Coronation Street Episode Review Friday 28 April 2023

Welcome to Friday night on the Street.  Paul has his court date and Dee Dee needs to talk to him.  Billy is worried, but Todd re-assures him that Paul wants to be with Billy.  Dee Dee catches up with Paul to explain that they are lacking mitigation so a custodial sentence looks likely.  He refuses to tell the court about his diagnosis.  Billy returns unexpectedly and he and Paul watch a rom-com together and it makes Paul cry as it reminds him of their history.

Stephen has leased a new car and in an interesting development takes the buyers for the US company for pints at the Rovers where Owen shows strong interest in Jenny then more or less demands her phone number, in front of everyone!  Returning to the factory Stephen (having earlier received an anonymous letter about the death of Rufus) is approached by drug dealers one and two who want money for nothing (where nothing equals them keeping schtum over Stephen wanting LSD and then Rufus turning up his toes as they have put two plus two and made nothing!).  

Stephen takes them for a ride on the pretence of money but avoiding Imran's wall reaches the police station and tells them politely that what they think they know is worth nothing  and they can get out and leave him alone, giving them a powerful warning.  This time they do a runner but I reckon they will be back, baby.

Sarah wants a "date" lunch and Adam agrees, except that come one o'clock he is deep in discussions over the Bistro's extended licence.  Eventually Sarah gets her way and Dee Dee and Alya get the job of talking to Demon Damon.  However there is a need to get the local community onside and that may prove hard given Damon's history.  

Amy is struggling with economics because it involves maths. Tracy keeps delivering coffee and biccies and Summer cannot believe it is really Tracy.  So they go to Roy's and instead of drinking coffee it goes all over Amy's laptop - which promptly dies.  Now I am a very old numpty; I have over the years lost two hard drives and had a PC stolen plus one Windows upgrade was so scrambled it would not work.  I have backups (at least 3 a week).  Amy is not a technical numpty and would have everything backed up on a billowing cloud somewhere in the outer Hebridees ether.  

Aaron witnesses the loss of life by the laptop and gets a new one delivered to her doorstep - but of course Amy is not stupid and stuffs it back into his hand plus giving him the most enormous piece of her mind as she tells him what she really thinks.  Once home Tracy tries to convince Amy to confide in her tutor as they will be able to help.  Professor Williams was hugely sympathetic and they are going to put together a catch-up schedule for her work.  

George seems to have got most of the "Golden Hind" unpacked and has reached page 2 (of 60) of the "destructions" as they are known in this house.  Eyelash is confined to a tiny corner on the floor.  George obviously has not heard that you start with a small Airfix kit and work your way up to one of the larger ones!  Also do not superglue your fingers together!  

Elaine is on the point of buying the Red Bank flat and Tim is worried that Dastardly Dick Stephen is going to rip her off but she re-assures Tim that Stephen is harmless compared with Geoff and all will be well.  There is an inevitable argument as Tim is not keen on having a wicked stepfather.  Even Sally sums up Tim's attitude somewhat negatively.  Tim is convinced Stephen is on the make.  

At the Rovers Stephen expresses his concerns about Tim and then suggests to Elaine that they jet to Las Vegas and get married there.  Tim comes into the Rovers to apologise but gets wound up and tells Stephen he can only marry Elaine over his (Tim's) dead body - which is akin to giving Stephen ideas!

Abi obviously doubts that Aaron has been entirely honest and will she try to get him to make an admission of his mistakes?  Tim and a couple of drug dealers are next on Stephen's little list.  Jenny has pulled; I just hope he is more interesting than Leo.  And Eileen wishes the Golden Hind will sail rapidly away.

For reasons of holidays this is likely to be my last review for some weeks - possibly until very late June.  Enjoy and I will return once we catch up!

Written Ellen Taylor and Mark Wadlow.  Directed by Dominic Keavey.

Kosmo

@Kosmo100

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Coronation Street Episode Review Friday 3 March 2023

Can I mention I have a, probably irrational, dislike of Summer? This tends to influence my view of the stories told about her and has some relevance to tonight.  So when the row between Summer and Aaron over his contact with an ex - Mia - escalates from a minor bump to a complete split, I do start thinking that he can do better.  But there are limits.  And Amy is single and adjacent.  Alcohol was involved as there was a cocktail evening in the Bistro following Aaron's promotion to mechanic which needed celebrating, following which there were shots and Amy downing much of a bottle of vodka!  

However it went creepy when, after a mutually enthusiastic snogging session between Aaron and Amy back at the flat, Amy rolls over and goes to sleep. Following which we see her underwear lying on the floor

Stephen and Elaine are keeping the engagement to themselves for now - well you would, wouldn't you, if you had proposed whilst under the influence of self-administered drugs!  Stephen is feeling the pain of working for Carla, drinking heavily at lunchtime and then feels that further doping is needed so heads in the direction of the Precinct and the local drug dealers who spot a man with "mug" tattooed on his forehead initially ripping him for a lot of cash as they need to invent a time machine to go back to the Sixties to obtain LSD!  Stephen exhibits some pugilistic skills to convince the lads that he means business.  He later joins Sarah's business discussion over Nippersnapper and convinces the US distributor to up the offer by 5%.

