Tonight, we revel and rejoice in an hour-long Corrie special to mark the record-breaking 60th anniversary episode. The traditional fare of anniversary episodes is live broadcasting, tram crashes, explosions, and multiple murders, but that has been toned down somewhat due to Covid restrictions. However, fear not fair Corrie fans, as tonight the community theme, the motif of Coronation Street's original incarnation, is front and centre - but is it proving to be a good thing?
The three strands weaving through the past few weeks & months came together tonight in a cacophony of dark drama, light comedy, death, and tragic relationships. Not much difference to normal Corrie then and although it's only December 9th, a few ghosts from Corrie’s Christmas past did appear making this somewhat familiar but a jam-packed anniversary special, nonetheless.
With Yasmeen now out of prison, Geoff’s place on the street would be tenous either way but with more than enough reason to leave the cobbles for good, Weatherfield's (morality) grim reaper was duty-bound to strike. The beauty of Corrie of course (and long may that remain) was the juxtaposition between the darkness and the light humour. As Geoff’s inevitable end unfolded, the campaigning residents outside on the street with loudspeakers, music, a small marquee and camaraderie gave the episode its comedic slant, and I liked it.
The climax to the coercive control story contained all of the familiar ingredients that we have come to recognise over the last 12 months. The script, production, and direction were all laced with magic/magician metaphors, the scary clowns and box of tricks in the loft, and Geoff’s almost maniacal laugh like one of those Victorian arcade games. Even Alya’s beating was a result of months of tensions between her and Geoff, very believable and cleverly done. My only gripe is how she woke up in Speed Daal, presumably dazed, confused and injured but managed to rush over to No. 6, which was on fire, and end up on the roof? Seeing Yasmeen finally regain control and Geoff’s death plunge splat on the patio made it all worthwhile though.
In anniversary episodes, it is also worth paying homage to the past, (residents and events), which was conveyed brilliantly tonight. Aside the demolition plan being reminiscent of the year 2000 'Save our Street' campaign, Nick’s monologue to Sam and Natasha about 2010's tram crash proved quite a poignant scene, I almost got emotional remembering Ashley's untimely death!. Would tonight have been Jack Webster’s birthday, too? Which reminds me that Kevin‘s realisation that Debbie is Ray’s development business partner was priceless!
The slimy businessman looked stumped when the police stopped the diggers bulldozing the brewery, but I think he may form vile revenge on Faye.
Another leitmotif of Coronation Street is those sordid relationships, the affairs, family feuds, and fisticuff fall-outs. I would have preferred seeing more of Jenny, Rita, and Audrey getting sloshed in the Rovers and sharing memories of Annie Walker rather than Adam's sheepish confession. However, it is the Barlow family, Ken is pivotal to the history of the street, so it worked. I do feel sorry for Peter though who deserves better.
If Peter Barlow's return in 2000 is my takeaway memory from the 40th, the tram crash being my main memory of the 50th, then the 60th takeaway memory was Ken with his Tiananmen Square stance and speech. As head of this community, and the patriarch of the street's rich history, that was a moment to cherish. A great episode!
I am @rybazoxo over on Twitter, your self-styled Cobbles Connoisseur!
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9 comments:
I think it would be Hope Stape's birthday, not Jack Webster's - Hope was born on the night the tram came down, but Jack was already a couple of months old by that point. I found Yasmeen going to number 6 by herself quite implausible, though - realistically she'd have wanted Alya by her side (and she did phone her - but presumably didn't wait for a reply?) Great episode though, thoroughly enjoyable.
Well stated. I am increasingly impressed with the ingenuity of Corrie, to overcome social distancing constraints. Earlier in the season they shot first person reactions to have Tim punch his dad out, and yesterday they made the most ofthe darkness...both in Alya's attack and with Ray' looming shadow menacing Faye, with the promise of another unwelcome sexual encounter. Kudos to Corrie!
