What shall we do with a drunken sailor? The old-time sea shanty (I assume) has long since reminded me of Peter Barlow’s long-time story arc and battles with alcohol abuse. Returning from Portsmouth during the live episode of 2000 (the street saved from greedy developers, I am saying nothing) actor Chris Gascoyne has cemented the role as his own, playing it with kudos, pathos, and with considerable talent. Alcoholism is an issue that's been portrayed in several continuing drama serials but for this Corrie fan, Peter’s storyline means more to me than most.
It was April 2019 when Peter last relapsed, his struggles with Carla's disappearance and Simon’s sudden urge to drink whiskey pushed him over the edge. He told Ken ‘I haven't had a drink for 4 years, 7 months and 28 days to be precise - and last night I fell off the wagon’. That night was the 24th if I'm not mistaken. I remember it with such clarity, because the previous day, I'd stopped drinking too. Largely, and this isn't some sort of superfan coincidence, Corrie was my AA group and without me needing to attend one. I sat there glued to the screen, as Peter played Russian roulette with that bottle of whiskey and I knew what he was thinking. I knew what he was going to do. I had to stop. I had too. I wasn't going to relapse, and following Peter's journey, I remain superbly sober. That was 594 days ago. I'm very thankful to Corrie and Peter Barlow is undoubtedly one of my all-time favourite corrie characters.
But what now for Peter? He's also been sober for the last 19 months, however, what with Abi's addiction, Oliver's fatal illness, and the fragmentation of his relationship with Carla, I guess something had to give. I am concerned though, as I really did think he would have an affair with Abi and not fall off the wagon (again).
During Monday night's episodes, I was genuinely aghast as Peter sank a hip flask of booze following the mugging. No call to his AA sponsor, no panicked call to Carla, or even Ken? Nope, he just downed it.
This is not looking good. Could this be Peter's last chance of sobriety...
What should we do with a drunken sailor? Not kill him off, hopefully.
I am @rybazoxo your Corrie Connossiuer
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Good for you, Ryan, and keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteNot kill him off but maybe Chris Gascoyne wants a break. They could write Peter out temporarily to let the actor do other things. He seems to come and go quite successfully. If that meant Peter splitting with Carla, I'd be all for it.
ReplyDeleteHes had quite a few breaks over the years
DeleteI would love to see Carla and Peter get their own place and focus on their own relationship. The writers have made them seem so...apart lately, for lack of a better word. They hardly spend any time together it seems.
ReplyDeleteI'd much rather see some focus on Peter and Carla actually enjoying being together- it seems that after she had her mental breakdown they both became background characters until fairly recently. They've got such good chemistry, but at this point it's difficult to remember why they are together in the first place
ReplyDeleteI worry for Peter, he's at the point where alcohol could physically end his life. I know it's just a soap but it hurts to watch him as alcohol addiction runs in my family and it's a terrible disease. All the best Ryan, you're very strong!
ReplyDeleteI remember when CG came back to Corrie (under old producer) he was adamant that he didn't want them to go down that rabbit hole again. So here we are....again...
ReplyDeleteYes its true to real life but where can they go with this? I thought if he had more booze he'd literally die. So is he too going to get a kidney/liver transplant.
Personally I never liked him with Carla. She's too...high maintenence and for him and his ego I am confused how he was OK with her handouts. I also couldn't believe a strong, feisty woman like Carla would take him back after all the pain he did...
To me, he worked best with Leanne. I honestly thought, with Leanne-Nick relationship in tatters and Peter back on the booze is there a way these two could get back together? But for some reason every producer feels we all want Carla-Peter because of their electrifying chemistry. Well in COVID times we can see that just the electricity doesn't work. You need more substance and these two never had it.
Either do a group swap again (Carla-Nick Peter-Leanne) or try something new. Its tedious now...
The writing for Carla and Peter has been pretty lacklustre. They’ve become boring background characters since getting back together and all they ever seem to do is argue. I was hoping this time around that things would be different, that the writers would learn from past mistakes and take them in a more positive direction, but no, it’s back to the same old arguments, the same old toxicity, and now Peter’s about to fall off the wagon… so disappointing.
ReplyDeleteWouldn’t it have been nice to see some positive development with these two before things hit the fan? Like maybe, I don’t know, moving out of the pub and getting a place of their own? (I’m sorry but there’s no way a fiercely independent character like Carla who’s always owned swanky apartments would settle for living in her father’s spare room).
I do love this couple but I’m tired of seeing them at odds. It’s time they had some happiness.
ReplyDeleteA great post. Peter's addiction is one of the best portrayals of alcoholism on any show, it's a defining part of who he is and it's been a constant struggle throughout his life (unlike recent issue-based stories where characters overcome their illness then never mention it again).
Hmm, good question... what will Peter's fate be?
I remember him comparing Carla to booze and said that staying with her would kill him. I wonder if those words will turn out to be true. Peter’s already in the last chance saloon when it comes to the demon drink. The doctors have told him if he relapses again, he’ll die. I hope he doesn’t. I’d like to see him beat his demons, because it can happen. But with Corrie’s recent track record for killing off toddlers and young mothers, I’m not holding out much hope.
What I don’t get is why he’s turned to drink now. He’s been through worse than this in the past and not fallen off the wagon, like when he found out Susie wasn’t his and when he was accused of pushing Ken down the stairs – and yet some heated words with Carla and getting mugged is what pushes him over the edge? I’m not convinced.
ReplyDeleteSurely there’s got to be more going on that we don’t know about? I’m wondering if all this is stemming from his struggle to deal with the fact that Carla was raped again? Because that’s when it all seemed to go wrong for them. We don’t really know what Peter’s true thoughts are on the situation, do we? Does he harbour some resentment towards Carla over what happened and it’s been building up and building up to the point where he’s now reaching for the bottle? I honestly don’t know. But there’s got to be more to this than meets the eye.
Whatever happens though, I don’t think him and Abi are over, I reckon she’ll be the one to support him through his relapse, just as he supported her with her addiction. They won't have an affair, but I suspect a possible romantic entanglement for Carla and Adam is on the cards (although I hope that’s not the case!).