Episode Review Friday 6 February 2026

Welcome.  They have been saying that Debbie is going to court tomorrow for days, but today is the day and Carl has not taken the news of his family status at all well.  No sympathy for what his mother/sister was going through all that time ago.  Debbie is making final arrangements and Ryan is firmly in charge at Chariot Square.  Carl's contribution is to leave the key to the flat at the hotel reception.  Debbie chases Carl down in Roys Rolls who is his usual polite and genteel self nasty self-centred with zero redeeming features self.  He refuses to go to court today and he will be leaving Weatherfield very soon but Debbie says he can stay at the hotel until he does.  Ryan, Kev and Abi do make the court room and Adam has chosen to wear a wig although it is not a requirement when a solicitor acts.  Perhaps in deference to the old school judge who determines that this is serious, so four years inside reduced to 2 years 8 months for pleading guilty (she will serve 16 months or slightly less).   

Theo has disappeared completely having left Todd with £10 and a promise he would be back tomorrow, now he is not even answering his phone or returning calls.  Todd talks Summer out of going to Debbie's sentencing although she wants to see justice done for Billy.  Summer attempts to make breakfast for herself and Todd but there is nothing at all in the fridge or the cereal cupboard.  Summer shops and later Sarah tells Todd that Harry has done his sponsored walk of 5k and he completed the course and could she have the £10 in cash - which Todd has not got.  He is snappy because normally it would not be a problem.

Plattsville is very odd.  David and Shona bickering because both are tired.  Tim takes Jodie off somewhere and when she returns she has a box which appears to contain personal "treasures".  Sarah insists on buying David lunch before he goes back to the hospital as Bethany is there and can stay on.  He agrees.  In Jodie's box there is an usb stick which she removes so it must have some meaning before David comes in with Sarah and Jodie rapidly hides the box again.  David expressed the view that there is something wrong with Todd which leads to Sarah heading off as she has come to the same conclusion.  

Roy is not around and Nina has a raging toothache and when she goes to the dentist Bernie is left on her own and is clearly not up to coping.  Mal comes down from upstairs and swings into action as a pair of hands in the kitchen.  Abi and Kev come in with the bad news of  Debbie's sentence and this enables Summer to go off on one about Debbie's decision to get in and drive that car which led to Billy's death. 

Debbie goes into shock when she arrives at the prison where she enquires as to the availability of room service and is bothered by the incessant noise and loses her sight.  We are later told has suffered another TIA and has been transferred to hospital where she is handcuffed to the bed and is accompanied by a member of the prison staff. Kev suggests to Carl that after Ronnie has had a chance to see Deebalina they should see her - but Carl does not want to do it and will not get involved plus making remarks about his "sister" and this "family".  

Mr Tsakpo ran a lovely establishing shot as Debbie recovered consciousness and sight in the hospital of the ward ceiling and lights and then steadily coming into focus a nurse approaching the bedside.  I know we are in the new era of 30 minute episodes but this one really felt as if it was the first half of an hour.  We have a hanging story of Sarah heading out to find out what is really with wrong with the Toddster, no doubt she will find Theo back in place when she gets there.  Also I suspect the second half would have rather more about the usb stick.  This episode felt "wrong" and I will be interested to see if Monday really is part 2.  If it is then I hope that management stop it and get back to working out that episodes are Monday to Friday.  This of course was actually Wednesday's episode for those who are counting as we lost two this week which maybe has made it worse.

Written by Susan Oudot and directed by Kodjo Tsakpo.

Kosmo

@Kosmo100

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Coronation Street Episode Review Friday 3 May 2024

Paul has a father - who knew?  Well, obviously there was someone because otherwise - well you know - but in all seriousness why would he suddenly show any interest after 30 years?  In this one episode the fates conspire to identify Denny (Danny Cunningham) as particularly useless.  First he is told not to leave Paul whilst Billy visits a parishioner (he is an Archdeacon on leave - he does not have a parishioner); Denny duly leaves Paul who tries to call an ambulance as he sinks into a coma but fails as he cannot speak.  Denny is not sure which ice cream to buy and Gemini happens to be in the shop so Denny gets sidetracked because he wants to meet the grandchildren which is arranged in Roys Rolls where is playing with them for ages until Gemma reminds him of the ice cream (chocolate for the third time).  He eventually returns to the flat to find Paul unresponsive and summons the yellow Weatherfield taxi with flashing blue light womanned by Asha as Billy returns to find out about the unfolding disaster so can accompany Paul to hospital where, in contrast to normal NHS on Corrie, they are kept waiting in the ambulance for some hours as there is no room at the inn.  Rather than doing a runner Denny goes shopping and gets shamed eventually into going to the hospital although feelings run high.  Denny leaves and has decided that he can make a few pennies out of his son by flogging his wheelchair which he will deliver tomorrow.  Either this character has a huge redemption arc or is not long for this world.  Paul meanwhile has been diagnosed with pneumonia caused by swallowing his own vomit on Wednesday when Denny got him drunk.

