Gripped with unimaginable shock and the sickening truth, Sinead's already frail body struggles to hold itself up, as Daniel pleads for clemency. Visiting with shopping, Craig stumbles upon the arguing couple and (with the police training kicking in, finally) he kicks the philandering husband out. I know Sinead's discovery of Daniel's deceit has caused contention online, but surely this was obvious? Yes, she's dying but this is drama, and just like real-life, it offers no answers and is fraught with emotional trauma...
Outside, Daniel bumps into Beth and the truth of his kiss with Bethany is revealed. Reeling in the self-caused sorrow, and fraught confrontation, Daniel suddenly acquires (a conveniently placed) bottle of vodka, deciding to drown his sorrows and disappear. Also buckling under the strain, Beth is far more sensible and calls Doctor Gaddas, Sinead's condition is rapidly deteriorating.
Talking of medicine, Audrey visits Bethany and prescribes a dose of what she knows best - a visit to The Rovers. I mean, it's not as if anyone knows about Bethany kissing Daniel, is it?
Well, they don't, until a raging Craig collars Bethany outside the pub, just as Carla and Peter arrive in a taxi, and all in earshot of the whole Barlow clan.
Meanwhile, Imran visits David and tells him that he's seen the smartphone video of the riot and demands answers. Confronting Abe, it seems David may be using his prison friend to cover for something? Shona's suddenly starts disbelieving in him. I wonder if Max will tell Marion anything of the video? It's all very suggestive, and with David having a dark past, I think we can expect a few twists yet?
Tasked with finding Daniel, Imran and Adam find him in the ginnel, in a slightly intoxicated stupor. Adam tries to use his solicitor skills, calmly mitigating Daniel's conscience with circumstance, but even he has trouble acquitting Daniel of this heinous 'crime'. Ken's gift of a mask from Peter, is also symbolic. Barlow men are good at hiding sordid truths from their women, wallowing in self-absorbed alcoholism, and general flakiness. Unfair or true, what do we think?
With Daniel now drunk by the canal, Sinead is in a different kind of slumber and being nursed by her Aunty Beth. I think we've all seen a different side to Beth recently, a character arc I hadn't thought of, and she's proved to be like a mother to her stricken niece. An incredible performance!!
Kirk's monologue to baby Bertie is also bittersweet and probably my favourite of tonights (second part) performances. We know Sinead's sadness is inevitably short-lived, but I'm interested to see how Daniel reacts in Sinead's final hours...
Overall, I'd say two of the best episodes I've seen in recent weeks. What do you think?
Let us know in the comments section, and I shall be back next week.
You can follow me @rybazoxo over on twitter, your self-styled 'Cobbles Connoisseur'.
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