She disappeared for a while to look after her mum, got pregnant at 50 with Nick's child, ran the wrath of Gail but then sadly lost her baby. Erica's settled down now into nights with Nick, days of drinking in the Bistro, and doing little else in between. And that's exactly why I love her.
There's no point to Erica, she doesn't do anything. She doesn't work, she doesn't have a job, she doesn't even spend much time with Liz, her only friend. She isn't involved in any major stories, she doesn't have an agenda, she just sits at the bar and drinks. Well, I like a woman who plays to her strengths.
There's a lot we don't know about Erica - and that's another thing I like. I have no burning desire to unearth some mystery back story about her, it's good she has no baggage. I don't care. I'm enjoying watching her just being herself, drinking at the bar, exchanging glances and words with anyone she fancies.
When she finds out about Nick snogging Carla, and she will as this is soap, will she crumble? Will she break down and die? Oh no, not Erica. She will survive. I'm not even sure she likes mumsy-boy Nick much. He's just someone to snog and canoodle until the bar opens again. Next week she goes for a drink with Lloyd, so she can't be that torn up about Nick before moving on to fresh meat.
I love Erica because she Just Is. There's nothing to stop her moving into the Rovers with her mate Liz and the two of them running the pub together. There's nothing to stop her putting a bid in for Underworld and taking the factory off Carla's hands, bringing in a manager and letting it do its thing while she reaps the rewards. There's nothing to stop Erica from going out and getting a fella. There's nothing to stop her doing anything she flaming well likes. But it's the fact she chooses not to do any of this that I find so intriguing. All she wants to do is drift to the nearest bar stool and drink a large glass of red.
Last night on Corrie as Erica sat at the bar in the Rovers next to Carla, she ordered a full bottle (a full bottle!) of red wine to drink on her own (on her own!) in the afternoon (I know!). When Carla came into the pub, Erica asked Sarah for another glass so she could share the bottle with Carla.
"You start drinking with me you'll get a repuation!," Carla joked.
Erica's reply was: "I've never really been one for worrying what people think."
And that, in a nutshell, is why she's wonderful to watch.
The future is bright.
The future is Erica.
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11 comments:
I agree it's fine to have background characters who 'just are'. Kirk's one of those who pops up mainly in other people's storylines. However, Erica's another Andrea for me. Rather dull. Possibly because Erica hooked up with Nick, she hasn't become someone I'm very interested in. They're both pretty dull characters and I don't much care what happens to either of them. It's becoming clear with such a huge cast that some characters only work when they're with stronger actors/characters. Tracy works well with Roy and Rob but not with Robert. Sophie's OK with Tim but not with Dev. This theory falls down with Lloyd. Brilliant as Craig Charles is, the only partnership that's worked has been with Steve.
For a stronger Nick, he should be with Leanne or Carla. Erica should have teamed up with Tony - that would have been fun.
I found Erica rather interesting last night. She can obviously see that Nick is drawn to Carla and last night, it felt to me, that she was spending time with Carla so as to assess the competition!
I'm in the Like club as well, now that we no longer things have cooled down with Nick. She's a normal person, how refreshing. Because she does seem to get along well with most, I could see her pulling pints in the sassy older barmaid role, if she needed a job. Maybe Sarah will leave and open a space for her. And unlike Andrea, there is no permanent grin to suffer through.
I don't agree. There's no point in a rudderless character. Too many have already been unceremoniously dumped because the writers did nothing with them. Andrea comes to mind, also the hapless Dennis Tanner. If they do the same to Kirk, who steals every scene he's in, I'll unceremoniously dump Corra.
Give this lovely actress something to do! The notion of her behind the bar with the dear Liz is an intriguing one, as long as they don't become rivals, which of course they would, if only over a man.
I agree with abbyk, she has a Corrie future
Erica is nothing more than a cardboard cutout that fills in empty space so far. Why such a tribute to a newbie?
Shes very beige in my book. What exactly is the point of her? She neither offends me or intrigues me. I don't watch corrie to buy into characters who 'just are', they rob time for other more interesting characters. I agree that not every character needs a back story or baggage and corrie always needs those moments of conversation which are just about every day life between characters but she is neither amusing or adds anything to a scene then she should hop on the nearest bust beck to hr mothers in my opinion. Can you honestly see us looking back in years gone by and admiring what she brought to corrie in the manner we do other glorious characters? - Micky
I'm undecided about her. So far she seems like a watered-down version of Audrey's chum Claudia. Like Stephen said above, there's a danger she could go the way of Dennis or Andrea. Jenna was another in this category. However, if you're young and pretty, you can be pointless for years. Maria, anyone? Oh, and where's Andy/Fake Gavin gone? Is he in danger of disappearing for good, because the writers can't find a new direction for him since his web of deceit was revealed?
You have GOT to be kidding.
I am not a fan of Erica at all. I just didn't take to her character. I can see that she is a fine actress, but they made her kind of desperate cougar which is just not appealing. Why can't they write women in a better light on this show? They're either man-hungry, bitches or kooks.
Well said.
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