Bernie is upset by Denny's antics in Roy's Rolls and at home she gets out her memory box - keepsakes of the children and a tied bundle of letters - which remain tied and which she denies are love letters but are perhaps an explanation of part of her history - from around 30 years ago - about which we will hear more in the coming weeks.  There is a small sock and other items which seem to cheer and re-assure her.  However in explaining the contents to Dev she makes an odd comment "all my children" and Denny made a remark about her having a secret.  Later she also comments on Dev's numerous children so "prediction alert" is that Bernie had or has another child.  Dev admits that he also thinks of all of his children and on how much he has missed out.

Dev has scored!  He hit an albatross, no not the bird as we all know about the bad luck that follows.  Two magnificent shots on the fifteenth meant 3 under on a par 5 hole (one under - birdie, two under - eagle, three under - albatross).  He gets to dine with the club captain next week.  His celebrations are soon cut short by news of Paul's trip to hospital.

Liam is taking up martial arts but Joseph notes he did not participate.  Joseph suggests watching some movies and Liam manages to get Maria to agree to him spending time at Joseph's.  But she is not checking his search history as he seems to keep searching on Voggle for diazepam.  Perhaps he has learnt to clear it.

Tim is fed up with Sally banning him from talking to Steve.  In a great scene on Maxeem's bench Sally explains that she is concerned that divorce might be catching - she has read about it and when one couple breaks up it spreads like wildfire through the group of friends and she is very concerned that Tim might have his head turned.  Tim is surprised by the explanation - he is 52 after all - and then Sally tells him that he is fit as a butcher's dog and that he is her trophy husband.  They make up and share a box of chips.

In the Rovers Steve finally gets to meet Demi (Lisa Shingler) who apparently knows a lot about Weathy County having held a season ticket and a Mum who worked in hospitality.  She strikes gold when she reveals (perhaps a little too readily) that the player who was the greatest plonker was all time legend Tommy Orpington.  Her description of him suits Steve's ears - but is a mile away from the Tommy O we have seen on the screen over the years.  The two of them hit it off well and there is no doubt that there will be another date and Steve later tells Amy that she is little Miss Perfect for him.  {For the record and in another life the same actress was Rachel Forbes who had a series of dates with Steve in 1997/8}.

In other unbelievable stories Alya gets closer to Adam as they work on the joint case over poor property management.  And she is obviously in full flirt mode - which is not the "no-sex before marriage" Alya we originally met.  Not to mention that having started a new job where she is immediately offered a transfer to Dublin - which has a different legal system.  When Rich finds Alya and Adam kissing (to be honest he did start it) he tells her Dublin is out of the question.  Adam later talks to Rich in the Rovers and explains that Alya was not responsible and that she should still be sent to Dublin and for all sorts of reasons it seems likely she will go.

Roy and Dee Dee keep missing each other's calls (well Dee Dee cannot phone Roy in prison - but you know what I mean) but they eventually speak just before the end of the episode.  Roy feels that there was a significant conversation between Max and Lauren about the "boyfriend" just before her disappearance which has been reshown in recent episodes.  Roy feels the key might be the necklace that Lauren kept touching and he has drawn the item hanging on the necklace - if they could find the jeweller and who was the buyer then there might be a lead.  For those with memories you may recall that back in December Dee Dee found a jewellery receipt which Joel said related to an expensive pair of cufflinks.  This may well be a red herring.

Best bit tonight was almost Dev and his albatross but Sally and Tim on the bench was great.  Third place - Steve and Demi in the Rovers.  In many respects tonight was the best episode for ages.  The family scenes between Steve and Amy, Platt chat and "Stim" and "Our Fam" - but no Tracy - chat groups.  Tim and Sally in the Rovers and then on the bench.  Sally wanting "PG" - not tips - Pinot Grigio - when we know that the Rovers does white or red!  Dev and Bernie discussing children.  We NEED nay we DEMAND far more of this.  Indeed I can almost forgive Alya and Adam for their antics - because this is Corrie.  Thank you for tonight - it gives me hope that is light at the end of the tunnel and not just a train coming the other way.


Written by Simon Crowther and Jonathan Harvey.  Directed by Chantelle Kayll.

Kosmo

@Kosmo100

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Coronation Street Episode Review Friday 21 July 2023

First up is the curious case of "Who's the Daddy?" with Sarah being scanned next week and taking a blood test to determine the sex of the child; presumably it will not show a blood type which could not come from the parents?  Adam is trying to carry on as normal but mid-afternoon in a telephone call he is congratulated on becoming a father - and all the sleepless hours ahead.   Adam has a panic attack and a prospective client, Colin Budd, disappears in the hour he "loses" pulling himself together - as Daniel finds him later.

