Coronation Street

[Red Ranger 1]

I'm not sure Deirdre's funeral quite hit the spot.It was completely the wrong time for Ken to start having a go at Tracy and his reason for doing so felt a bit thrown together. (Deirdre's been gone about nine months yet he blames Tracy because of something that happened a couple of weeks beforehand?)I did love the following episode though with Ken, Tracy and Peter together at home and everyone else next door in the Rovers talking about Deirdre's life.I noticed they deliberately avoided having Peter and Bev in the same building so they didn't have to address the Shelley issue, even though we got the slightly bizarre retread of Bev and Audrey's row over Fred.

I went through a period of liking Callum pulling David's chain.There's a certain irony in the way that Sarah acted just like David did when Kylie turned up, ignoring his family's warnings and her ripping them off and insisting Max should be with them instead of the people that looked after him when she wasn't interested.But I'm not sure if it was the incident with the gun (which showed both Sarah and the viewers why you really don't want Max around him) or his having Genuinely Nice Bloke Jason beaten up (and nice that someone remembered Jason should be close to Sarah and Bethany) but I really want something bad to happen to him now.The number of false endings where he comes this close to getting his comeuppance and then wriggles out of it is getting frustrating (Bethany's motivation for lying for him seemed a bit thin).

It did feel for a bit as if Alya and Zeedan had swapped over.I'm disappointed that Alya slept with Jason after everything, because I really like her with Gary and would like to see them married:It seems like she isn't pregnant, unless there's a surprise labour coming up.I'd have rather liked Alya to get the factory, even though she'd probably get eaten alive.I'm over Carla's storyline, I don't even care that she doesn't know she didn't start the fire.(Tristan Gemmill as the New Robert suffers from everyone knowing that's not his real accent.) Meanwhile, I'm finding Simon's sudden transformation into Leanne-beating monster a bit abrupt despite all the attempts to give him reasons for acting up and hope it ends soon.

In two minds about Tim and Anna: I do quite like the idea of them as a family unit but Tim and Sally are entertaining too.

I rather like the characters on the camping trip, although I know they're not everyone's cup of tea, and it's good to see Tyrone and Fiz getting something meaty to get their teeth into. It'd be great to see Caitlin on the cobbles too.

[pembie]

 

I went through a period of liking Callum pulling David's chain.There's a certain irony in the way that Sarah acted just like David did when Kylie turned up, ignoring his family's warnings and her ripping them off and insisting Max should be with them instead of the people that looked after him when she wasn't interested.But I'm not sure if it was the incident with the gun (which showed both Sarah and the viewers why you really don't want Max around him) or his having Genuinely Nice Bloke Jason beaten up (and nice that someone remembered Jason should be close to Sarah and Bethany) but I really want something bad to happen to him now.The number of false endings where he comes this close to getting his comeuppance and then wriggles out of it is getting frustrating (Bethany's motivation for lying for him seemed a bit thin).

I think there's a live episode sometime in September

I think that is when we will see the end of Callum. Read somewhere that's when David and Callum have a big showdown or something like that

Edited August 28, 2015 by pembie

[Red Ranger 1]

Think the live episode's in a couple of weeks?

Anyway...The Tyrone/Fiz/Hope story left me with mixed feelings at one point, since I thought they were being extremely hard on Aidan.He sees Fiz off work claiming to be sick, she doesn't offer any explanation bar a caustic "Well, I am" and disrespects him as her employer, and then he looks like the bad guy when Tyrone plays the "Our daughter has cancer" card.So I was glad that Tyrone apologised to him and they smoothed things over reasonably.The scenes that followed and Roy's involvement were quite affecting and it's reminded me that I'm actually rather fond of Fiz.

It wasn't so much a case of Simon crossing a line as of him having crossed the line ages ago only this time he did something that people noticed.I'm glad that Zeedan knows because Leanne really can't go on just pretending to the world at large and trying to sort Simon out with free meals, new trainers and holidays.

I'm puzzled about Liz and Lloyd.They seemed to realise they don't really like each other but then they decided to...carry on seeing each other on a casual basis?Why, especially when he still seems to be hung up on Andrea?

[Slade]

One scene I found really funny previously was when Tony beat Callum up.  What I enjoyed was the way he grabbed him called him 'sunshine' and just shoved him into the alley.  The best part was when David stood there watching, licking his lollipop thoroughly enjoying it.

So is everybody just going to forget about Tracy and the fire now?  I'm a Tracy fan myself but come on she can't be allowed to get away with it that easily or scot free.

