Despicable David @typingtiff
Content Warning: This post discusses suicide and its aftermath.
Monday’s episode saw David Platt make a cruel choice following Clayton’s recent suicide attempt. Clayton had been trying to contact Shona, but David was blocking his attempts, leaving Shona unaware of her son’s mental state. So, when Shona discovered that an email from the prison had ended up in her junk folder, David suggested that her ongoing brain injury symptoms might have caused her to miss the email, shifting the blame from himself onto her.
Aptly nicknamed the “Demon Barber of Weatherfield,” David has always been known as a morally grey character – and let’s face it, that’s probably why we like him. Whether making rash decisions or plotting revenge, his actions are often driven by fear or his distorted sense of protecting those he cares about. David’s past decisions, such as sending cards from Richard Hillman, may have seemed irrational, but they made sense from his perspective. Driven by fear and trauma, his actions were attempts to protect his family, even if they were misguided.
Previous storylines like this have worked because David’s motives were clear. We disagree with his methods, but we understand the warped logic. However, this recent development from Monday’s episode has complicated things, making it harder to grasp David’s moral compass. Instead of protecting Shona (as he claims to be doing by blocking contact with Clayton), he’s contributing to her emotional turmoil. By framing her injury as the reason for the missed email, David not only shifts the blame onto Shona but also pushes her toward guilt and self-blame, which feels emotionally manipulative. David is forcing Shona into a position where she feels responsible for Clayton’s suicide attempt.
I’ve always appreciated the complexity of David's character. Despite how frustrating his actions are right now, there’s still hope for him. His journey from troubled teenager to loving father and husband has been a compelling one to witness. While his current storyline makes it harder to empathise with him, I’m holding onto the belief that he will eventually come to terms with the consequences of his choices. Despite his problematic behaviour, there’s still room for growth, both in his relationships with others and his own personal journey.
One area where I’d love to see more development is in his relationship with Clayton. I think exploring it further could offer some interesting possibilities for both characters. They’re not ever going to be besties, obviously, but after so many brief appearances, it feels like now is the time to explore how Clayton truly fits into David and Shona's lives. Last week, we saw a more reflective side of Clayton, which was a welcome change. For so long, he’s been portrayed as “just the villain,” but this new layer of regret adds depth to his character. It would be refreshing to see that side of him explored further in scenes with David, Shona, Max, and Lily. I’m particularly interested in how this extended family dynamic might evolve moving forward. I’d love to see how his interactions with Clayton, especially now that there seems to be some remorse on Clayton’s part, could influence the family unit. How would Max and Lily react to this new side of Clayton? Would it lead to further tension or a tricky truce? This would add so much depth and nuance to the storyline, and I think it would be an interesting direction to take.
At this point, it’s unclear where David’s character arc will go. On top of this, Max has been charged with Joel’s murder, there’s the stolen money from Damon, and I bet it won’t be long before Roy discovers his missing apples as well! What I do know is that we’ve seen David struggle and grow before, and it’s that potential for change that keeps us invested in his character.
What do you think? Are you Team David or Team Shona? Do you think David can recover from his actions, or has he crossed a line? Let’s chat in the comments below!
1 comment:
Of course, David could have had the email 'deleted forever' but that would be dull. I guess Nick will blow it somehow.
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