My Corrie : A Week In Review. Am I Missing Something?

It's been a while, but fired by this week's X echo chamber of #Corrie negativity I felt compelled to look at the quality of this week's #Corrie and write about it. I don't like negativity, and I wondered, what with this week's X online storm, am I missing something?

 

Watching this week's episodes, I decided to list some of my favourite bits here: 

1. Plenty of Mary Taylor - Tracy's departure (I'll talk about that below) led to much screen time for one of my absolute Corrie favourites this week. Although a rather unbelievable pairing Mary and Tracy's flower shop friendship worked. Mary is entertaining, wonderfully written, and eccentric. Love her!

2. The Rovers takes centre stage - the closure hit hard, but I love the refurb. This week our favourite watering hole was centre stage of Corrie's drama and back to its former glory. With glamorous Glenda and gorgeous Jenny, Daisy adds a devilish air of beauty and an equally acidic tone to this latest barmaid line-up. Daisy's bitchy diatribes with Bethany hark back to the glory days of Ena and Elsie or Gail and Eileen. Mary's mad harping over the last-orders bell was also comedy gold -even Tracy's sudden departure managed a Rovers Return celebration. The dinner party raised online questions about the new kitchen, but I love anything like that. It's a fictional TV show!!! It's like when people complain about Doctor Who regenerating! Carla learning about her pub ownership can only be a good thing. I'll drink to that! Ps - more Karaoke, speed dating and weekly quizzes, please!

3. Audrey's Salon is back - I can't say I'm a fan of Maria's parental paranoia (although I understand it) but, at least we got the hairdresser's back. I'd guess Trim Up North was a pandemic victim, Corrie's bosses realising that one hairdresser's shop is more than enough? I've missed the days of random extras getting a trim whilst earwigging the latest gossip. Great stuff!

4. Tracy's departure - I *think* this is a red herring. She'll return in a few months -  a) heartbroken, b) pregnant, or c) with an insufferable "issue". I hope she returns, at the very least, as Kate Ford (as Tracy Barlow) is an absolute Corrie legend. When she does return, Steve will be coupled up and Tracy's return will put a cat amongst the pigeons. 

I don't usually, but if I had to mention some negatives, I'd write them here:

1. Cropper's Crime Caper- No, no, no & no again. Roy's weird worldly wiseness, innocence and eccentricities mark him as a classic Corrie character and one I would align closely with the show's values & history. This is what the X mob may have been annoyed by! Unneeded. I hope that when this story concludes, it's justifiable, and Roy will be exonerated. 

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Am I missing something - is Corrie on its last legs? No, I don't think it is, it may just be there's a lot of darkness on the show at present and more comedy is needed, That's it. 

It's been a while since I've written about Coronation Street, but this week's schedule change gave me the time to write about it!  I enjoyed that! 

Maybe I'll do a weekly review next week? Let me know what you think. 

I am @rybazoxo on X  - Corrie superfan.

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Coronation Street Episode Review, Wednesday 13th September, 8 pm

Welcome to another Wednesday Weatherfield round-up and to catch up on the latest Coronation Street drama. 

Following Monday night's escape, Stu realises that Eliza has done a runner, and panics, using Alya as a conduit while Yasmeen is away. When he gets a call from the school, he realises his grandaughter is at her Dad's flat. Suspecting that Dom has arranged all this, Stu calls out a social worker (and the police) who decide the youngster is best off with her Dad for another night. Stu overreacts, telling Dom he won't be giving him a penny, before getting arrested for assaulting the policeman. 

Later, he meets Dee-dee at the cop shop and tells her what has happened. Watching the drama progress, I wondered if this could be the start of a custody battle. Surely not, because we have already had Stu go through a lengthy court battle over his wrongful jailing, a case which Dee-dee and Alya won for him! Out of the cop shop, Stu drowns his sorrows in the pub and sings songs before being taken away by Alya and Dee-dee. He wakes up from a booze-fuelled nap and tells Alyla his plan to fight for Eliza with a (drumroll) custody battle! Great stuff - I can hardly wait. 