Really not happy about Eva returning if I'm honest.  Perhaps it's the circumstances in which she left I don't like even though it was Todd's doing.  And it feels like another person who only wants to get back with someone because they don't have any better options.  Jason should think very carefully about getting back with her.

Onto the live episode.  Firstly why did they decide to do a live episode?  I thought that was reserved for milestone type occasions i.e. the 50th anniversary.  Anyway, I thought at the start it was a bit shaky, i.e. the way Roo was having a go at the bus driver but overall everybody did a great job.  Even some of the actors who played characters I didn't like.

Once again really enjoyed Callum putting the frighteners on Sarah and wanted it to continue so I was disappointed at his apparent death.  It felt very anticlimatic.  Have to say Sarah, Kylie and David are all unbelievably stupid.  Firstly Sarah using Kylie's phone to lure Callum back to the Platt's to trick him into fessing up to getting his cronies to trash Audrey's salon.  Then after Kylie hit Callum across the back of the head and killed him and Sarah wanted to call the police and Kylie stopped her.  Her immediate thought was to try and cover it up and when she couldn't do it on her own called David.  And then there's David going after Callum that in itself was stupid, especially given that it wasn't going to pay him off (which I incidentally don't think would have been a solution as Callum would have just kept coming back for more) but upon finding out what Kylie did he decides to become complicit in her crime.  In spite of that I found the crying particularly from Sarah and their fear extremely amusing.  It was also quite funny when the Nazir's got involved briefly.  I'm looking forward to seeing how this pans out but there's one thing I'm sure of.  If Sarah wasn't suffering before she's certainly going to suffer now and hopefully that means Bethany will suffer too.  I wonder what the significance of Tony and Todd burning Callum's car will be.

I'm glad Cathy didn't leave as I would like to see her and Roy as a couple.  I think they would work well together and I think she could help him get over Haley eventually.

I am disappointed that Lloyd and Andrea are leaving.  I actually quite like both of them and the friendship with Lloyd and Steve so that's a shame.  A bit disappointing we didn't see Steve at his leaving do though.  Whilst I'm not to biggest fan of Liz, have to say her attitude has really impressed me.  She's been very civilised about the whole thing.  It's funny because I can recall Andrea trying to make a play for Steve and Lloyd was actually her second choice.  But I am glad she and Michelle got on because Michelle didn't like her at first because of that.

Whilst it was inevitable, quite disappointed about Sally kissing Kevin coming out.  Not sure what to make of Anna.  I often find her an extremely unpleasant person but Sally is often extremely up herself and she kept goading Anna for no apparent reason.  So given that Anna was drunk I can understand her lashing out like that even though it was for purely selfish reasons.  As I mentioned previously we can see it has already affected the bromance with Kevin and Tim.  But I'm more concerned about Tim asking to sleep on Anna's couch as I fear this will be the start of them getting together and Tim doesn't deserve to be lumbered with her.

 

[pembie]

They had a live episode because it's been 60 years of Itv? I think anyway.

I knew Callum was going to die but not so early on in the episode I was waiting for a big showdown with him and David. But having Kyile kill was a twist. I thought Tony and Todd were going to do it. So he's ended up down Gail's manhole in her granny flat which is cool.  I liked Callum even though he did come across as a huge wimpy girl when Tony was beating him up the other week 

 

 

[Red Ranger 1]

Yes, that's right, 60th anniversary of ITV, which is a very tenuous link and it's reached the point where live episodes of soaps are quite passé anyway.It's hard to tell if the actors on the ITV soaps are better than the EastEnders ones or if the EastEnders one deliberately fluff their lines for publicity...

Anyway, I thought Callum dying so early in the episode was an effective twist, although it did rely on Sarah being deeply stupid.(Okay, she was recording Callum's confession but what then?Was she going to say she had to nip out for a bit and go to the police station with it?Why not call them in advance and have them waiting?Too sensible?)The Platts have done themselves no favours by covering it up: There was a strong case for self-defence given that Callum was attacking Sarah and probably going to either rape or kill her (or both), at worst Kylie would get a manslaughter conviction and a suspended sentence.But now they look like murderers.Actually, it's weirdly reminiscent of Debbie and Jasmine in Emmerdale, which if they follow through would mean Sarah and Kylie get it on... History tells us that these things never stay buried for long in soaps, no doubt there'll soon be a reason why the foundations have to be dug up again.Probably around Christmas.Given that, Tracy Barlow wandering around like a Karma Houdini aside, Coronation Street is still the most moral of soaps, there's likely to be some severe consequences.

I was glad that, after all the toing and froing, Lloyd and Andrea got a happy ending and a new start.Despite tabloid claims of Simon Gregson having to be written out of the live episode at the last minute, it was obviously always planned for Steve and Lloyd to get a farewell of their own later on and it worked well.

