Well - how are we all doing? There isn't a single one of us whose life hasn't been turned upside down by coronavirus. It's a strange and scary time which is why we all turn to the things that give us comfort. For us lot, that of course includes Corrie - but not for much longer. With the episodes now rationed to just three a week (I have to admit - I'm loving it! Much more do-able), the existing stockpile is likely to be exhausted by the end of Spring. What happens next?
To date there has been no statement from ITV as to how the cobble-shaped gaps in the schedule are going to be filled. I've read that some fans favour the movement of Classic Corrie from ITV3 to the main channel. It's one option although it may be a little jarring, picking up storylines from part way into 1995. This would also mean that Bet's departure would come around fairly quickly and so new viewers would be deprived of Bet's majesty and smoke clouds.
Another idea might be to embrace the show's 60th anniversary by hauling out some of the best episodes over the years. Yes, these would probably be the more popular ones so we would no doubt be treated to a few vintage weddings - Rita dressed up like little Miss Muffet in 1977, Deirdre taking her specs off for her big day in 1981, plus some of those big set pieces such as the lorry crash, the Rovers fire (the proper one in 1986 - no one cares about the Stella of the Back Room version), the Ken/Deirdre/Mike triangle, the tram crash, the death of Harriet the budgie . . .
Eventually though, Corrie proper will return and that could be interesting in itself. For this viewer, what wouldn't work would be to simply pick up from where the narrative ended. Weatherfield is not known for its interaction with real world events but it would feel uncomfortable for life to plod on without a nod to coronavirus. To see the residents attempting to reconnect with their old lives would, arguably, have more dramatic resonance. How did local business like the faktry fare? Was the health centre able to cope? With no trade to speak of, how difficult will it be for the Rovers, the Bistro, the florists and Roy's Rolls to survive?
It's also an opportunity to move on from some lingering storylines. How will Yasmeen have dealt with the intervening months? Did Gemma's post-natal depression worsen and how was she cared for in an NHS already struggling?
Ultimately it's just a TV drama serial but how Corrie emerges from this could define it for years to come. Here's wishing everyone on Team Corrie the very best at this bizarre time. Stay safe, keep well and us lot on the other side of the Rovers bar will raise a virtual pint of Newton and Ridley's to you - as soon as you are open for business.
By Clinkers to Riddle.
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2 comments:
Many people will rethink their priorities when, all being well, we come out the other side. The Corrie team should do like-wise. For a long time, I've thought some stories are thrown up in the air and if they catch on, it's great and if they don't, they're quickly forgotten. The quads: just what kind of storyline is that? Not remotely funny with the Costco sponsorship, nor was it an issue-based storyline with naturally conceived quads being nearly a trillion to one likelihood. Far better to give Gemma twins, as she is a twin herself, to then find one of them has a hearing loss. What are the writers going to do with four babies? Stillwaters: Are Norris and Ken coming back to the Street? Make it quick because this spin-off isn't working for me. Seb, Emma, Alina: As written, very boring love triangle. I'm sure the tide will turn against heavy dramas on TV as people will have had enough of that in real life. Maybe this could be a turning point for Corrie and we'll start to see more character-driven stories.
Anyone can be deaf regardless if they are quads or not. Did you know that 95% of deaf children are from a hearing family, so it is very realistic that we have a first deaf child born in Coronation Street, it is amazing - a historical first and with the approach they are taking, learning British Sign Language, it could be the very first in the world to show this approach. I applaud the team for doing this. Highlighting my people, we are here.
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