Daisy has submitted all the papers for the Stalking Protection Order and asks if Adam will represent her at the court next week, although he counsels that the standard to obtain an Order are very high involving proof of potential harm.  Daisy's real stalker turns up - yes her mother returns.  Christina seems to believe that the stalker is completely harmless - it is only a few flowers and chocolates after all - what harm is there in that?  Christina gets Daisy to agree to lunch tomorrow.  

In a barely noted moment Hope admits that Beth smacked her a couple of weeks ago to Sam and inevitably this means that retribution will be sought.  Sam's mind is clearly trying to work out how to restore Hope's normal demeanour.

Paul is lucky to be in "full time work" so can get a payday loan to bridge until his compo arrives and can hand a wodge over to Chesney to pay the bills.  Meanwhile Ed is not having him back until the doctor signs him off.  Paul is confident that the compo will pay up.  Later in the kebab shop Chesney tells Billy that he is grateful for the financial help Paul is providing.  Chesney looks like he realises he has dropped Paul in the smelly stuff.  Billy tries to convince Paul to return the cash - but he cannot - and the fall back is the £15k from Peter (I suspect that boat has sailed).   In the face of Paul's determined opposition Billy drops the matter.

I fear that the Amy story is not exactly going to appeal to me - so if I am not here next week please accept my apologies in advance.  I felt tonight was lacking comedy - just having Brian being an irritant was obviously intended to fill the gap but it felt a bit flat.

Written by Emily Gascoyne and Nessah Muthy, directed by Neil Alderton.

Kosmo

@Kosmo100

 

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All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Coronation Street Episode Review Friday 26 August 2022

Derailed and replanned due to covid reasons Dylan's visit to the Street has been reshuffled many times.  Tonight he is due to go back to London and his mother and when Sean has to cover a shift in the Rovers the twin fairy godmothers of Mary and Glenda decide to throw a party based on musicals - at least they use that story to wind up Sean - but in reality they have got James (how is the learning going on becoming a world famous football coach?) to come and have a kickabout in the Street.  Dylan however decides that the time has come to live up to his accent and move to live permanently with Sean leaving behind those southern lads who make his life difficult.  We await this news being broken to Violet - who is apparently a somewhat absent mother.  A new double act is being built - Mary and Glenda.

Most of the Street consider the concept of a murderer out on licence living on the Street somewhat unpalatable and Dev, Tim, Elaine and others express their wish for Stu to move away.  The opposition simply stiffens Yasmeen's resolve.  Initially Kelly does not want to know - but her attitude changes later.  The scene is repeated almost word for word later with added Bernie.  Stu is not conceding any ground either.  Stu cooks a meal for Yasmeen and family and she makes it clear that Stu should go nowhere and she may cancel her trip to see Cathy.

To make up for the lost trip to Barcelona,  Summer uses her advance on her wages from Underworld and books a room at the Chariot Square Hotel for the night for her and Aaron.  When they get there (given their ages) they show more enthusiasm for room service under cloches than they do for each other.  Have they no hormones - has the insulin killed it all off?  OK perhaps they are both nervous and food is more important to ensure they have the stamina needed!

Aadi has his practical driving test today and after the usual parental wind-up admits that he has passed - so Dev hands over the key of a blue car and Aadi now has wheels (whatever happened to Dev's financial crisis a little while back?).  Before this however he and Kelly have to attend the Mr and Mrs quiz by the local paper.  Inevitably, between them they get one answer correct!  However Aadi makes an impassioned plea and so the paper decides to keep them as competitors despite not knowing each other for which Kelly puts on the (ex-Sunita) engagement ring which has been borrowed and which Asha spots when they return to the Street.  Later Asha challenges Aadi and he tells Asha that he and Kelly are engaged and Aadi does a bit of a reverse ferret - explaining it is a joke for a free holiday - all of which Kelly hears.  She takes the ring and chucks it in one direction and whilst the twins are looking for it she jumps in the little blue car and floors it - although she no licence or insurance.  Aadi, having heard earlier of a place that Kelly considers her happy place, (Fernly Clough) so he pursues Kelly on Asha's tiny "princess" bicycle (with the requisite health and safety helmet in place).  He leaves a voicemail message for Kelly saying she is amazing and he loves her.

Bernie has bought Joseph's school uniform and whilst in the shop the assistant handed her the blazer she ordered and paid in advance, delivery having taken place.  The true owner of the blazer turns up and doing the right thing Bernie hands over the item - which is placed back in the carrier bag and the mirror image picks up both carrier bags including the uniform.  Bernie had left her purse behind and it is returned in exchange.  Fern is NOT Debs Brownlow returning, but is a new character of whom I feel sure we shall see more.  Only Joseph and Dev believe the "evil twin "story - but it has to be true because it is so far fetched.

