Monday night is the ideal time for stag and hen do's, everybody knows that. Dev's is in the Rovers with a pole dancer, Bernie's is in the Bistro with a plate of mince, Gemma dressed as either a sexy nurse or Harley Quinn or maybe both, Aunty Rani's displeasure, Shona trying to use her 2019 brain injury to insult Aunty Rani, and Mary's magnificent Jaws impersonation (I thought she was doing Alien, but it was still great). I know where I'd rather be and that's doing charades with Mary, rather than watching George try to pole dance and fall over. Later on, as Theo and Todd discuss moving to Deedee's old flat, George talks about what each of the no. 11 residents contributes to the house and Mary's role is to buy biscuits. And to bring the comedy! I hope there will be romance between George and Mary once Theo has isolated Todd in the corner shop flat and Todd have moved out, or at least an odd couple relationship.
Anyway, I think this ep would have been better written by the A-gays, Jonathan or Damon: there was a lot more potential for comedy with the stag and hen soirees. Aunty Rani is merely disapproving rather than a battle axe and there could have been a Lady Whiteadder great booze-up/Great Boo's up style double party. Also, I feel Bernie would have had her eye on the prize of £25K rather than telling Aunty R to get stuffed when the latter tells Dev his bride is common.
Also messing up is Carl who thinks now he and Abi have done the deed twice (Monday is obviously their sexy night) that they're close enough to confess about his mendacious MOTs. She storms out of Chariot Square (bit daft to romance your brother-in-law in the hotel of your sister-in-law, but let's just go with it) and back to Kevin, where she then finds out he knew about his bro's dodgy dealings. In the war of Webster vs Webster there's only one loser and that's looking like it will be Abi.
Meanwhile, at number 4 Joanie and Shanice are on the sofa (do they ever move from there?) fighting about and with the remote control and Sally notices bruises on Shanice's arms. Wouldn't they have noticed this when bathing or dressing her? Unless they've delegated that to Joanie, I suppose.
And finally, when Ryan first mentioned his new flatmate collecting weird Victorian dolls, I was hoping for a look in his new flat, but it was just a catalyst for replicating the Victoria Court blended family at no 6. It'd be funny if Ryan and Betsy started going out together, wouldn't it? I mean, creepy and a little incestuous and age-inappropriate, but funny nonetheless.
Rachel Stevenson - on bluesky
