We may as well start with some positives:
- I admit I did quite enjoy Sylvia's recent storyline involving the hash brownies and a return to the infamous 1 O'Clock Club. As far as I am concerned the performances of Stephanie Cole, Barbara Knox and Philip Lowrie raised this idea from being potentially embarrassing and repetitive into a fun interlude. I'd love to see move of the Sylvia/Dennis double act!
- I am happy the powers that be have given Tyrone and Fiz a happy ending, at least for now. While discussions over whether brown or red sauce is better may seem humdrum after all the Kirsty drama, it does make a refreshing change. They will never be the "new Jack and Vera" but then they really shouldn't try. More lighthearted stories for this pair please.
- I am actually quite enjoying the villainous Karl. Yes, I know it involves more scenes with Stella and Gloria and I am far from their greatest fans, but John Michie is terrific at the moment. I only hope it doesn't get repetitive and follow the serial killer by numbers storylines we've seen in recent years.
Now for some negative points:
- The Paul and Eileen scenes have been AWFUL. I used to love Eileen but the relationship with Paul is just dragging her down. I actually considered turning off on Monday evening as the boredom levels were becoming unbearable! I know Paul will be departing our screens soon so I hope the writers can then take Eileen back to her roots. She used to be strong, brash and funny. I also don't buy their current storyline - Eileen must have been aware of the risks. When we first met Paul he was trying to save Molly during the tram crash. Has Eileen honestly not thought of that since? And if we, the viewers, were meant to care about Toni's passing we should at least have met her more than five episodes before her demise.
- I just hate the way Stella has treated Jason. Yes, we know the writers are setting it all up for a big Karl and Stella reconciliation but she really has been unpleasant. She has been hot and cold with him for weeks, supporting Karl and dismissing Jason again and again. She has slowly frozen the poor lad out while knowing exactly what she will do next. And for a grown woman she allows her mother far too much say in her life! Very annoying! The low point came with Stella dumping Jason down the back alley with Karl spectating. Yuck!
- The ongoing surrogacy storyline fails to get any better in my eyes! I don't mind Tina so much these days although I still struggle to understand why she would get involved in this. I used to really enjoying watching most of the main players in this but the surrogacy plot seems to have turned them all on their heads! Anna has become a pushy, thoughtless shrew (her butting in on Dev on Monday was very selfish). Meanwhile Gary is slowing moving in on Tina as we all knew would happen. I have a horrible feeling poor Izzy is going to be left out in the cold, which will see 'orrible Owen back to his bullyboy best (or worst).
Finally a quick mention for the Corrie Cupboard. In my view there are certain characters we just are not seeing enough of at the moment.
We haven't seen Audrey in weeks. Both Lloyd and Steve pop in and out but I think it is time both were brought back to the fore, hopefully in a storyline together.
Marcus is another character who has been on the periphery for too long and we can add Tommy Duckworth to that list. I would also love some more scenes involving Kirk, Beth and Craig. And finally, what are they doing with Dr Carter? He surely deserves a proper story?
So what do you think about Corrie at the moment? What do you like and what do you loathe?
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30 comments:
Corrie is in limbo at the moment. The Kirsty/Tyrone story is over, the fire has more or less finished, and I assume both of those were PC's last offerings. I hoped we'd have seen more of what SB is going to do, if not in the actual episodes then in the media. He seems to be keeping a very low profile. I haven't posted as much as usual over the last few days and that's because nothing has really grabbed me. I don't get why Peter and Rob should dislike each other; Rob's not an ex and we haven't seen them argue before. Peter deserves a strong story that is nothing to do with relationships or family.
I'm with you on everything. I'm ready for some lighthearted and humdrum stories for a while, until we get our breath back. It's all been too dramatic recently. Please, no more murders, deaths, illicit affairs. Give us a break!
There was talk recently of Curly Watts coming back. If that turns out to be true, I think he and Eileen could be good together.
John Michie could have been enjoyed for a much longer period, if he hadn't been turned into yet another serial killer.
Just shoving two people together does not make a relationship. So many seem highly unlikely and just don't work. Stella and Jason, Paul and Eileen, Chesney and Katy, Rob and Tracy,... The list goes on and on.
Humpty - didn't Rob & Peter fight the moment they met? Peter was sounding off in the faktry office and Rob, no knowing who he was, grabbed him and slammed him against a wall. Not an auspicious start.
I, too, Graeme, am bored stupid by that charmless, unplesant Paul and any scene that involves him. Really miss the old, fun Eileen.
Yes Lloyd and Steve deserved more screen time with the Dev/Sunita story. Dev's friends on the street have long been those two guys so it felt very unnatural and forced to have Stella offering her wisdumb and passionless compassion (would that be just com?)
Rob and Peter did fight the first time they met. Peter didn't realise he was Carla's brother. I don't really blame Peter, as I can't abide Rob either. The scenes with Rob, Tracy and Deirdre were vomit-worthy.
I agree Janice - Stella was shoe-horned in again to a certain extent. Much more believable to have Steve and or Lloyd in those scenes. Even Sophie come to that.
