Coronation Street Episode Review Friday 3 February 2023

Welcome to what I think was a little bit of a mixed bag episode.  I cannot remember if we knew that Tyler Sam was being bullied at school but having taken some boxing lessons from Damon, plus being instructed on the power of threats, the young lad decides to threaten his oppressor with a telescope thumping.  Sam is sent home and explains events - with Damon getting the blame. 

Meanwhile Damon is masterminding the next drug delivery for Monday lunchtime and Nick is getting ever more rattled.  To the point where Leanne demands answers and Nick (to my surprise) actually tells her what is going on.  It takes Leanne a while to get her head around the money not coming from Sam's inheritance.

Daisy and her stalker are not getting on well - so Daniel seeing him on deliveries, delivers a piece of his mind.  Justin talks him down and over a brew they exchange some back story - apparently Justin's mother is in a hospice suffering from cancer - a story designed to gain Daniel's sympathy. Daniel believes Justin agrees not to see Daisy again.  Which lasts just long enough for Justin to walk around to the back yard of the Rovers and he uses the knowledge to tell Daisy that he knows why she cannot hurt Daniel and that he is prepared to wait until they can be together.  Daisy recounts her encounter to Daniel, explaining that Justin knew which buttons to press having researched their family histories.  They agree to report him to the police and we have a sit down with Craig who seems not to have made it out of uniform yet. The approved solution is a log of all future interactions to prove that Justin is a threat, to enable the CPS to prosecute.  Subsequently Daniel and Daisy agree to continue as normal - but it looks like it will be strenuous.

Eileen returns and Mary is trying to bring order out of chaos although the toilet might not be fit for use at present. Sadly Eileen is early and perfection has not been achieved.  Breakfast at Roy's Rolls enables Eileen to distribute presents and for us to see Alex hard at work.  Eileen has brought Muay Thai training gloves and handguards for Todd - a present soon allegedly confined to the bin - but once resurrected, an impromptu session leads George hitting Todd who suffers a broken tooth. The only dentist with space is of course Laurence. Todd does not trust Laurence and initially refuses but the family talk him into it.  It is fixed without charge.  Todd almost admits that perhaps Laurence is suitable for Sean.

Relations between the Dobbs and the Sutherlands are still at a low ebb and in an effort to put things right Kirk and Beth are invited for a brew (and pink wafers - Kirk's favourite) this evening and a proper talk about recent events.  Beth looks unaccountably shifty at various times and seems particularly discomfited when Hope arrives and objects to her presence in the house.  Hope storms out and Beth follows her - to our surprise to apologise for smacking Hope - for once the girl was telling the truth.  Beth also hands over some cash.  Beth thinks it is all over, Hope doesn't and calls Beth a cow.

In the absence of Dave cancelling his golf date Devendra decides to take Bernie for a round as there is an important competition shortly.  Inevitably she plays him off the course and is soon taking calls from Gloria Gullon, the Ladies' Captain, asking her to join some trials next week.  

Rita wanders into the Bistro and asks if that wonderful Danny Boy could be contacted and asked for his recipe for sticky toffee pudding.  And we get to learn more about Danny than we ever knew whilst he was on the show.  Leanne agrees to text him.  Apparently he was a lovely lad according to our Reet!

Leanne has summoned Damon to the Bistro to sort it out.  She proves that there is a power in threats as she will summon the police if Damon does not back off.  Leanne tells Damon about Oliver and she is not frightened of anyone.  Despite everything Damon tells them the drop will happen on Monday - but that is the end of it, as they are simply too much hassle.  Leanne has a bigger problem than trusting Damon to go away - can she ever trust Nick again?    

Written by David Judge and Jan McVerry.  Directed by John Anderson.

Kosmo

@Kosmo100

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Coronation Street Episode Review; Wednesday 23rd of November 8 pm

When it comes to the heinous crime of murder, even a soapy fictional one - can justice really be done? Or, as Corrie had us questioning tonight, can restorative justice give any closure in a Weatherfield murder?

Tonight, Sam, Nick and the facilitator head to prison (definitely not the Corrie studio tour entrance) to visit murderer Harvey. With the scene set, you could well have imagined Sam being in tears by the end, but faced with Harvey’s vile demeanour, Sam played a chess analogy and set a different tone entirely. Armed with a picture of Natasha, Harvey opened up, facing a few home truths about his past, and analysis from Sam soon broke him down. With more of Harvey’s backstory revealed and Sam’s psychological genius, it made for high-end drama. It was well-written, and directed, and my favourite scene from tonight's show. 

