Whatever Happened to Tracy's redemption?

Even more difficult times are ahead for Tracy, who, obnoxious though she is, is having a rough time at the moment.

She is still grieving for her mother, her father has taken up with Nessa, Tony has cleared out the money from the Barlow’s Buys account and, presumably, she is still experiencing great guilt at her causing the death of two completely innocent people.

A while ago, Robert seemed to be on her case. He was trying to encourage her to admit her guilt and she seemed on the very point of doing so. Viewers will recall that Tracy was arrested and there was great jubilation on the cobbles as a result. Carla, in particular, was transformed when it was revealed that she was not guilty of causing the fire and therefore not guilty of the deaths of Kal and Maddie. The drinking, the gambling, the drunkenness were all kicked into touch and now, she is experiencing one of her happiest times on the cobbles. The factory is picking up, the relationship with Nick seems to be going very well and Carla seems the least tortured she has been for some time.  

 But then, for some reason, Tracy was released and since that time, the strange thing is, that there has been barely any mention of the fire. So what is happening? Has the storyline been abandoned? There are references to Maddie, usually by Sophie, and Kal’s memory is invoked frequently when we see how devastated Alya and Zeedan are, and their grandparents too.

It also seemed for a while that Robert might have succeeded in persuading Tracy to move towards some kind of redemption, the first stage of which would have been her confession. Yet it all seems to have dwindled away.

Things are going to get even worse for Tracy. Robert will take a shine to Leanne. Soap magazines are even suggesting that Robert will leave Tracy for Leanne. But hang on a minute. Wasn’t Robert supposed to be devoted to Tracy? All through his marriage to someone else, wasn’t it the case that he couldn’t get Tracy out of his mind? At least, that was what he claimed.

Though this may be a contentious view, I like the fact that Corrie has a female villain. Many say she is surplus to requirements, unconvincing, even ridiculous, but I for one would miss her. Why? I would miss her directness, her snarkiness, her rudeness, her viciousness. the relationships she has with Amy, Ken, Liz, Michelle and the other residents.

If Tracy was redeemed she wouldn’t be Tracy any more, so maybe the whole redemption idea was shelved. In Tracy’s favour, her grief over her mother’s death was real as were her attempts to be nice to Ken and help him recover, though it has to be said that Nessa seems to have been more effective at that.

The much talked about return of Rob, even though he will be pulling strings from his prison cell, may well involve Tracy and her old nemesis Carla. By. then though, she may well have gained another nemesis in Leanne

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Luckless Leanne

Tracy’s first steps to redemption, making breakfast and trying to make up with Carla, seemed to have the touch of sincerity about them. It is very early days though and her real redemption will begin when she confesses about having started the fire in Carla’s flat.

Robert is confusing. We know he’s married and he lied to his wife on the phone in The Rovers. I need to be convinced much more by this enduring love for Tracy, though. So far, it just strikes me as odd. He’s no slouch though and saw off the thugs in Barlow’s Buys.

Really though, Tracy aside, could things get any worse for Leanne? Simon is rude and offensive to her and yes he’s not the first  and he won’t be the last  adolescent to be rude or offensive to a parent. Simon though, has had much to deal with and he receives another wallop, this one from his dad, his very part-time dad, the dad who claims to love Simon above everyone. So, Peter has a job in Antigua! It may only be for six months, initially, but it’s hardly Stockport. 'It's good news really,' says Peter. 'What is it Peter?' asks Leanne, almost guessing, from her tone, that the good news will not be good news for her or Simon. Peter is non-plussed when Simon declares his intention to come with him. Leanne points out the impracticality of it and Simon throws this at her, 'You just don't want us to be happy.' Who said life was fair?

Leanne’s facial expressions speak volumes. Just when she needs support, Peter becomes unattainable. Thank goodness for Nick then, who is more of a dad to Simon, than Peter is. Simon’s aggression is going to deteriorate and Leanne will hopefully lean on Ken as she struggles with his behaviour. Just to add to her woes, while at work in the Bistro, Leanne gets a call from Simon's school to say he has been fighting and has been suspended.

Leanne is still grieving for Kal, too and the marriage that never will be. 

Then there is the charmless Dan. Is Liz so desperate for a man that she has to take up with this guy? Is he useful to her in that when Tony does return, she will be able to make him jealous? Granted, she doesn’t know about his violence towards Leanne when she was a prostitute, but Liz does know something is wrong as demonstrated when she was trying to make up to Leanne, but not understanding why Leanne was upset. 'Hopefully we can just put any misunderstandings behind us,' says Liz. Liz will find out though – she surely will.

Approaching Leanne in the street, Dastardly Dan shows his true colours. ‘I need to know that I can trust you,’ he tells her. Leanne reminds him that she had bruises from him as he tries to convince her that he has now changed. ‘You can’t tell her!’ he yells at Leanne. 'I'm not going to let some bitter little whore ruin what I have with Liz.' He grabs hold of her, and Leanne tells him to get off her. He then tells her that if she tells Liz about him, she'll regret it. 

Well, it might not be Leanne who tells Liz, it could well be Sarah, who was watching closely. Tell Liz, Sarah, exactly what you saw! The sooner the better!

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