Meanwhile, Aadi Alahan is also in the thick of it tonight as his affair with Courtney becomes exposed at the business dinner celebration. Before the dinner date, Dev’s been probing Aadi about his love life, thinking he's dating Amy Barlow. Aadi lies and tells his Dad that he does have a new girlfriend, but is too embarrassed to introduce her to the family. As the dinner progresses (it's great to see this storyline cast ensemble together) Amy makes light of Aadi’s new girlfriend (knowing his secret) whilst doing her best Tracy Barlow impression. As the young lad gets embarrassed and Courtney plays along, he decides to get some air. Courtney follows him and embraces Aadi in the doorway, just in time for Dev to catch them in the clinch! Dev is understandably furious but promises to keep quiet to save the deal. Back at the table, the atmosphere shifts as Darren and Courtney argue. Darren loudly accuses Courtney of cheating, and Dev struggles to hide his dismay. Courtney admits to an affair and tells her husband that her beau is ‘'hiding in plain sight’' As drinks flow, Darren gets ever more drunk, and what with Bernie’s jealousy of him greasing up his business partner's wife, it isn't long before Dev gets accused of cheating! Darren throws a punch but stops as Aadi admits the truth. I think we can assume the shop deal is off!

Elsewhere - Roy and Evelyn’s septuagenarian living arrangements offer light comedic relief to tonight's proceedings. The cafe boss is known for his eccentricities, and what with Evelyn’s trademark caustic humour, these two are an absolute delight! 

Also tonight, Dee-dee rebuffs advances from Joel and dithers about her love life, consulting Alya, Adam, and Michael. Paul seeks health advice from Shelly, but her condition is rapidly declining. Cassie helps Tyrone with the girls, but Hope takes advantage. 

What did you think of Wednesday nights Corrie? 

 I am @rybazoxo your Cobbles connissieur and coronation street superfan

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Coronation Street Episode Review, Wednesday 30th August, 8 pm

Welcome to another Wednesday Weatherfield round-up and to catch up on the latest goings on, on Coronation Street. 

Last night, I booted up my premium ITVX (it’s advert-free, kids) and whizzed through Monday night's 44-minute offering with a somewhat lacklustre attitude. Work is hectic and I was rather tired so maybe it was that. I tuned in, and other than the Stephen Reid shenanigans and Rita namedropping the Winkleman, I was surprisingly non-plussed - although the writing was top-drawer, as always. We do have a few story strands going at the minute, so maybe it was me? Anyway, tonight pretty much picked up where Mondays left off. Billy and Paul seem much happier after Monday's ‘dirty dancing’ lake swim, and having dried off, they remembered Summer’s birthday (I’d forgotten to be honest). They both apologise for not getting the student a new laptop. Paul tells Bernie all about it and she decides to join him on a visit to see his MND pal Shelly. With money on his mind, Paul is surprised to learn how Shelly pays for her care package - with credit card fraud and selling (drumroll) laptops! Paul takes one home for Summer and doesn't tell the truth. Billy and Summer’s wedding vlog will look a lot better now! Later, Bernie visits Shelly and offers to help her shift the dodgy goods. 

Meanwhile, having cottoned on to Uncle Stephen’s nefarious dealings, Sarah’s eyes are now widening to his behaviour in the Underworld factory. What with the nipper snapper’s buy-out progressing, the middle manager/niece is somewhat blindsided and wonders what to do about her Uncle. Stephen heads off to a meeting at the hotel and Sarah follows him. She collars him thinking he's up to something but then realises he’s meeting Jenny who’s about to sign off on the Rovers deal. I'm guessing Ronnie’s secret share deal may have something to do with this in future. With Ed also trying to sign off his latest project and needing the cash, Ronnie blindsides his brother with talk of a surveyor to bide some time. However, Ed has already hired someone. Debbie Webster is a delight as always, and I would love to see her behind the bar of the Rovers… just me? With the sale (of the pub) complete, Ed has less luck and the land deal is delayed, but it looks like Ronnie may be cutting in fine if he wants to turn those shares into cash. Meanwhile, Jenny is down at having sold the Rovers, and Stephen is there to pick her up with a classic soap snog.  

