Coronation Street Episode Review Monday 19th September

 

It's a Todd spectacular tonight as he is involved in not one but two storylines. The likes of Tyrone and Zeedan must be weeping for even a sniff of a decent story. So it turns out that Eileen wasn't encased in concrete in the Manchester Shipping Canal, as Todd suspected, but was actually up to her ears in bubble bath and champagne in a luxury spa (I'm not sure you get bubble bath at a spa - unless Vinnie took her to the Spar in Didbsbury?). Todd raises on elegantly shaped eyebrow at Pat's attempts to manipulate him, and Vinnie, who, it turns out, owes money to the Manchester mafia, decides they must up the ante and send "the jumped-up little flower boy" to a watery grave. Todd should really use his manipulative skills to their full effect and turn Phelan and Vinnie against each other - it wouldn't be that hard to do, given that they are both criminal, greedy and unpleasant.

 

In the cafe, Anna warns Cathy against Phelan, saying that Todd's "instincts are sound." When it comes to Phelan maybe, when it comes to boyfriends, no. Sean discovers that it was actually Todd who tipped off the Bishop about the Vicar's sleeping arrangements and, to Sean's credit, he is not triumphant, just looks rather sad to be proved right about his ex-friend. Todd claims he was just trying to push Billy in the right direction, that the church would never accept his and Todd's relationship and Billy is best off out of it. Todd is rather playing God, trying to force Billy into a decision that he might have come to eventually, anyway.

Ironically, later on, it seems that Billy has come round to Todd's way of thinking, believing that Todd did the wrong thing for the right reasons and he is still considering his future in (or out of) the church. But by then, its too late. Angry and humiliated after being dumped by Billy, Todd has taken up Pat's offer of a cut of the scam profits and has quit Preston's Petals to work for his arch-enemy - as long as he doesn't fleece Eileen and Jason. I really think Todd should have negotiated a better deal for himself; how does he know he'll get his payday? What percentage has he agreed on? He seems more concerned about proving everybody right, that he is "a lying, manipulative creep". I wonder if he's actually looking for another substitute dad in Phelan, as he did with Tony? I do prefer Todd when he uses his powers of cunning and calculation for good, otherwise he's just another baddie. He was also a formidable enemy for Phelan, more so than scared Michael, scarred Anna and wary Gary.

Meanwhile, Evil Phelan plumbs new depths of duplicity by attempting to fleece a man with Down's Syndrome (via Roy) for the deposit for an imaginary flat. Fortunately, Roy is a man with his eyes on the plan, or rather the finished building, wanting to see with his own eyes what he might invest in on behalf of Alex, but really, seems at present more interested in his vegetable rotation system. Cathy though takes matters into her own hands and tries to get Alex's dad to give him some money, although she gets even shorter shrift from him. Why doesn't she just sell the hoarder house if she wants to buy a fictitious flat for her nephew?'

Yasmeen drives Cathy to Alex's dad's house, bringing about the return of the storyline that nobody likes. First of all, Sonia looks on jealously as Yasmeen and Sharif go for a romantic meal, then ups her woe when they return, subsequently making come hither eyes at Sharif until he goes to bed with her, and finally, criticises Yasmeen's dress sense and bedroom ornaments. You can steal a woman's husband, Sonia, but never disparage her knick-knacks! Alya spots the affection between her granddad and his amant and makes a face, possibly at this yawnsome and unbelievable storyline. I agree with Emma: it would have been better if Sharif had commenced the affair when Sonia moved in with the Nazirs, rather than before they moved onto the street.

If there's a theme to tonight's ep, it's men behaving badly. The only one who behaves better is Freddie, as he apologises to Audrey for running out on her the other evening after they were witnessed by Angelica, one of Sadie's friends. He brings Aud flowers and they agree it's too soon after his wife's death for dating and agree to be just good friends. Which I presume leaves the way open for Kaudrey?

In other news, Aidan spies Sinead and Alya's sideline designs in the factory. I'd actually forgotten Alya is employed at Underworld, it's so long since we've seen her clasping a clipboard.

Rachel Stevenson - on twitter

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