Coronation Street Episode Review; Wednesday 29th of June at 8 pm

Peter has pulled no punches in his medical negligence case against Dr Thorne. That thorn in Barlow’s side certainly needed taking out, Tonight, Peter is awaiting the case results from the GMC and their investigation of the posh betting doctor. It's David V Goliath-type battle, and the odds seem to be against him. Working-class man versus upper-class twit. I had hopes up that Peter would win but without that dictaphone evidence, the case falls flat and Thorn gets away with a slapped wrist, remaining a prick on Peter’s side. Vengeful and angry, Peter cools off at the rovers when Dr Thorne visits him, antagonises him about his alcoholism, and pushes all of the wrong buttons. 

Peter plays right into his hands, and after confronting the doctor in his car, he takes a 3-iron to the car exterior and attacks Thorne. Adam arrives and mitigates matters - but it would have been better if Peter hadn't played up to the posh doctor. The social injustice rankles him - I wonder where all this will lead?

 

Maria’s rubbish time with the council continues tonight too. Even though she has this trolling/viral rap video/death threats /deepfake porn lying over her head, she still sees fit to head up a press conference to confront the striking refuse collectors. In the packed-out meeting, Maria is heckled and henpecked by the baying crowd, prompting her husband to revert to his own style of crowd management, by taking a pop at the refuse team leader, Jimmy. Gary is taken down to the police station, causing more trouble for councillor Connor, leaving Maria to conclude that she should just quit the council altogether. Gary, who isn't charged by the police, tells her she should continue, regardless of adversity. Sally is told the news and offers Maria some words of political advice and guidance. Maria decides to stay within the role, remove herself from social media, and concentrate on Liam's birthday party. Later, and in private, Maria continues to scroll, the vitriol remains in full flow, and she seems stressed by the online abuse. 

Toyah rejoins real life and heads back to Underworld, ready to repay Leanne and the flat rent. The factory girls, bosses, and clientele aren't that forgiving. Jo Lafoe (best Corrie name ever) tells Sarah she should reconsider Toyah’s position, who's subsequently fired and returns to the flat. 

Meanwhile -George investigates Frank, proving fruitful when he overhears him making a threatening phone call. Sean reels from the revelation and ends the relationship. Later, Frank explains to George that he has misconstrued the phone completely, and Sean reconciles with his fella. 

Elsewhere tonight - Pre-wedding nerves go into overdrive for Fiz as Mimi's arrival is imminent, Hope plays up, and she has wedding veil damage to deal with. Phill arrives to offer advice and support.  

PS - Redpilled100 sounds like the name of a viagra pill! It can't be Tim doing the trolling? 

I am @rybazoxo self-styled cobbles connoisseur & Coronation Street superfan 

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Coronation Street Episode Review Friday 24 June 2022

We are all well aware of the dangers of drinking and driving, so a slightly inebriated Audrey should have known to stay away from a motorbike which has been hiding in the background for months.  Also, how did the front door get locked with Audrey still in there - or did I miss it?  Wednesday's cliffhanger was resolved when Brian (looking for his third trim in a few days) and Elaine (passing by) hear faint cries for help.  Coincidentally, Stephen responding to an overdramatic phone call from Sarah, arrives and breaks in to find his mother pinned to the floor.  An ambulance is summoned and R'Audrey and her Stephen are "blued and two-ed" to the hospital, where Audrey requires an operation for a ruptured spleen but is later well enough to tell Gail off and send her away with  Stephen becoming once again the favoured offspring.

Whilst Audrey was having her unexpected rest on the floor a Platt council of war gathered in Speed Daal - Gail, Nick, David, Sarah and Shona seeking wisdom from recovering alcoholic Peter Barlow on the best way to get Audrey to see the light and foreswear the demon alcohol.  Listening, I am not entirely sure that Peter's experiences were entirely helpful.  The pow-wow broke up when Brian panted down the stairs that there was someone in trouble in "Trim Up North".  I felt for poor Brian - he had obviously gone to the Platt residence at t'far end of t'Street and all the time they were all in Bistro just across the road from the barbers!

Tim and Sally are in Roy's Rolls and Tim tries to make a flirty joke which falls flat.  To work on their intimacy Sally has written "Things That Bring Me Joy" which includes "Visiting the stately homes of Cheshire, Creating objects of beauty with my crafting.  My hot tub.  Iconic old films that bring out the romance in my soul."  Tim responds with his little list: "Weathy County, Paul Weller,  Cheese." Oh, he adds rapidly seeing Sal's face - spending time with you my one and only true love.   They agree a lunch date in the Bistro, but Sal is definitely not impressed. Leaving the cafe Tim  is stopped by Aggie who tells him that she and Ed had a slight disagreement but had not had the chance to make up - so when Tim finds Ed and Ronnie in the Bistro later, rather than paying attention to Sally he is constantly using his phone to get Aggie to come to the Bistro.  Sally gets quite worked up at being ignored as she relates the timeless classic iconic romanticism of Dr Zhivago, especially as she has been told she has the look of a young Julie Christie.