Meanwhile, Fiz and Tyrone have a pile of true-crime books to get rid of, little knowing that Hope has sold a load off at school. Outside the classroom, Hope has a captive audience and threatens her fellow pupils with some John Stape-style treatment, before an impromptu book sale and signing. Meanwhile, Tyrone realises the book pile is missing and pushes Hope to reveal her stash. Hope plays a psychological game of a different kind and guilt trips her parents, telling them she dumped the lot in the canal. Later, Hope visits Sam, revealing she made £75 selling the true-crime books and an abundance of new friends. Later, it seems she's got something else planned. Sam is not impressed. 

Toyah’s also not impressed with Spider's most recent behaviour, seeking solace in sister Leanne, the two head out for a drink. Meanwhile, Griff and the undercover cop discuss the next local racist attack, whilst winding up Jenny Bradley in the rovers. Also arriving at the pub, Toyah and Leanne push a few buttons resulting in Griff spouting more bile before being barred.

The festive am-dram story got resurrected tonight, and with Mary seeking acting inspiration from thespian Ken, she decides to channel some Joan Crawford into the role (no, me neither) Brian’s wearing comedic King Charles ears, and Nigel’s direction is equally hilarious. It's all very light-hearted - good to see the community centre used for comedy - in direct contrast to last week’s right-wing meeting. Nigel decides Mary’s over-enthusiasm may need recasting and opts to ring an old actress friend of his. 

Elsewhere tonight, Alya starts her new legal job with Dee-dee, and Stu’s kept busy with Eliza.  

What did you think of tonight’s Corrie? Let us know in the comments box. 

I am @rybazoxo self-styled cobbles connoisseur & Coronation Street superfan. 

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Coronation Street Episode Review Friday 11 November 2022

I need to open tonight with an apology.  I felt somewhat distressed at the content of this episode and on second watching (for this review) I felt little better.  I suspect my antipathy will be evident in my report.  Most seriously the episode ended with a hooded figure throwing red paint over the door of Speed Dahl.  Much of the episode was occupied with Max being suckered into believing that Daryan was "creepy" towards Lauren (who by the way does not want Max stinking of curry after his shift ends) and that naturally Daryan and Alya stick together as "people like that (Muslims) always stick up for one another" as his "re-education" by Griff gathers pace.  Max tries to argue it is not like that - but Griff has manipulative ways and a video (which we do not see),  Griff also refers to the lies of mainstream media.  When David tries to tackle the subject with Max he hits a brick wall.  Griff offers Max money to provide social media coverage of an upcoming talk.

You remember Tyrone - the hard up, scrap metal dealing mechanic of a couple of years ago.  Who a week ago had enough money to buy all the copies of the local paper?  And this week has enough money to buy all the copies from the nearby bookshop and also a cardboard cutout of the late Mr Stape?  Which he then stores in the outhouse - all to keep Hope from reading about her father and his evil kidnapping of Rosie and the wrong Christmas presents?  And who promised his daughter that he would prevent the book being published - until Adam told him what lawyers cost?  Hope takes her anger out on the outhouse door which swings open to reveal John Stape!  Later Ty apologises to Nick and asks if Sam and Hope can be friends again and Nick arranges for tea for two at the Bistro with Hope revealing she has a copy of the book to read.  Carla makes it clear to the factory staff that talking about John Stape at work is an absolute no-no.

Meanwhile the wheels of justice are rotating again - slowly this time and for which some unfathomable reason required a trip to London and some ill-judged comments about railways at a time when Avanti West Coast is running a reduced service - but Stu's conviction has now been formally overturned - so this is great news and yet somehow Stu looks to have the burdens of the world on his shoulders.  The complication is Eliza whom he has promised Bridget he will be responsible.  However she has to have her own bedroom and that means that Stu can no longer live with Yasmeen at 6 Coronation Street as there is no spare bedroom.

Esther and Mike seem such a lovely young couple don't they - church-attending, charity workers?  And yet baby-fixated in a way not seen since it was R'Toyota's raison d'être!  Having given the money they also work out that (silly) Billy does not yet know that Summer (madness) is having a baby.  But they are worried about the legalities as you cannot have a contract about an unborn child in this country - but the lawyer has a suggestion.  And the thumbscrews are out.  Just put Mike as the father on the birth certificate to ensure he has parental rights.  Is this a step too far for Summer?  On reflection no - so long as she and Aaron stick together all will be well.

Now what harm can be done by a former arsonist reading "John Stape - A Legacy of Evil" - a book about a serial killer knowing that she has the same genes?  Probably just a nightmare or two or more likely a lifetime of future derangement for the entertainment of the viewers?  I am sure she will be a really well adjusted adult!

Howard has a type - Fern Lindon and now Bernie - well you can see it, can't you?  Bernie wants Howard to tell the police about his ex-wife being a thieving con artist but he has some other ideas, so they share some tea and then a few drinks down t'Rovers.  But little progress is made in the direction of the police station as more Dutch courage is needed before facing the might of the local plod.  Eventually Shona (who appears to have taken to drinking by herself) points out Howard's intentions and Bernie calls him out on it.  Later, shamefacedly Howard returns - he has been to the police after all but they are still not prepared to look for Fern.  Howard has a plan.