Yep, I agree with this blog. It didn't "feel" right that Steve and Lloyd weren't actively by Dev's side through this.
Shoving Stella into that storyline just isn't right. Of course, ANY storyline with Stella bugs the crap outta me anyway! Ditto for the despicable Gloria.
~JB in Canada
My highs:
- The first time I've ever seen Tracy (as played by Kate Ford) act like a close to normal human being. There were no gratuitous insults or smirking in Monday's eps. Maybe Mr. Blackburn has been reading our blogs?
- Karl lashing out at Boria. Now THAT'S entertainment!
- Jason FINALLY giving the boot to the Beige Lady. Loved the "You're not worth it" exit line.
- Fiz and Tyrone settling in like a normal couple, or as normal as a couple can be on Corrie.
My lows:
- St Ella The Beige still being pushed into scenes where she doesn't belong. It seems like Mr. Blackburn must be as entranced with her as Mr. Collinson was to continue using her where her presence is neither required, needed, or even logical.
- The continued existence of Boria.
- Peter acting less mature than his son whenever he's goaded. Peter, this isn't Wuthering Heights, and you're not Heathcliff. The skulking off to brood at every provocation is getting very old. And is it possible to have a storyline about Peter and Carla that DOESN'T revolve around alcohol? These characters could do so much more.
I loved the storyline with Sylvia and Dennis and the brownies. I didn't watch when Dennis was originally on the show, but I love the mischief that is in him and would love to see more of that.
Paul and Eileen have been awful. I was hoping that she would get a permanent love match, but not with him anymore. I just don't buy the two of them together.
And while I never disliked Stella the way others have, I didn't buy her attitude toward Jason either. I was finally starting to see Jason as a mature man and then to have her behave so immaturely with him just wasn't right. I mean really, she didn't question why Karl needed to come out in the back alley and interrupt her conversation. She's a grown woman, tell him to go back inside the house!
Does anyone agree that Sue Cleaver also doesn't seem convinced when delivering her lines in this storyline? It feels to me that she's just going along with it . I bet even the actors get disappointed with their characters stories too! Looking back to how Eileen used to be there is no way she would behave like this , hiding in cupboards etc
I don't think Sue Cleaver ever sounds convincing. She's one of the weakest actors on the show. No depth to her at all and everything delivered in the same mardy tone.
Eileen is a shadow of her former self now. She used to be funny, strong, and independent. She even used to comb her hair! Now she's clingy, whiny, disheveled, and afraid. Mr. Collinson ruined one of my former fave characters.
Shan, we just know that if it were she and Karl trying to have a private talk, and Jason came out to butt in, she'd have sent Jason back in with a verbal clip around his ears.
I loved the scene when Steve went knocking at Dev's with a bottle of whisky and insisted on being let in. It was what a mate would have done under the circumstances. The most 'natural' scene I've seen in Corrie for ages. Dev and Steve chatting together was good.
Then they went and spoiled it all by shoving flippin' whispering Stella in at every possible moment. And that's where they lost me again. I've tried liking her, I have. But it's not happening and it's not going to happen anytime soon either.
She has far too much air time which is forced upon us. It's unnatural and tiring. Either her acting is poor or she is so self conscious of her bad accent that she just can't let go and 'act'. Her whispering voice is now grating on me. Her bland beige colours are irking me. She's samey in every scene which is made worse because she's in every scene.
Agghhhhhhhggghhh! If they don't cut her scene's down I'll have to consider turning off for a while :(
Great post Graeme. Did they really need to have Anna barging in on Dev 5 mins after Sunita died to whine about him not renting the flat to Tim. Agree about the Tracy, Rob, Diedre scenes at the anniversary dinner being very cringe-worthy...I felt embarrassed for them. And yes, where is Audrey these days?
@Beth, I completely agree. I've disliked the way Steve has been portrayed as a balding adolescent over the past few years, but that little scene (plus naughty Dennis) is exactly what I love about this show. Real grown up stuff the way real grown up people face it can make compelling drama. You don't need explosions, perpetual face sucking, personality transplants or forced pairings, just let adults stay true to character and behave like adults.
While we're at it, I like how Sophie has stepped up since the fire; the way she's taking charge at the shop, she probably is the most responsible person on the street right now (she still needs diction lessons, tho.) Tina is also greatly improved sans Tommy. She's smiling a bit and we're beginning to see her emotional turmoil over the surrogacy, without it being slapped in our faces.
After the way she's treated kind, decent Jason and favored Karl who cheated on her and stole from her and oh yeah, burned down her pub and killed 2 people in the process, I have no respect left for Stella. Lady, you're an idiot and you brought it on yourself. Pack what's left of your beige wardrobe and take yourself and your annoying mother someplace far away. Don't forget to drop Leanne a note every now and again.
It's creepy how Boria keeps pushing Karl into the family; makes me wonder if she wants him for herself! I agree, Steve and Lloyd should have been there more for Dev since they go way back.
The acting...gets worse and worse..just spouting the lines..emotion people...put some emotion into it ...where's the direction? Dev yells "come downstairs kids..we have to have a talk." wham..they're right there in 2 seconds flat. Make an attempt at the illusion of an upstairs at least.