I will let you find your own pictures of Miss Christie with such accoutrements.

Talking of romantic doctors Peter is also still worked up about Mr Thorne the surgeon and borrows an old tape machine which Ken used to use in his journalism days and which (amazingly) still works.  Peter invites Mr Thorne to Seb's memorial garden but Mr Thorne knows it is a set-up and insists Peter stops recording on his phone - which Peter does.  However the tape machine keeps running and eventually Peter has the evidence of an admission and is going to bring the man down.

Councillor Windass is almost glad she has been sacked as it means she has time to meet the union leader of the refuse worker's depot.  When Jimmy Dixon turns up he is a completely out of time unreconstructed antediluvian reptile looking for Maria's boss and having no interest in recycling - unless of course there is extra money in it which no councillor would ever offer to find ever - but Maria does.  Later Maria gives an interview which, unscripted, is excellent.  However the film is edited and released on social media and holds Maria up to complete ridicule.

George is almost in hiding as he is still trying to avoid Frank the school bully and together with Todd decide that they need to enable poor Sean to become aware of Frank's true nature as a leopard never changes its spots and therefore Frank must still be a bully, all they need to do is prove it.

Steve sees Sal in Victoria Gardens and gives her a pep talk about marriages and car crashes with reference to Tracy.  Steve makes it clear how much Tim loves her so the Metcalfes regroup in the Rovers.  And a few drinks later they depart for home!

Clearly the Sal and Tim stuff had real echoes of the Ogdens whilst the reversion to old technology was neat with Dr Thorne.  And will Elaine be Brian's new squeeze?  Clearly we are also seeing decent numbers in a scene now with the Platt family gathering and the whole feel is more like days of yore - but without any particular issues being examined - far more like proper Corrie as the family interplays (the Platts and the Metcalfes drive) - essentially the characters drive the narrative.  In many ways the most welcome episode in a long time.  Please tell me you agree on Twitter

Written by Julie Jones and Debbie Oates.  Directed by Becky Wild.

Kosmo

@Kosmo100

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Coronation Street Episode Review; Wednesday 4th of August 7.30 & 8.30

Never normally shy of a soundtracked vignette, I wonder if Corrie missed a trick by not using The Prodigy’s seminal single ‘Firestarter’ for Hope’s pyromaniacal attack? Although we don't quite see the actual fire starting, it's clear that she did it, and the consequences of her heinous act are sadly fatal. I have said it before and in several reviews, but this storyline involving Tyrone & Fiz’s relationship has been surprisingly good drama. John Stape made a murderous career out of 'accidentally' killing people; has Hope now taken up her father’s baton? The apple never falls far from the tree, even if it is rotten! It doesn't take long for Evelyn to smell the smoke coming from Hope and Fiz’s face says it all! 

Before that though, the fire needs to be investigated - the firefighter tells Ty it looks like Alina’s candle has fanned the flames. Hope was quick to point the finger in 'Roy’s Rolls' wasn't she, which is of course is the number one rule in any crime drama - the guilty are usually the first to speak! It's sad for Alina and the little life lost, but the fall-out to come is surely going to bring more carnage for Ty, Fiz, Evelyn, and the girls. 

If it takes a disastrous worldwide health pandemic to bring a character back to the forefront of the show, then surely it tells you something? Izzy’s shielding is serious stuff and I know we have to keep it light but I’m unsure if that factory should continue operating if this is how it treats the disabled workforce!! It's the devil in the deep blue sea, Sally was correct, but sometimes I think the devil is actually in the details. 

Billy is unforgiving towards Todd and his vow to solely support Summer is put into action when Adi shows his obvious affections. Of course, Dev has Tupperware boxes, and that little attention to detail helped keep the show moving tonight alongside Mary’s (as ever) fun flower facts and disclosing Eileen’s middle name. Dev giving Adi romance advice was also enjoyable. Those little snippets of mundane daily life dialogue are often far more entertaining than issue-based heavyweight pontification. Just saying.  

George and Eileen’s rom-com courtship is more six feet under than head-over-heels yet the Undertaker is still trying his best in wooing grim Grimshaw. Taking that funeral floozy to the pub (please let her be a new character!!) was fun - I wonder when these two will finally get together? Our Eileen could do with some fun, and not another funeral of a romance. 

Love is most definitely in the air tonight, as Adi also seeks advice from Amy which prompts Tracy to get the wrong end of the stick. At least we got Tracy on screen again. 

Talking of which, the low-key resurrection of Peter Barlow is long overdue. I'm glad to see him back, rejuvenated and rocking that haircut/denim combo. Can Carla and Peter please be happy now?! 