And you remember that hooded figure redecorating "Speed Dahl"?  You all thought it was Max didn't you?  No it was an upright member of the local constabulary, Geoffrey Nugent.

I realise that I am probably in a minority of one; I was happy to hear that Spider would return.  However I am not sure that demonising the police force like this is "entertainment" as the Corrie powers have not yet seen fit to explain his "journey" and it is going to take some believing how he went from the rain forests of Peru with Aunty Emily to the Weatherfield back streets and criminal damage.  Sorry but this is seriously wrong.  We have done racist problems several times since the arrival of the Bailey family and I think it is too soon to go there again.  Alongside that I am unhappy at Summer having yet another story.  Where is the gentle character stuff?  Ease off the gas and rebalance please.

Written by Owen Lloyd-Fox and John Kerr.  Directed by Emma Lindley.

Kosmo

@Kosmo100

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Coronation Street Episode Review;Wednesday 9th of November 8 pm

With discriminatory language and views that some readers may find offensive… 

No, I am joking because this is the coronation street blog, but I did wonder, when starting this review, why that warning would be needed when watching the show on catch-up online. 

This is a slightly skewed slant, but I wanted to get the Max storyline out of the way first. Max the vulnerable lad is slowly being lured into Griff's web of right-wing political tyranny, and with Spider elsewhere, the little fly is starting to get stuck. Tonight, Max is keen to start afresh at Speed Daal, after Monday's disaster, and Lauren turns up to meet him after his shift. Visibly uncomfortable by the staff, Lauren makes a quick exit. Back at HQ (the Weatherfield answer to The Berghof), Max is shocked as his girlfriend explains her ill feeling of being at the curry house, telling Max that Daryan was perving and freaking her out. Max collars Daryan at Speed Daal, asking for an apology, which he gives to them, but Alya is quick to correct the error of his ways. Later, Lauren leads Max to his bedroom. I guess the pre-episode warning was to do with the vague suggestions of racism, and I'm left wondering how far this storyline will go.

Fighting man Tyrone Dobbs is up against the ropes again tonight, what with the video of his slap going viral in Weatherfield, the dozy Dad struggles with his latest actions and the threat of the book's early release. Adam Barlow is hoping to halt publishing with a defamation claim, telling Ty and Fiz they need a fast £100K to stop publication. Facing unrealistic costs, and a tight court deadline, the couple admit defeat, telling Adam they simply can't afford it. Unfortunately, that also means relaying the news to Hope. The little girl is distraught, rightfully blaming Tyrone for lying and making her anger known. Fiz is concerned about Tyrone’s violent outbursts and tells her his masculinity has been hurt, which explains his gym trips. Later, the police call round and arrest him for that slap. Fiz talks to Hope and tries to explain his actions, whilst Tyrone gets off with a caution. Adam is also busy elsewhere tonight, checking in on Stu’s case with Alya, who has obviously picked up the legal jargon, following her victory with Dee-dee. 

Talking of court, Bernie receives a summons tonight, to face jewellery robbery charges, and tempted by Dev’s offer of a posh hotel spa treat, Bernie seems to think this is where Fern would be residing. Hiding in plain sight? Doubtful. Anyway, she arrives at the hotel, masquerading as Fern Lindon, (surname revealed). At the hotel, Bernie tries to access the hotel system and inadvertently gets caught in the act by Howard, a hotel guest, who just happens to be Fern’s ex-husband. She makes up a bizarre excuse but then tells him the truth. Knowing his ex-wife, Howard admits to believing her and tells Bernie that Fern robbed him as well. Although he obviously hates her, he refuses to help her find Fern. Later, at the rovers, Bernie tells her assembled family about her findings, only for Howard to turn up. He tells her that he will talk to the police. 

Meanwhile, Summer's surrogate pregnancy has moved from Billy’s pokey flat to the new setting of the builder’s yard maisonette. Summer seems to have moved in okay but tonight she’s still feeling poorly, and whilst working at Underworld, Jacob tries to convince her to tell the bosses she’s pregnant, and to tell Aaron how she’s feeling. She appears to refuse both. Meanwhile, Tracy visits and makes herself at home, just like Blanche or Dierdre would have - loved that!

Elsewhere, Sam’s restorative justice crusade towards Harvey, as touching as it is admirable, continues with pace tonight. With a visitor from the crime victim scheme (it's a real thing, by the way) Sam discusses his thoughts about his grief journey and the counsellor agrees it's a good idea, much to Nick and Leanne’s dismay - will Harvey agree to it though? 

I am @rybazoxo self-styled cobbles connoisseur & Coronation Street superfan. 

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