Coronation Street Episode Review; Weds 23rd Oct 8.30 pm

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'.

---

---

All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Coronation Street Episode Review; Weds 23 Oct 7.30 pm

Matrimonial bliss is a rare occurrence in Weatherfield, and newlyweds Daniel and Sinead should by now be the exception. A young couple once utterly devoted, have been tainted by tragedy, and doting Daniel has succumbed to temptation in the arms of teenage temptress, Bethany Platt.

Monday's cinematic Corrie climax of prison rioting & adultery (that production technique has proved divisive online) only enhanced this weeks drama, in my opinion. David's revenge though; pushed by Abe or was it terrible Tez that stabbed Josh with the scissors?

Continuing from where we left off, both Bethany and Daniel lie awake in the early morning, rain hitting the window, as dawn breaks on a new day. Shona has also lost sleep; Radio Weatherfield broadcast the prison riot as their 6 am headline news. David is in custody now - we don't know who stabbed who here. This is all speculation, as Imran reminds the inspector,  while Josh lies in a coma.

Will Josh survive?

Audrey visits Bethany who's visibly tearful, her gran coaxes a confession out of her, without any trouble. Meanwhile, Daniels lack of sleep isn't lost on Sinead, and she apologises for their 'Christmas Day' argument. Struggling under the weight, I  truly wonder why Daniel kissed Bethany, and I struggle to comprehend it? I guess that's the point though. None of us knows how we could cope in such terrible times.

As the rain continues to fall on the cobbles, a frail Sinead puts her hand out of the window to feel the waters fall, as a (dripping wet) Daniel tells Ken that he must confess.  The weather is a motif here I feel, the rain is such a dramatic tool, I like what they've done there. Manchester rain or have they produced it? I'd be interested to find out (sad, I know)

Morally speaking, Ken is true to the character here. Let's not forget that this is the man who cheated on the beautiful Dierdre (R.I.P), so it's not unexpected when he tells his son to hide the truth and to simply not tell her. 'A burden to carry yourself' he tells Daniel. I agree with Ken (on this occasion, at least). Meanwhile, Sinead tells a stricken Beth that she would be best moving into a hospice. The finality of such a sad decision hits Beth hard.

Inside the prison, Shona is the first to visit David following his police interview. Admitting nothing, David's poker face is evident, and he tells his bride-to-be that he didn't do it. Later on, Max receives an email containing footage of the prison riot. Is David about to be incriminated, anyway?

By Sinead's bedside sits Bethany's story and it seems, although terminally ill, Sinead has still managed to consume the sordid 'dear diary' confessional / article. Write what you know they say, but it seems Bethany has taken that a little too literally! As Sinead realises the truth, Daniel cannot hide his actual feelings anymore and tells his wife that he and Bethany have shared a kissed.

Matrimonial bliss just doesn't last in Weatherfield, does it? even when the bride is dying of cancer it seems...

I've two questions now;

1. Who filmed David?
2. How did Sinead find Bethany's story?

More from me with the 8.30 pm episode review, and hopefully we can find out.

I am @rybazoxo your self-styled cobbles connoisseur. Give us a follow on twitter.

---

---

All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License