Elsewhere in tonight's episodes; Evelyn stole every scene she was in!

 

@rybazoxo 

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Corrie Comicals week ending Friday 16 April 2021

Well Peter should know - he has done time.  I understand that making fun of women being unable to cook (eg Aggie) is a recurrent theme but Peter is complaining about Chef Amy and porridge - can anyone prepare inedible porridge?  If it is that bad Peter make it yourself.  Oats, milk microwave - what more do you need?  These days they even have packets which show how much milk to add!

David has been summoned to Underworld so that Nick can explain that he has not been dumped by Leanne but that she is going into hiding as she has been acting as a police informer and he is not going with her.  Whilst Nick and Sarah discuss events David is clearly bored and decides to improve his hair using one of the glass doors as an impromptu mirror!  I am not sure it shows any improvement by the time he has finished!

Cathy does not want a fuss for her sixtieth birthday so as she arrives in the caff Roy wishes her a happy birthday - which she regards as a "fuss".  Brian quite reasonably points out that Roy is simply delivering best wishes and not doing cartwheels in his underpants in the Street as her birthday entertainment.  Even Roy agrees that might be a bit much!

Tyrone is down in the dumps so Abi turns up the heat on Kev to take his mate Ty for a cheeky pint once they have finished.  Kev is not looking forward to listening to the lovelorn Tyrone talking about his pining for Alina and asks when Abi acquired a conscience.  As she explains above she bought it on eBay last week!  (above).

Blink and you might miss him.  High speed Dirk dashed through the background of this shot as Natasha was asking Gail to childmind Sam later on.  So just like with Nick and David and Sarah - Natasha sees Gail as only useful to look after children!  Gail will do it because she was afraid that she would see no more of Sam once Nick departed for his "holiday".  Anyway Dirk is not working from home!  Talking of Gail let us celebrate that for a few seconds she has stopped scowling and complaining and when Natasha waves around a bottle of wine her response ("It's five o'clock somewhere") reminded me of a much younger Gail - the one that enjoyed life before getting mixed up with a serial murderer, a psychotic fraudster (who has just met a very hot end in Emmerdale), a conman and tangling with Eileen.  I don't think it will last.

Cathy has, like Leanne, gone into hiding - at Yasmeen's, unlike Leanne.  Brian has just been partaking of his dinner at Speed Dahl - meal for one please -  and Yasmeen is concerned that he will worry if he does not hear from Cathy.  Cathy refuses to let Brian in on the secret and he is unable to keep a secret and as she says he has a mouth like a clown's pocket, implying that everything that goes in comes out again!

Even I am still trying to work out how you would confuse Neil Armstrong and Lao Tzu but given that Faye is about to be a convicted felon I have been wondering for some weeks how Craig thought his relationship would be acceptable to the police force but does not seem to have occurred to either of them before Friday night - the lack of brain power between that pair is seriously worrying.

How long has R'Toyota been back on t'Street?  3 years?  4 years?  When she came back we understood she was a trained counsellor and we all thought she would sort of the Street's mental problems in weeks.  No longer a counsellor and working in Underworld she suddenly gets a gig in sorting out Ty and Fiz's marriage problems, in the Bistro with Bernie involved in the conversation.  Bernie reckons she is involved as Chesney's common law mother-in-law she is in some way related to Fiz!  Needless to say the counselling session did not go well and I bet Toyah was glad to get a phone call from the factory with some beads which need counting!  She must have a really high powered job there!

"Nina" made a great job of the wedding dress and I thought it should be recorded for posterity!  Wardrobe did an excellent job!

Physical distancing in evidence as Mary tells the story of a white fedora and a blind date.  I would love to think that someone, somewhere takes all of Mary's amazing stories (and there must be hundreds down the years), splices them all together and uploads them to the internet - I am not sure if they have all been written by Damon Alexis-Rochefort although I think he was responsible for tonight.  Mary needed the fedora for a rendition of Smooth Criminal at Mother's church in aid of disadvantaged children (for those unaware it is a Michael Jackson song from Bad).  She then wore the fedora for the blind date and her date made no comment on it until too much alcohol had been consumed!  He was married with kids and the fedora was ruined.

Indeed it seems Tracy has had exactly the same idea.  I just hope engineers are pulling the recordings now for "Mary the Mini-Series"!

And with that I shall bid you goodbye until next week!

Writers this week: Sam Holdsworth (Monday); John Kerr & David Isaac (Tuesday); Susan Oudot & Jan McVerry (Wednesday); Julie Jones & Damon Alexis-Rochefort (Friday)

Directors this week: Gill Wilkinson (Monday); Lee Trevor & Ian Barber (Tuesday); Ian Barber (Wednesday & Friday)

Kosmo

@Kosmo100

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