Coronation Street Double Episode Review 16 November 2015

The once rational, competent, good friend and mother, Liz, is under fire tonight and rightly so. Her friend Erica, her friend Eileen and her daughter in law, Michelle, who claims she is closer to Liz than she is to her own mother, are all horrified concerning Liz’s renewing of her relationship with Tony.  It seems, that as regards Tony, she loses all sense.  Attractive man though he may be, Liz can’t seem to compute that this is the same man who robbed her blind and had an affair with the one woman in Weatherfield who she detests. The women are on her case. The theme of their comments is, ‘You must be mad.’ Each woman has her own form of words.

When Liz says she thinks people are viewing her decision as a mistake, Erica says, ‘A mistake?’ They think you’re off your head!’  Michelle, holding up her index finger and thumb with little distance between them says, ‘I’m this far from having her certified.’ When Jason learns from his dad, Tony, that he and Liz are back together, he says, ‘She’s only just taken your photo off the dartboard.’ Michelle asks Liz what hold Tony has over her. She says that two things are certain if Liz goes ahead with restarting her relationship with Tony. ‘We can’t stick around here. You’ve already driven Steve away. Do you want to make it permanent?’ Liz reminds Michelle she said two things. ‘Yeah,’ replies Michelle. I’ll lose a best friend.’

So far then, no support, no joy, not even a comment suggesting that Tony may have learnt his lesson. And yet Liz appears undeterred saying that sometimes you’ve just got to do what you’ve got to do. Eileen appeals to her through her affection for Steve. ‘I love Steve and this is going to hurt him badly.’ Liz asks Eileen about all the racists and nutters who she’s had through her bedroom. Erica asks Liz if she thinks Tony is worth all this condemnation.

In Roy’s Rolls Mary asks Michelle if she has the Monday Blues. She asks Eva too. Mary mentions a little ditty she learnt at Sunday School, to which comment Eva replies, that you don’t hear about Sunday school anymore. Mary launches into her song, whose lyrics, should anyone need to cheer themselves up on a Monday in future, are printed below:-

               Jesus takes that frown

              Then turn it upside down

              Then woops! Here comes the smile!

Tony arrives at The Rovers to tell Liz that he has given back the half of the pub that he took. He gets down on one knee and asks her to marry him. Just at that moment Michelle comes and is suitably horrified to witness the proposal. ‘What is your problem?’ she yells, then adds, ‘If you think you’re getting a wedding present from us, you can think again. We’ll be out of here as soon as we can.’ Michelle goes into the bar and informs those  present that, ‘He’s down on one knee!’ exclaims Michelle. Tracy gets wind of this. ‘So he’s proposed to Old Ma River!’ she squawks and sings Here Comes the Bride.

And then comes the revelation. All this time, Liz has been playing everyone along. She had no intention of restarting anything with Tony. She was playacting to get all the money back.  And she has done so. She says that she often felt sick when she was with Tony and didn’t want to breathe the same air as he did.

You fooled us all Liz!

Looks like Nessa has her feet under the table or at least her influence in the wardrobe. She is holding Ken’s arm as they walk along, Nessa telling Leanne, who has much more grave problems on her mind, that she has bought Ken new jeans -jeans that Ken is pleased with and finds surprisingly ‘roomy’ (!) She then tells Leanne that once you start wearing elasticated waists you have given up.  She also tells Leanne that Ken’s trousers looked as though they were bought from the back of a Sunday supplement. Ken does seem to be enjoying the attention.

There are two women at the centre of tonight’s episodes.  One is Liz and the other Leanne.  Simon has poured out rudeness and venom ever since his return from his father’s and he was pretty bad before he left. Undoubtedly Simon has suffered. But none of what has happened to him has been Leanne’s fault. In fact, she has been the one constant in his life, with some input from Ken.

Simon needs routine, Leanne tells him, and of he goes to school. But he didn’t get there. He has ‘wagged’ it and got a group of his pals round to play computer games. When Leanne turns up, the boys leave and one boy looks very sorry and apologises to Leanne. Simon goes to school but is two hours late coming home, no doubt the lateness designed to upset Leanne.

Eva is a good support to Leanne and when she sees Leanne crying she asks her what is wrong. Leanne tells Eva that Simon is abusing her. Leanne makes excuses for him.  Leanne tells Eva, ‘You sound like a battered wife.’ Come on Zeedan! Leanne needs you. It is certain that if she asked him, Zeedan would be there. I hope she does. Her final words on the subject are, ‘He’s out of control, Eva.’

Elsewhere Kate Connor’s soldier girlfriend turns up and Kate covers for Kirk, which made me like her a bit more. Steph’s ex is still hanging round trying to persuade Luke to race.  (This all feels a bit déjà vu). Once more he threatens to post ‘all the snapshots ‘ he took of Steph online if Luke chickens out.

Steph obviously deserves better than this and she also needs a good storyline to give Tisha Merry the opportunity to display her considerable acting talent.

Deirdre: A Life on Coronation Street - official ITV tribute to a soap icon. Available here.

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