I shall start this review by laying my cards on the table; big Nicky fan, right here, but I also love Daisy. The blonde v brunette debate was a tricky decision in my dating days, but unlike dashing teacher Daniel, I never had two gorgeous girls jealous or vying for my attention! Is that Nicky’s real intention, is it just the teaching job, and therefore Daisy is just being her (slightly) villainous self? Either way, all very Corrie, and I’m enjoying it! We viewers, know of Nicky’s past career, helping Daniel fill a Sinead shaped void in his life, but Daisy did not, well, not until tonight. Like I say, I am a Daisy fan, and tonight she was in full fettle!
From her failed attempt at matchmaker, to finally finding out the truth, she was devilishly good at executing the green-eyed monster and playing the archetypal soap bunny boiler. Despite Jenny's warning, Daisy still did her best to get Nicky matched with that footballer, and with Ashley recognising Nicky from her previous day job, the plan fell unsurprisingly flat. Troubled by the truth of the sex worker's past, all Daisy needed was Beth and Kirk to confess Daniel's true history with Nicky, and she joined the dots up. However, that wasn't all, and her face at finding out the truth, following Daniel's heartfelt and tragic confession, was fantastic! A superb piece of Corrie right there, big shoutout to the writing team for penning that delicious dialogue.
‘'Three men and one Summer'’ sounds like a rather quaint Richard Curtis rom-com film from the ’90s. Less saccharine and more ‘young female lead succumbs to diabetes and an eating disorder'. It’s hardly a comedy, and I’m no Barry Norman (the influence is more likely ‘three men and a little lady’) and I wonder if this blended family of Dad's is doing archdeacon, Billy, any justice? He’s a standout Corrie character for me, and yes, the teenage audience needs content too, but I’d prefer if it was solely about Billy and Summer. Monday's performances between those two actors were beautiful, sincere, and touching. Tonight sees Paul and Todd rally around Summer, and a pact of paternal protection is formed. I guess Roy is short-staffed, hence the archdeacon in an apron. Where is Alex Warner, by the way? Aside from her three dads, Summer seems to have Adii on her side at least, and following that Victoria Gardens scene between the two - I imagine it's not long before romance reignites.
Todd is back in the plot, which meant we got to see George and Eileen back on screen! I’d forgotten all about their romance. Putting comedy into a funeral home is definitely in Corrie's lineage, and black comedy makes it even better. That 'little and large' gag did it for me. Eileen decides to cook a meal for George, empties N0.11 tardis of lodgers, and goes all Mexican with maracas. It was so good to see Eileen back in the show and as humorously deadpan as ever. Another rom-com inspired romance no doubt, and these two characters have a shed load of future potential.
Tonight we also said goodbye to Laura Neelan. Missed it didn't you? Rick Neelan was more involved in the show's past, so I’m guessing that is why we had his spit-fest, fight, and presspack funeral, unlike Laura’s service, which had no screen time whatsoever! Outrageous! Here I am still wondering what type of cancer killed this young woman, what awareness I may need for the future, but hey ho, I’ll remember her, even if no one else does. Laura was a fab character. I hope Kelly can carry on some of her Mothers filterless opinionated outbursts. RIP Laura.
The line of this episode goes to Tim Metcalfe, who, upon receiving a glass of squash from Elaine, replied with ‘Who am I - Dennis the Menace?’ I laughed out loud at that. Shame really then, that this Sally, Tim, Elaine 'Carry On Corrie' storyline isn't really hitting home for me.
Elsewhere tonight - Imran gets that dodgy paralegal to spy on Abi and finds zero substance for his parental access plot.
I am @rybazoxo your self-styled cobbles connoisseur
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