulls away from her. Shortly afterwards Sarah turns up.

Tim proposed and Sally accepted and now they need to discuss the arrangements for the wedding.  Kevin calls in to let Tim know that in town there is a big care showroom looking for a new window cleaner. Kevin has even put a good word in for him.  Always keen on an opportunity to climb the social ladder, Sally is delighted while Tim puts on a veneer of interest and enthusiasm.

Gary decides that a romantic gesture is called for and so arrives at the factory with a picnic hamper. Kind of him though it is, it doesn’t quite suit Alya. She is wildly busy and has no time for picnics, and in an attempt to find her folder, knocks the hamper to the floor, Later Alya apologises and they finish the picnic in the café.

So far so good for Miley with her paternal grandparents taking care of her. It’s Anna’s turn today to have Miley and she suggests to Faye that the three of them should all go to the park together. Faye seems less than enthusiastic. She’ll be at Craig’s watching films in the dark.  Tim spends time with Miley, who he adores and Anna, then goes into The Rovers where an angry Sally discovers him. Because he was with Miley, he didn’t go to the interview at the car showroom. Back home she rails at him for his lack of ambition. Tim tells her that she is comparing him to Kevin, which he does not appreciate. ‘There’s nothing wrong with trying to climb the ladder,’ Sally informs Tim. ‘I climb the ladder every day with a bucket of soapy water and a sponge, ’ Tim informs Sally. He adds, ‘Kevin ran off with another woman. I wouldn’t do that to you Sally.’  Reminded that Tim is a decent bloke, Sally apologises to Tim.

Still, even now, after several appearances of Cathy, I am left feeling confused.  And worse, I don’t believe in the relationship between Cathy and Roy. It feels contrived and superfluous. I recognize that Cathy has problems and that Roy feels, maybe, something approaching a duty to help her and rid her of her hoarding habit. I would love to know if others agree or if I am missing something. Anyway, Roy bravely gives her a ring.  Later she turns up and Tyrone asks if Roy and Cathy might like to join him and Fiz for curry night.

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