After initially being unsure of the possibility of a Roy and Cathy romance, their scenes in the live episode were very affecting and it could work well.I'm not sure the show needed Eva back and I'm not sure about a reunion between her and Jason, I'd rather he got back with Sarah.(Not sure about the possibility of Sarah being pushed aside so Eva can get back behind the bar, either.)I actually don't mind the idea of Tim and Anna, they and Faye have been turning into a nice little family, although yesterday's episodes seemed to put the chop on the idea by having them both recoil from the thought.While I'm disappointed that the show chose to write Miley out completely rather than have her pop up every now and then, Faye's reactions have been well handled.Despite Caitlin standing Craig up, I hope that's not it and we will see her on the Street soon.

As I suspected all along, the fire reveal was a damp squib.Everyone knows Tracy did it but there's not going to be any police action against her and it's all being forgotten about.Big deal.Oh well, at least it put an end to Carla's relentless self-pity.

[Slade]

I've actually really enjoyed the stuff with the Platt's since Callum's death.  The episode where David and Kylie were disposing of the body was brilliant.  That and most of the scenes afterwards have had me in stitches. It's almost like a black comedy.  What was noticeable was the contrast in all three.  Sarah is visibly falling apart and can hardly keep herself together, Kyle is just about holding it together but David is being very calm about all of it.  I'm actually surprised how cool he's being.  Part of me is wondering whether he is actually enjoying all of this.  The fact that he's gotten rid of his arch enemy and the way he's covering it up.  Sarah will spill all.  It's only a matter of time.  I wondered whether she was going to say something to Billy on Friday or if Todd was going to get it out of her.  Todd obviously doesn't suspect anything but is worried about the repercussions of he and Tony burning down Callum's car.

I have mixed feelings about Tim getting married.  Whilst I'm glad it means he hasn't ended up with Anna, I'm just concerned how easily Sally cheated on him. Still I did actually enjoy the wedding episode and was glad he didn't stand Sally up.  I'm also really pleased that he and Kevin made up.

I'm actually quite pleased with the introduction of Aidan's dad and sister.  I haven't seen his dad since he played Dave in Family Affairs.  I think their inclusion will add and interesting dynamic to the factory and with Carla.  I already enjoyed the scenes at the restaurant and with Kate deliberately winding Beth up pretending to crack onto Kirk.  Can't believe Beth can be so gullible.

Oh and really good to see Caitlin again.  Shame her and Craig aren't an item.

[Red Ranger 1]

Yep, lovely to see Richard Hawley on screen again, even if his character is a bit of a wide boy.And I was wrong about Eva slotting back in at the Rovers: She's slotted back in at the factory instead.

I actually thought Sally and Tim wouldn't get married, so was kind of surprised by that one.I don't mind, even though I was open to the idea of Tim and Anna.Gary and Alya seem to be next up the aisle, past infidelity excepting.I actually hope they make it, because I like them together, but Alya seems to be falling apart at the moment.

Liked the friendship/alliance blossoming between Sarah and Kylie:At one point it looked like it might end up as the two of them against David but the latest episode might have nixed that.

[Slade]

Firstly it's really good to see Caitlin make semi-regular appearances.  I hope she and Craig continue and their relationship grows stronger.

I've been up and down with the stuff with the Platts.  Even though I find Sarah annoying I was just so fed up with the way David kept hassling her.  I do have to admit I still really love his dry sense of humour.  I think Sarah having Callum's baby is an interesting twist.  One that could potentially have serious repercussions down the line re guilt.  Especially given that David took pity on Marion and decided to let her see Max for Christmas.  I also felt sorry for her when she got mugged.  If she becomes a regular part of Max's life and that of Sarah's baby who knows what could happen.

I'm assuming that judging by some of their recent scenes they are trying to pair Anna with Kevin.  I really hope not for the same reason why I didn't want Tim to end up with her.  Namely Kevin is a good person and I don't think he deserves to be with someone like her.  Admittedly she hasn't been too bad as of late but that's only because she hasn't been given too many opportunities.

Can't really say I'm that fussed about how things ended up with Gary and Alya.  Don't really like either of them.  I've generally thought Gary was a waste of space although he has been behaving himself since he attacked Phelan.  Alya is just an annoying drama queen.  And I just hated the way she made it all about her when Gary found out Jason stole her virginity.  The poor me victim act was extremely tiresome so I was glad when her own family temporarily turned on her.  In saying that whilst I accept that Gary is gutted he wasn't Alya's first I as they have broken up I personally felt he should have given his share of the gym back to the Nasir's.  Of course he's under no obligation to do so but as he is no longer getting married to her I think it would be the right thing to do morally as he hasn't earned a penny of that.

