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Ray disappears and Debbie tells Abi she’s pushed him in the canal. Abi believes her, and so did I until Ray turns up in a bedsit, alive and well and talking to Debbie. It seems she’s going to smuggle him out of the country to Turkey in return for him giving her the Bistro and all of his business. At least, I think that’s what’s going on. I’ve kind of lost track but it doesn’t really matter because it means more screen time for the wonderful Sue Devaney, who plays Debbie. She lights up my telly every time she comes on screen. Better still, Debbie tells everyone who had sold their homes to Ray that she’ll buy them back at the same price they sold them. This is good news to Tracy Barlow who overhears David and Shona say they can’t afford to buy back No. 8 and Tracy goes in for the kill. Debbie also gives Kev his garage back. What a gal.
Over at Underworld, Gail stores boxes of her belongings and finds an old photo of a woman named Fanny. Stop giggling at the back. Anyway, Fanny turns out to be a long-lost relative of Gail’s who’s also related to George the undertaker. There was a wonderful scene with George and Audrey having a drink in the Rovers and reminiscing about George’s undertaker uncle Archie Shuttleworth who wooed Audrey back in the day.
Peter’s shaky and sweaty this week as he battles the bottle and fails. He collapses with a seizure and is rushed to <<HOSPITAL KLAXON>> the Kate Oates memorial ward at Weatherfield General. The nurse attending tells Ken that the only way for Peter to get through this is by allowing him some alcohol, treating it as medicine, otherwise he’ll go on a bender and end up killing himself. Ken does his best but it’s hard on them all. Carla calls on Peter to find him writing a goodbye note to Simon, which Carla not only reads, not only tears out of Peter’s notebook but reads to Simon in front of Peter, almost sending him over the edge. I fear she’s gone too far, and so does Peter, he tells her she’s the reason he drinks and she’ll be the reason he dies.
Meanwhile, an old friend of Carla’s called Lucas arrives. She met him in Devon and there’s chemistry between them. Imagine a Venn diagram with Nick Tilsley in one circle and Peter Barlow in the other. In the middle is Lucas, that’s just how he looks. He talks to Carla on business then invites her to spend a mucky weekend with him in a hotel. What’s it to be, Carla? A lusty weekend with luscious Lucas or a pity party with Peter? She’s tempted and packs her bags and is ready to head off with Lucas. But then Peter pleads with her not to go. He says he needs her, he tells her he’s sorry for everything he ever said to her, every nasty last word. The scene ends with Carla walking away with Lucas… and the next scene opens with her walking back to the Barlow’s. And so here we go again.
At the Baileys, Grace moves in with Michael but I’m still fast forwarding through these scenes, I’m afraid. Aggie - I’d love to see more of. Michael - I can tolerate but Grace and Edison, as the parlance of the day goes, do my bleedin’ head in.
Elsewhere this week, Todd continues his nasty plan to split up Paul and Billy. There was a funny scene when a piano makes its way up to the steep, narrow stairs to Billy and Paul’s flat (let’s not ask how or why) and Billy plays the cucumber song while Paul dances along. It really made me laugh out loud.
And finally this week, Nina and Asha grow close in Roy’s Rolls, a prelude to their romance. What Dev might have to say about this remains to be seen.
And that’s just about that for this week.
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This week’s writers were Owen Lloyd-Fox and Susan Oudot (Monday); Jayne Hollinson and Julie Jones (Wednesday); Debbie Oates (Friday). Find out all about the Coronation Street writing team at Coronation Street Blog: Exclusive: All Current Corrie writers online
Glenda Young
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Well, the ITV tweeters are sobbing with relief at Peter and Carla's reconciliation. The soap mags will probably report similarly. It must be an age thing. During my teens and twenties, I might have felt the same. Now, I just despair that we're going round in circles. I
ReplyDeletePeter’s alcoholism was the standout story this week.
ReplyDeleteAll the Ken and Peter scenes were great. They have such a complicated relationship with Peter harbouring so much resentment towards Ken for abandoning him as a child, so it’s always great to see them have it out with each other. But I never expected Peter to punch Ken! My jaw hit the floor! It reminded me of the time Peter was so desperate for a drink that he nearly hit Carla. It was only when she said, “Go on then, I’ve had worse done to me” (referring to her rape) that Peter realised what he was doing and backed away from her – and the look of horror and disgust on his face at the nearly having hit his pregnant wife was so powerful that the scene’s always stuck with me. The scene with Ken wasn’t quite on that level, but it still managed to convey just how low Peter has sunk and how truly desperate his situation is.
Also the legend that is Roy Cropper swooping in with a quiche to give Peter some home truths was another epic scene.
The most divisive character of the week was Carla. Reading Simon Peter’s suicide note was a questionable move. I get why she did it. She’s lost a brother to suicide and knows a letter doesn’t help. She wanted Peter to realise this but the move backfired and all it really achieved was traumatising poor Simon (as if the poor kid hasn’t been through enough!).
Later in the week Carla made another impulsive, questionable decision by agreeing to a weekend away with Lucas. Seriously, does this woman never learn? Thankfully she had a change of heart at the last minute and went back for Peter which was a sweet way to end the week- would’ve been better if they could’ve run into each other’s arms (damn you Covid!).
I’m interested to see what trouble Lucas causes between Carla and Peter. Hopefully it’ll make Peter more determined than ever to fight both for his life and for Carla.
That said, I do think the writers need to tread carefully where Carla and Peter are concerned. It’s clear they want Carla and Peter to be endgame, but how are we meant to root for them when they’re shown as being so destructive and damaging to one another? They’ve caused each other so much hurt and unhappiness that at this point surely it would be best if they called it a day and walked away for good. However, if they are to remain together, which I suspect they are, then I hope the writers show their relationship in a more positive light and show that these two people are good for each other despite their flaws. Otherwise what message is being put out?
A strong week with some excellent performances. Can’t wait to see where Peter’s storyline goes next!