Tim is released having been held by the police overnight - the next stage will depend on Stephen.  At home he tells Sally, Gail and Elaine that he stuck to "no comment" in the interviews and has said nothing.  

Audrey arrives from the hospital having sat by Stephen's bedside (the operation was a success) and wades in, telling Elaine she should be at the hospital with her fiance and Tim tells Audrey she should watch her back - Stephen is the one who should be in prison.  They show Audrey the signed joint life assurance policy - but this does little to change her mind and she turns it around - as it is a joint life policy Elaine must have set it up with Tim!  

Back at the hospital Audrey updates Gail and Sarah when Stephen regains consciousness.  The news that he is awake is regaled to Tim and family by DC Tinker (when you need a uniform copper why send a detective?) who is able to say that Stephen has confirmed that he slipped and the police are terminating their investigations.  Tim remains convinced that Stephen is rotten.

Dev is all over Aadi who is about to commence his new job as Darren's assistant - which seems to being the hired driver for Darren's wife, Courtney.  Dev just wants in on the "Freshco units" deal, but Aadi is driving to the shops and not attending the meeting with a Koi carp loving architect.  Shopping done Courtney treats Aadi to a milk shake and listens to his business plans before revealing that the "arm candy" exterior hides an MBA trained brain!  

A little later Courtney and Aadi go to Darren's office.  She alleges that she has heard there is another party bidding for the Freshco units who are building a consortium with retailer input, Darren is dismissive until Aadi pipes that Dev has the knowledge and more importantly the money.  Darren agrees to a meeting with Dev whilst Aadi and Courtney exchange smiles.  The four foregather in the Rovers and it is clear that Courtney has primed Aadi with some back story on one of Darren's failures when he had a small unit - but no parking so it struggled.  However Aadi has a solution - delivery lockers for parcels and the punters will spend.  The deal is on.

Paul tells Billy he is going to go to the MND Support Group meeting later in the day, even though he knows it will be hard he does not want Billy to join him (well it might be better than Blanche at an AA meeting).  At the meeting (in what looks like a new set) he is confronted by a stair lift and Shelly (Rossington - Natalie Amber) who is in a wheelchair and is also attending the MND group.  Paul leans down to talk to her and she tells him not to curtsy, she rolls into the meeting room and Paul decides that it is not for him and does a runner.  He admits as much to Billy and his embarrassment.  

Isabella is not looking forward to being back in her builder infested flat in Italy - Sean and Mary pop along to bid her farewell.  Brian sees that he is back to the "Life of Brian" as a mediocrity.  Mary calls him kind, clever and decent which he interprets too positively - but she immediately dumps him back into the friend zone.  Later in the Rovers Brian gives Mary a small present which she appreciates but his romantic suit cannot be pressed.  Rita arrives and Brian admits his place in the friend zone.  Rita clearly has some thinking to do.

Audrey returns to the Metcalfe's with Gail and they apologise for earlier.  Elaine has gone to the hospital where Stephen explains that he lied because he wants them to stay together.  She asks him about the assurance policy - he denies forging her signature and says she signed it on a day when she was not well.  The lightbulb turns on at full megawattage and Elaine exclaims "Geoff Metcalfe".  The wood has parted and she can see the trees - it is all off and Elaine can spot all the lies - including the truth about Gabrielle.  She goes and Stephen cancels the life policy.

Aadi is about to celebrate his success (at least in Dev's eyes) when he gets a message and is apparently summoned to Darren's office.  Arriving there he finds Courtney who has her own agenda.  Apparently Darren grovels after straying and she has forgiven him twice.  Aadi confirms he does not have a girlfriend and Courtney launches herself at him.

I suspect Paul will be seeing more of Shelly on his journey - and what looks like a new set to use!  Talking of new sets and new uses Darren's office is getting a work out already.  Ryan Early (who plays Darren Vance) has had a previous role in t'Street but most recently has been an insipid physical trainer and judo instructor on The Archers; frankly Dev I would not trust him with your money after listening to a background phone call he made on Wednesday.  Stephanie Davis (playing Courtney Vance) has previously been part of Hollyoaks and I assume brought the costumes with her; frankly Aadi do you know whom you are bedding - she has already told you she has a brain as well her other assets!

And a short scene with Rita was played to perfection by both Barbara Knox and Peter Gunn.  Additional plaudits to Sally, Gail and Audrey as apologies were made and we were gently reminded of the long term connection between Sally and Gail.  Excellent.

Written by Chris Fewtrell and Simon Crowther.  Directed by Judith Dine.

Kosmo

@Kosmo100

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