Dr Carter...I feel sorry for this guy..is there a reason he has no storyline ever? He's only used to rush to the rescue at a moments notice and then he's banned to the land of prop actors like the kids in this show. I find this annoying.
And, I know everyone just loves the 'old' Eileen. I don't. To me she's just been a whinging middle aged big mouthed fop. IMO anyway.
Now we have another triangle to sit through featuring that edge of your seat dynamic trio of Chesney/Katy/Sinead.
Pretty riveting suff coming up.
Thanks for letting me rant.
Highs: I too enjoyed the hash brownies story, made me laugh out loud at least! Also dinner at the Barlows is always good value and having Carla and Peter back on our screens is always a good thing (very glad they've redecorated that horrible bookies flat). I am very glad the Kirsty/Tyrone story is wrapped up, it was good but by the end I was over it.
Lows: Bloody bloody boring beige Stella and her horrific, nasty, irritating, small minded judgemental mother ARE AWFUL I feel like they're taking over the show, and I do not know a single person who likes them.
I am watching in Canada and am not looking forward to more and more Stella! I would love to see the back of her, her increasingly annoying mother and her daughter with the constantly miserable face!
I'm glad to see the end of Jason and Stella but purely because he's grown into a lovely man and she's a harridan who deserves the evil that is Karl! I'd like to see Tina and Gary hook up but only because that would free Izzy up to enter into a relationship with Jason - he seems to be very caring and would know how to keep Owen in line.
I really want something big and bad to happen to Chesney - I've grown to despise him! If he's meant to become the Street drunken jackass he's well on his way.
I can hardly wait for Paul to leave the Street and to see what becomes of Eileen; it'd kind of be fun to see her become Dev's nanny!
"and her daughter with the constantly miserable face!"
Which one? LOL!
LOVE - John Michie's amazing acting. I don't think it's on its way to a one-dimensional serial killer story because Karl goes between bouts of evil (the sinister breathing tube scene) and genuine regret (talking to Asha). It's a lovely Jekyll/Hyde thing, and no one on the show could play it better than Michie. Will be sad to see him eventually leave.
LOATHE - The lame exit for Paul. They could have conjured something much juicier that made much more sense.
Gary swooping in on Tina. Our Tina belongs with Tommy, and that's that. She's also become attached to Izzy at points during the plot, so it wouldn't make sense for her to accept Gaz's advances. The only way this could be redeemed in my eyes is if Tommy rushes in to rescue T and newly-single mum Izzy gives Gaz the boot.
One spoiler said that Gary was "confused". Gary lost a baby so he is over protective of this baby and then of Tina because she is carrying it - and his mind plays a trick on him thinking that he loves Tina because he feels protective of her. Finding out the gender of the baby made him more real to her and Gary coming onto her will not impress her as to what sort of couple she is dropping this baby into. It also gives the extra push Tina and Tommy need to get back together. Think that Tina will give them the baby in the end and that Izzy won't shut Tina out of the baby's life. Tommy I think will feel a special affinity for that baby because, in a way, the baby is more like him than his own flesh and blood would be.
Glad that Jason saw sense that Stella isn't worth it and hope that Tyrone and Fiz have a bit of peace even if that makes them peripheral to the other story lines as they get used to being a family. Saw the episode tonight where Kirsty confessed the truth in court, that took more bravery than she has shown her whole life and not just that - she loved her daughter so much that she was willing to let the woman she hates play mom to him - I think that will soften Fiz's and Tina's view towards her. Worried about Allison, want to see her leave her husband - he was a worst monster than Kirsty will ever be - because her love for her daughter trumped all in the end.
Carla is one that I would like to see pregnant just because it would freak her out and let Simon know how it is to fear one is being replaced - but she needs to stay off the bottle first. And to punish Simon even more, have him fall for Faye.
Stella is only involved so that Karl faces the consequences of his actions for once. It would be so much easier on Karl if he didn't attend the funeral.
Any ideas what sort of plot that Dr Carter will become involved in? The spoilers say that Sean will find love. That means that either Dr Carter is ACDC or he falls for one of Roy Cropper's brothers. There are not too many existing gay characters for him to play musical chairs with.
Vaml
Lows has to be the Borefest that is Eileen and Paul. There is something about this character that you just dont care about - who cares if he goes back to work or not. Please Eileen do something about your hair luv you look like a scarecrow. Also the Chesney nonsense. A miserable boring and shall I use one of my favourite adjectives - pointless. Another one so full of his own self pity that its difficult to care.
THe Chesney and Katy stuff is probably my Low. I just don't care. I am waiting for Karl's comeuppance and enjoying wtching him squirm but the low is St. Ella has to be there too. I don't even mind the surrogacy storyline and I always liked Paul so i don't mind that storyline either.
FJH - don't worry about Tina & Tommy; I'm convinced that that's a baby Duckworth Tina's carrying!
That's certainly an interesting idea Cobblestone!
I agree Tvor, the Chesney and Katy stuff is awful. I like Chesney ok, but Katy, not so much! Thank goodness Ryan has been absent lately!
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