Over the
decades, Coronation Street has had its fair share of villains, all wrong ‘uns
in their own way. This current villain though, and his aim at the destruction
of a kind, vibrant and popular woman, I find to be utterly despicable. Geoff,
of course.
Is his aim
to make her totally crumble, to render her devoid of personality, to terrify
her and make her unable to enjoy her life unless she is cleaning or doing
something else that she really doesn’t want to do? As he is manipulating,
controlling and unsettling her, he is clever enough to keep telling her that he
loves her, to make her think that the change Geoff needs in her is well worth
it.
On Monday’s
episode, Geoff came home to find Yasmeen and her good friend, Cathy, chatting,
laughing, having a glass or two of wine and generally enjoying themselves.
‘We’ve polished off two bottles of wine,’ declares Yasmeen. Geoff maintains a
minimum of friendliness until Cathy leaves prompting Geoff to slam the door. Who
could not pity Yasmeen, living with this bully? ‘I hope I didn’t spoil your
fun. I’m surprised you’ve had time to sit about boozing with your mate.’
‘Time!’
shouts Yasmeen. ‘It’s my day off!
‘You’ve got
a list of jobs to do – what is job number three?’ asks the monster. We need to keep
the house extra clean, it’s about trust!’
It is then
revealed that Geoff has been putting crosses on the skirting boards. He sees
they are still there, so Yasmeen has failed! ‘Are you trying to catch me out?’
asks Yasmeen. Oh, if only we could answer her and tell her that he is doing so
much more than that.
The
revelation of the drinking with Cathy gives Geoff the ammunition he needs. It
seems that at that moment he decided that he could use the accusation of alcoholism,
should he need it, in order to bend Yasmeen to his will, completely.
During
their lunch together, Cathy, who is no fool, suspects there is something wrong.
‘We like to keep the place clean,’ explains Yasmeen. ‘The place is spotless!’
declares Cathy.
Yasmeen
tells Cathy, ‘I’ve never been happier in my life!’ I wonder how many viewers gasped
at this and wondered whether she was trying to convince herself.
When
Yasmeen tells Cathy that Geoff has taken her shopping, persuaded her to buy
things she would never normally consider, Yasmeen is full of praise for Geoff.
He’s helping her
push the
boundaries, preventing her from becoming the dreaded ‘fuddy-duddy’ – but as
Cathy points out, Yasmeen has her own sense of style. Yasmeen insists Geoff’s
not taking over her life, but being in a relationship is taking over her life,
‘With the man I love!’
Later,
Geoff presents Yasmeen with a colour-coded jobs rota. Why on earth did she not
rip it up in front of him? She daren’t. I believe she feels so cowed in his
presence now that she would do anything he asked her to. Each minute he has her
more firmly in his controlling, manipulating grasp.
One of
Geoff’s tricks is outright cruelty. He apologises for having a go at her but
his respiratory system cannot bear a speck of dust. He makes her feel unkind,
while he is the cruel one. He spits out nasty comments, in a deliberate attempt
to undermine her. He points out that everyone ends up leaving her: Sharif,
Zeedan, Alya. He says this to a woman who has lost, in dreadful circumstances,
her only son and before that, her daughter-in-law.
Now, he can’t
bear her ‘hovering’ as it sets him on edge. Yasmeen asks about his soup and he
says that it’s just from a can, not made by famous chef Ottolenghi, another
implicit criticism. He says he feels like Canute, holding back a tide of filth,
all these cruel comments combining to further undermine Yasmeen’s confidence.
The happiest she’s been in her life? She resembles a terrified rabbit in the
headlights.
He then
cranks up his campaign to make Yasmeen believe she is an alcoholic. She is
dismissive at first but as Geoff works on, she begins to believe in the
possibility that she might just be an alcoholic. Yasmeen!!
He talks in
such concerned confidence to Brian about his anxieties. Brian is most
sympathetic and even gets Peter Barlow on board who calls round to see Yasmeen,
out of kindness, and speak to her about alcoholism. Yasmeen must be terrified by
now. She makes a vow that she will completely give up the booze, when we viewers
want to scream at her again.
Geoff’s new
rota is ‘very detailed’ says Yasmeen. Taking this as a compliment, when he
knows it isn’t, he thanks her, once more making Yasmeen believe that rotas are
a good idea, and not only for students sharing accommodation. Yasmeen tells him
it’s hard physical work, all this cleaning and feels as if she’s done an all-night
gym session. His only comment, once more designed to put her down is, ‘No need
to exaggerate.’ Yasmeen tells him she cares for his health and happiness. All
he says in reply is, ‘Show, don’t tell.’ The viewers are thoroughly exasperated
once more.
Then comes
his piece de resistance, his master stroke. He asks for her credit and debit
card, so that she will avoid the temptation of having a drink. After her
initial shock, Yasmeen as meek as a kitten, hands them over.
Alya,
Cathy, Brian, Sally! Please help Yasmeen escape the horrific clutches of this thoroughly
contemptible man!
By Ruth Owen, Twitter @Ruth1722
By Ruth Owen, Twitter @Ruth1722
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