A trip
today to the Home Cinema, Manchester today, to watch five back to back episodes
featuring Daniel and Sinead, played by the seriously talented, Rob Mallard and
Katie McGlynn. They will be screened next week.
I guarantee
you will not be disappointed. I guarantee that you will need tissues.
We all know
it’s coming and coming soon, but in art as in life, nothing really prepares you
for it. The true tragedy is of a girl aged 25 years, married to the man she
loves and with a sweet baby, who she utterly adores, having to leave that man,
Daniel and the adorable little Bertie. The heartbreak, which Katie McGlynn
conveys so brilliantly and convincingly, is in the fact that she will never see
her child go through the various stages that await us all: 1st birthday
and subsequent birthdays, 1st day at nursery, first day at school, then
secondary school and on and on, through childhood illnesses, other difficulties
and on and on until by then, little Bertie will not be so little and will leave
school for a job or higher education. Through all those milestones, without his
mum, Bertie must pass.
The vast majority
of the episode in which Sinead death is played out in Daniel and Sinead’s bedroom.
The two actors were there for many hours and because they associated it with
death they found that it prompted tears relatively easily. In fact, they both
reported It was hard NOT to cry in those surroundings.
As anyone
would, Daniel is struggling. He decides to bring Christmas to Sinead, as she
won’t be here when Christmas comes. He does a terrific job: snow is falling, a
Christmas dinner is prepared with all the family, but, mistakenly, Daniel believes
that Sinead will now be tired and tries to get everyone to leave. Sinead
objects and a row ensues. Daniel threatens to leave – and Sinead tells him that
that would be a good idea.
Out he goes
and bumps into Bethany, who sees a heartbroken Daniel weeping in the street.
Viewers will remember that Bethany has been carrying a torch for Daniel, who
has been her writing mentor. Bethany is desperate to comfort Daniel and when Daniel
goes in for a kiss, Bethany responds passionately.
And
Ken sees them.
Ken orders
Daniel home to look after his dying wife. Does this kiss with Bethany make
Daniel a bad person? It’s not his greatest act but I believe it to be
psychologically convincing in that it is a moment of relief, a mad misjudgement,
but not a sin.
Bethany’s
name is mud. In fact, in Tracy’s words, ‘You bitch!’ Thankfully Gail returns
just in time. She does a terrific job of comforting Bethany. What’s more, Gail
has a plait. She is then, in her new zen life, a Platt with a plait! (I know
she is Gail Rodwell but the word play is irresistible).
Naturally,
Sinead is not best pleased, on discovering the truth, but as she says, she has
to forgive Daniel for Bertie’s sake. In normal times, things would have been
very different.
by Ruth Owen, @Ruth1722
All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License
2 comments:
To answer the question,to kiss another woman while your wife lays dying at home is a sin!
I don't see why Bethany even has to be shoehorned in this story line nor do I want to see her be the 'victim' because Tracy and Sally are disgusted with her[wait until Beth finds out!].
It's Sinead who's the only one who deserves sympathy finding out on her death bed that a 'friend' wants her husband and that he may feel the samw way and yet she has to forgive him for their son's sake.
I'm going to need a ton of tissues when Sinead passes :'( I wish they hadn't bothered with the Daniel Bethany kiss thing. Hayley's passing with Roy was so touching and realistic, this is just trashy.
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