I loved this episode, apart from a few little things. I certainly wondered how Alya had recovered so well to walk into a burning house and then climb up to the roof!
Who knew the house had a velux window? So does that mean Gail's and Sally's houses have them too? And rooms in the attics?
I had been against the idea of Geoff being killed off but I thought it worked really well in the end. Even if he didn't face justice, he still got put right in his place, first by the girlfriend, and then by Yasmeen, and wasn't that satisfying?!
When people find out what Ray's done to Faye, who's going to do him most damage, Tim or Gary?!
Jeanie (anon): Great episode, especially Yasmeen's verbal take down of the vile Geoff! The chickens clucking around his dead body was a nice touch, LOL--Emily B. outlasted him, even if Charlotte B. didn't! One thing that is really making my skin crawl though--especially with the coercive control story in the foreground--is watching the former strong woman Carla grovel to Peter--Made me think Geoff isn't the only one exercising some strange magic on a strong woman and breaking her down into a piece of nothing. A. She had her one night stand after he repudiated her in the most gratuitously nasty way possible. And B. more important, this is the guy who cheated on her on her wedding night, caused her miscarriage, and then at least partly caused the death of his mistress at the hands of her brother. And we're talking about a fairy-tale wedding in Vegas? Isn't that where Yasmeen and Geoff went?!!
Geoff's ending was ridiculous but it was a fun episode provided you didn't take it too seriously. He should have faced justice in the law courts rather than on the cobblestones but you can't have everything. It was high camp with leering clowns, scary faces at the window. All that was missing was Geoff crashing through the door, saying: 'Here's Geoffrey!'. Ian Bartholomew does have a great, manic face with more than a touch of Jack Nicholson. Churlish then to point out all the cliches: a jolly sing-song going at full pelt while someone dies; a character going to an empty house, totally alone; that same character talking aloud to themselves so that the audience understand what's happening, a bonkers rescue by another character. I loved the hens pecking round the dead body. Shame Yasmeen didn't keep hungry pigs. Absolutely totally implausible end for Geoff but enjoyable horror movie entertainment.
Anon 19:23, I Completely agree with you re Carla and Peter.
Yes, what she and Adam did was wrong, but Peter’s done worse, a lot worse!
Not only is he a bigamist but he cheated on Carla on their wedding day, then planned to ditch Carla and run away with Tina – and when the affair came out, Carla lost her baby, Tina was murdered, and Carla’s brother was sent to prison! How Carla ever gave Peter a second chance after all that baffles me. Yet Peter seems to have conveniently forgotten the devastation his affair caused, like the other day when he made a dig about Carla not being a mother and she had to remind him that she wasn’t one because she miscarried their child! Honestly, how insensitive can Peter be? And that’s just one example of the many, insensitive, cruel things he’s said to her in recent weeks.
I have no desire to see Carla vilified and grovelling to the likes of Peter Barlow. Watching the Queens of the Street special the other night reminded me of what a great Carla used to be before Peter came into her life and dragged her down. I’d much rather see Carla back to being the strong-minded, vivacious character she used to be running the factory than watch more of this misery fest with Peter. Either let Carla and Peter be happy together, or call it a day on the relationship.
Humpty Dumpty.....ridiculous ? But surely that ‘s the whole essence and success of our Street ?!
I remember reading past press interviews with Michelle Keegan and apparently, she wasn't happy about Tina having an affair with Peter - she thought it was out of character. I did too.
I wonder if that why she wanted to leave the show?
I suspect that sometimes, actors don't get a strong say in it.
It's a fast production turn around, and I guess there's no spare hours to debate whether so- and- so would do such- and- such.
I'm mentioning this, as quite a lot characters seem to 'go out of character' quite often - it's the nature of soap opera, I'm afraid!
The guy who played Geoff was giving his all in his final scenes - spitting venom all over the place!
What song was playing (that David put on) just before geoff died?? Thanks.
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