The Light and the Dark on the Cobbles

First of all, the light...

This stunning piece of comedy gold represents much needed light on the cobbles. It concerns Liz and her belief that Peter and Toyah have invited her back to serve behind the bar at The Rovers.Peter has sent a note to Steve asking him to come back to the pub after he was barred. The problem is that Peter assumed that Steve would receive the note but hadn't considered its ambiguous nature, nor the possibility that Liz would get hold of it and assume she was invited back.

Bouyed up by Tyrone's comment that a bit of glamour was needed behind th bear and the Liz, had 'still got it' Liz handed in her notice at The Medical Centre in readiness to take up her job offer at the Rovers.

Launching herself behind the bar, she thrusts her bag at Peter and gets stuck in. She informs her new employers that she is doing a 'freebie' as she transitions'  into her old role.

Toyah blames Peter for the mix up and tells him he should be the one to let liz know of the misunderstanding . Peter tries to worm his way out of it by flattering Toyah, telling her that she is braver than he is. So, reluctantly, Toyah has a go and fails spectacularly. Liz is so excited to be back 'in her own pond' that Toyah cannot get a word in. As she tries to tell Liz that there has been no job offer, Liz interrupts, glowing with happiness, 'Can I just say that I feel I've come home.' and 'Im so happy to be back behind the bar, where I belong.' An exasperated Toyah gives up.

The brilliance of the piece stems from Beverley Callard's excellent comic timing. Once again, I have to repeat that in the soaps, and in Corrie in particular, some of the acting is as good as any to be found on the stage in the West End.

Now to the dark...

Mel has successfully gained access to the Platt household. At first it was hard to tell if her need was genuine, but after a call to Nathan, in his prison cell, awaiting trial, and the words, 'Im in' all confusion ends.

So should we pity Mel or should we despise her for her playing on Bethany's sweet nature, naivety and gullibility? Mel is clearly captured under  Nathan's spell and her manipulation of Bethany is an attempt to stop Bethany giving evidence against those who so vilely abused her.

Mel, is an interesting character in that she must realise what Nathan does, how he tricks girls into abuse by telling them he loves thank and that by sleeping with his friends, the girl is making him happy. It is a twisted, distorted world, but because Nathan is such an arch manipulator and, on the surface, initially, an attentive boyfriend, who claims to be in love with the girl. Surely then Mel knows this, yet seems willing to be duped by Nathan again, believing that he loves her. Just how damaged is Mel?

When Bethny tells Mel how foolish she was to believe that Nathan loved her and how long it took her to realise that he was merely using her, an agonising expression crossed Mel's face, suggesting that she does actually know, deep down that he is using her, but damaged as she is, has to believe it's true. It is chilling to see the wreckage that a man such as Nathan can create,

There is though, for the viewer the safety net that villains in soap operas always get their comeuppance. Heartbreakingly, in the real world, I suspect that in the majority of cases, there exists no such safety net.


By Ruth Owen, twitter: @ruth1722  

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