Back at Underworld, Carla hands over some cash to Lou Donahue, who tells her all about police activity with her husband's suspicious death. Lou tells Carla about LSD microdosing and her own experiences, which pricks Carla’s conscience. Confiding in Roy (who's busy selling his new coffee range) Carla tells him that she may have been drugged and not had a breakdown. Sharing some doctor Google research with Roy, he’s apprehensive about her suspicions, and she’s adamant about what she’s discovered. Roy calls Peter and tells him he’s worried about Carla’s mental state. Peter tells Dr Gaddas who then visits their flat. Carla chastises Roy for interfering, but he gives her a tip about finding out whether she has LSD still in her system. Carla vengefully promises to follow it up. 

Elsewhere, Stu and Eliza’s Dad come to a truce with Yasmeen offering her usual dash of wise words, yet Yasmeen and Roy aren't a couple! Deciding to return to Pakistan, Yasmeen shares a lovely scene with Eliza, a monologue of memories tinged with sadness - my favourite scene tonight. For tonight’s comedy, Mary being bemused by Cassie flirting with Dev was very funny! At least Tyrone seems to be bonding with his new Mum. It wasn't long before Cassie was drunk and it seems she is using alcohol instead of abusing drugs. I'm not sure we haven't seen this before with Abi, but hearing ‘Gin Rummy’ reminded me of playing the game with my Nannan in the late 90’s! It’s a random memory to conclude this review, and I'm immediately entrenched in nostalgia, forgetting my Monday night miserabledom. That's Corrie for you - isn't it? 

 I am @rybazoxo your Cobbles Connissieur and Coronation Street Superfan

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Coronation Street Episode Review, Wednesday 16th August, 8 pm

Welcome to another Wednesday Weatherfield round-up and to catch up on the latest goings on, on Coronation Street. 

Tonight starts with the continuation of Lauren's absence from the cafe following her pervy pass at Roy. Also in the cafe, Peter is riled at Stephen’s admission to Lou, with Peter clearly in the doghouse with Carla following the stolen watch fiasco. Why Peter would steal a watch, and why a watch would be worth £15K I have no idea, but Carla back at Underworld's helm can only mean that Reid’s days are numbered. Peter's also now onto him which means it's looking ever more likely. However with Peter due to leave the show soon, could he end up going down for it? I digress, I’ll leave that for another review. 

Back to tonight’s offering. Cringe-inducing ‘singing’ aside*, tonight’s stand-out moment was the return of Dame Maureen Lipman, the baptism of soap legend Claire Sweeney onto the cobbles, and Tyrone’s parentage truth being finally revealed, after something like 20 odd years. 

What. A.Treat! those scenes at number 7, (following the Bistro confession) were ridiculously high-quality, and the living room setting sold the scene for me, a claustrophobic fly-on-the-wall viewing of this family fall-out; loved it! Having been privy to the press day over a month ago, introducing the former Brookside legend, I knew tonight was the night for it, but having seen no preview scenes, the dramatics topped anything I could have envisaged. Roy’s involvement was also a clever move, and it blindsided him from Monday’s Lauren drama, leaving the wayward teen to admit her pass at her boss to her former beau, Max. Tonight's narrative did make out as though Lauren would be leaving in a wave of embarrassment, but with no black taxi insight, and reconciliations all around, it concluded with her stealing the salon keys and asking Roy for his job back.

Meanwhile, with Carla back at Underworld, she arranged another meeting with Lou tonight, and Stephen attended on his own! The stolen tie-pin strand of this murderous story arc may be more Wagatha Christie than Agatha Christie, but you can't fault Lou’s dog-eared attempt at solving her ex-partner's murder, unlike Jenny who has forgotten all about Leo. Upon meeting Stephen at the Rovers, Lou is quick to dispel any new business ventures and tells Stephen she knows about the stolen tie-pin and suspects he's stolen it! 

*Although I don't like small people singing, Glenda in circus attire certainly made up for it!

In other news, Hope’s revealed as a Slytherin (of course), Ed and Ronnie argue over their new business venture, and Carla tells 'roid rage' Ryan that he’s boring! Ryan then decides to have a sarnie with Alya, who is anything but boring!

I thoroughly enjoyed tonights offering - what did you think?  

I am @rybazoxo if you want to tweet and let me know!

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