Aadi's first find is the car - which has hit a bollard.  The car is damaged but Kelly is safe and they sit and discuss the day - and end up snogging by a lake.  The car is not too badly damaged and they return in it to the Street where Gary and Dev espy it returning in damaged form.  Explanations are limited but to save problems Aadi insists that he was driving.

Later, once in an otherwise empty house, Kelly reckons it might not be so bad being married to Aadi - so he does the decent thing - down on one knee and with the recovered ring he pops the question.  And receives a positive response.  

The way the relations between the two young couples was portrayed was such a contrast and (in my view) a mistake to have two such similar interactions in the same episode was immediately evident.  I know consent is important - but getting a private space Aaron/Summer are more interested in food than each other.  Obviously there have been spoilers and this may not be the place to go further - but it jarred and felt very uneven.

Finally an apology (if you have read this far) - I should have been here last week but was in Spain dog and villa sitting for friends and with other absences planned there will be some further shuffling around - so apologies there was no review last Friday.

Written by Mark Wadlow and Owen Lloyd-Fox.  Directed by Chantelle Kayall.

Kosmo

@Kosmo100

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All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Coronation Street Episode Review Friday 27 May 2022

As we all know next week the Street is spinning out of control (even I have not managed to avoid the flipping adverts) so tonight was very much set-up time before we all go on a spin cycle (now there is an idea for Councillor Windass - turn the Street into a cycleway).  Peace and harmony has been restored for Fiz and Phill who are now engaged and she has returned to his house (what was the point of the area being covered in cement - too small for a patio or any other use - apart from allowing two men to get mucky together?)  as Fiz tells the factory girls, above - there is even still some cement left on the ring as a reminder.  The wedding is to have a Frozen theme with Ty as Olaf and Nana as Sven the reindeer!  A little later a fly lands in the ointment when Fiz relays to Tyrone that Hope wishes to change her name from Stape to Whittaker as she does not want to be burdened by the name of her late father.

In tonight's "blink and you miss it moment" whilst discussing the ring Dirk snuck past behind Beth.

Faye is scouring the internet for non-HRT treatments and inevitably there is an awful lot of possibilities out there, although Craig is not convinced.  He does however indulge in a shared liquorice tea as it is supposed to ease menopausal symptoms.  [Does anyone like liquorice or am I alone in not liking the stuff?].  Beth observes Craig finding the tea objectionable and later makes some herbal tea with sage which helped Beth's mother before the doctors put her on HRT which Beth still believes is the best solution for Faye.

For those amongst us who do not understand the Summer story I undertook a little research.  Taking insulin means that glucose enters the cells as opposed to being in the blood stream doing damage.  With more glucose entering cells weight gain is a possible side effect.  To avoid weight gain when you are a diabetic count calories and be physically active (which is exactly the same advice as given to non-diabetics).  Skipping meals is not advised nor is skipping insulin; the former means the potential for sugar levels going too low; the latter too high - as Summer demonstrates in her 'A level' maths exam when she starts losing her sight and ends up in a hospital bed.  Billy and Paul try to re-assure that she will still get a University place - and that the exam board will make allowances.  Summer also gets a visit from Aaron Sandford (James Craven) who has been finding it hard to stay away from her.  He admits that he also had a difficult time when he first went onto insulin, gaining weight, not taking insulin and it nearly killed him - so when Summer admitted her problems he did not feel he could handle it.  Then.  But now he asks if they can start over?  It seems they can.

Kev has, in a move which little surprises us, discovered that he is still in love with Abi.  Jack materialises and admits he has been missing Abi as well so Kev heads off to the flat where Abi is living and invites her back to the Street, however she cannot accept and tells him that now she has fake passports she will be heading to Costa Rica with Alfie on Monday - although as she found earlier she needs a fake visa to go with the fake passports.  Kev tries to tell her it is wrong - but admits he is still on her side even when they are 5-0 down and she has been sent off for punching the referee!

In a welcome development, Sean, having spent much of the episode complaining about being single, decides to help Frank Bardsley (Simon O'Brien - in a former soap incarnation was Damon Grant in Brookside) who has arrived for a first date with Don (who is into extreme couponing).  After Frank and Don have been chatting Sean rushes into the bar and accuses "Fred" of being a serial dater having told Sean he wanted a relationship and claims his heart is broken and that Frank has an alarming rash "down there".  Don does a runner and eventually, after prompting from Jenny and Daisy, Sean actually manages to ask Frank out for a drink!  

After a change of heart Kev gives Abi some money and admits that he would be planning to do the same in her shoes.  And before he goes Abi tells Kev that she loves him too.  

Written by Nessah Murthy and Emily Gascoyne, directed by Abe Juckes.

Kosmo

@Kosmo100

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All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License