I have been in two minds over writing this. Firstly for personal reasons I can see no entertainment value in the gradual decline of an individual's physical state and secondly I honestly do not feel I can do the episode the justice it deserves. I am not a writer and consequently if you can I would urge you to watch the episode. Paul plays the song "Oh Happy Day" to tell Billy that the time has come for them to part permanently. Throughout we hear Paul looking to the future and how Billy, the quads and others will progress in their lives. Paul has one huge regret - that they have never been to Sitges.
Having said that I am not going to do my usual recapitulation of events - but instead to reflect on the events portrayed. First up a few words about Debbie Oates. She has been a writer on t'Street since 2002 and has no doubt been involved in this storyline for a long period. She had the job tonight of writing the lines we heard in normal conversations and the thought stream of Paul's locked in brain. For once we are hearing that "somewhere in there" Paul's brain continues to work, continues to resent being shouted at and coming to his conclusion that the time has come. Some amazing writing to get that balance for the episode.
Director of the episode was Vicky Thomas who has worked with the programme since 2018 and she no doubt had to work out how to piece together the actions as we started in the flat, visited the church for a reminder of the wedding, popped along to see Gemma and the quads, dropping into the Rovers for a reminder that Paul first entered the programme with David as his prison cell mate. Paul decides that the day has come and without telling him lets Todd know that the time has come. nuTodd has now erased all memories of earlier Todd and will no doubt have a big surprise today.
Billy (Daniel Brocklebank) of course - running from caring to raging to accepting when Paul reveals his decision, knowing it is too soon and yet knowing that the decision is not his and that he needs to prepare to enable the outcome now that Paul has decided. He read from Corinthians when they were in the church. He also initiates a long recall sequence showing very brief excerpts from their love story cut together almost too quickly.
In terms of delivering though second prize goes to Joseph (William of the famous Flanagan family). Early on he is almost refusing to talk to Paul - preferring to go upstairs and do his homework and not participate in Paul's big day out. Later when he and three of the quads descend on the flat for the night he talks to Paul telling him that he struggles knowing that the real Paul is still there but just unable to communicate and yet knowing that he wants to do it. And he reckons he can learn to understand Paul as Billy does. This changes Paul's mind.
Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) wins first prize however as he gets a big shock of losing his speech, even to the point at which Billy misunderstands him and yet he knows that only Billy can be his interpreter - which more or less makes his decision and he plays the music. But then he is saved by Joseph who can still hear him and the decision is reversed. At one point we thought that he had died naturally overnight - but he remains with us for now, although I fear not for long.
I often make the point that it would be nice if we had more of Corrie telling us the simple story of people living their lives in a quiet Weatherfield Street. However I accept that sometimes there is room for more. Just over two weeks ago the team delivered the almost two hander with Joel and Lauren and now I feel sorry for that team as another team have now delivered another episode with so much good stuff. Inevitably only one can win awards and it is therefore regrettable that they came so close together.
And we still have Paul's final story to come.
Kosmo