I do actually quite like Ken and Nessa together and whilst I can understand she can be annoying at times it's a shame the writers have decided to make her character not such a nice person i.e. sleeping with Cathy's husband obviously as a way to break her and Ken up so he and Audrey can get together.  If that does happen the most annoying thing would be the underhand way Audrey has tried to undermine Ken and Nessa's relationship has basically been justified.

I had mixed feelings about Tony getting his comeuppance.  Whilst I never liked him and think he no doubt deserves it, it has really annoyed me how Liz won.  She is a character I dislike intensely even more so than Tony and I hated the way she and Michelle were just so self-righteous about the whole thing.  I can't stand either of them.  Michelle's sanctimonious nature has also been extended to her attitude towards Johnny being Carla's dad.  Don't get me wrong because I'm most definitely not on Johnny's side here (although I am glad he didn't allow himself to be blackmailed).  The way he's acted actually reminds me of his character in Family affairs.  I've hated the way he's constantly tried to pressurise Carla into not telling Aiden and Kate.  Why should she keep quiet?  Surely they deserve to know.  Regardless Michelle has got no right to give Johnny the evils and be that annoyed towards him.  Again with Liz I wanted to strangle her when she told Aiden not to mess with her staff re him sleeping with Eva (this is why you should never get involved with people who you work with)

Whilst I don't particularly like him as a person, I've always liked Rob's character.  So I relished the prospect of him coming back when I first heard about it.  I did initially think they were going to stage another prison break like they did with Tony.  As much as I like Tracy I've really, really enjoyed seeing Rob getting some payback and messing her relationship with Robert up.  She definitely deserves it (it was also a chance to see some scenes with her and Beth as I've always liked their relationship).  However I don't think Carla deserved to be included in his revenge plan although I do kind of hope he's the one to tell Kate and or Aiden that she's their half sister.  And the bombshell as I mentioned above seems to have sent her right back to how she was before the Connor's bailed her out and stopped Underworld from going under i.e. drinking/gambling oh and she's slept with Robert.  Not good I know although I can't help thinking it's poetic justice after what Nick did to Peter.  Still not sure barring the obvious what Carla's connection to the Connor's actually is.

Not sure if Emily's gone for good but I would rather it would be Norris that was leaving as I see him as just an awful person.

I'll put in spoilers because i don't think anything's been officially announced:

Spoiler

I'm sorry to hear about the actor who plays Steve Macdonald.  It's funny because the issues that have meant he's had to leave the show (for now) mirror his character whether intentionally or unintentionally.  I hope to see him again.  I would rather he swapped places with Michelle TBH.

 

[Red Ranger 1]

I was disappointed to see Gary and Alya end: I was hoping for a reunion but looks like game over.Alya did deserve most of what she got, but it was galling to see Izzy act the victim and make out like Alya took Gary off her when she didn't want him anyway.I can see the argument that Gary should have given his share of the gym back, but he was the innocent party, he'd quit his job to work there and he does seem to be knuckling down and working hard so I don't have a problem with it.

Anna has annoyed me in the past but she seems to be in kooky rather than snooty mode at the moment, so I don't mind her and Kevin being together.It does seem like Anna and Tim are doing a decent job co-parenting as well.

It probably would have been helped if we'd been told earlier that Johnny's affair indirectly led to his wife's death, because as it stood his acting like Kate and Aidan finding out would be the worst thing ever didn't make a lot of sense.Ironically, they only found out because he blabbed to Liz, since Rob doesn't seem to have known anything about it.It is nice to see Carla and Kate struggling to be sisters though.

Looks like Hope's on the mend, which I'm glad about.I've been waiting for a Tyrone/Fiz engagement for a long time so hopefully Tyrone's financial carelessness won't scupper it.I wish Chesney had taken the hint and proposed to Sinead as well.

Sarah being pregnant is an interesting twist.I am liking the supportive relationship she and Kylie have developed and she seems to have regained a bit of strength after being a wreck for a while.

I'm not quite sure what Andy and Luke thought they were achieving by going to Jamie's workplace and getting him and his mate sacked.He was going to be in court soon and he was keeping his distance, now they've stirred him up again.

I'm not sure if Emily's gone for good or not.If she has, that's the end of a long association, with her having first appeared in 1961, within a year of the show starting.

I believe the plan is still for Simon Gregson to return to the show, although I'm not sure if there's a definite timetable in place.

Edited January 16, 2016 by Red Ranger 1