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Monday 18 November 2013

Coronation Street double episode review, Monday 18 November

Julie's anxiety is almost tangible tonight, so keen is she to succeed and be accepted as a foster carer. Julie's character has come in for some criticism at times, but we need people like Julie, if only as an antidote to people such as Tracy and Rob. She can be irritating because she's always so intense, but her heart is positioned in precisely the right place. She can be comical too- she plans to change into something 'mumsy' thereby hoping that the social services will look upon her more favorably. She is so keen to do well and impress, saying that she can't understand why Brian was late. 'He's almost O.C.D. about punctuality.'  But Brian! What a let-down! Why was he not more up front with Julie? Well the obvious answer is that he did mot want to upset her, but, as it is easy to say in retrospect, it would have been far more courageous and honest to tell her he wasn't keen on fostering children. And what a sneaky, underhand way to tell the flat inspector of his reticence to foster, under the guise of walking her to her car. I hope there aren't too many headteachers who, like Brian want to strangle their charges.

Marcus's role as Jiminy Cricket, the conscience of Brian, perched on his shoulder, was very interesting. It appeared as if Marcus, the younger man, was playing the father role and Brian the wayward son. Marcus's role as a nurse in addition to his mature, compassionate character, make Marcus someone to whom people turn..

Talking of fathers, just what was Peter up to tonight? Of course Nick should not have shouted at Simon, but he has had a brain injury and it's not as if the inappropriate shouting was an inappropriate beating. So, Peter, what's going on? He took it 'on the chin' when Leanne reminded Peter of his less than perfect parenting, about which he really had no choice, but it just seemed odd to come into the bistro, over a relatively mild offence, knowing that both Nick and Leanne are working.

As already said, Nick was wrong to snap at Simon, but what joy Nick brought to us when he snapped at Gloria. In fairness though, Gloria dealt with it well and advised that Nick didn't speak to the customers like that or else they would all be out of work.

Still on Peter, it is now becoming more and more noticeable that Peter is attracted to Tina. It also seems less and less likely that if the wedding does go ahead, Peter will merely be going through the motions, so as not to disappoint Carla. Carla seems irritated by Peter's drum roll at the beginning of the announcement as to who has won the stitching competition. The dress caused problems too. Inauspicious signs pre- wedding...

Sally has been gaining ground in terms of her popularity quotient just recently,  but oh dear, tonight she blew it and is in the relegation zone. Anyone who sees fit to mock, ridicule or deride anyone who is less intelligent than themselves is the lowest of the low and tonight Sally made an ugly remark about Kirk's intelligence. When the announcement was made as to who had stitched the most knickers, Fiz was very disappointed at coming third. When challenged, Kirk said, 'I never cheat.'  In response to this, Sally said, 'You haven't got the brains for it.' In addition, when Kirk said that his favourite subject at school was counting, Sally asked, 'As well as what? Colouring?'   Just nasty.

So Karl gets 25 years. Justice? It doesn't seem so to Dev, who reminds us that Sunita is still dead.

A greatly executed scene tonight was in the Kabin with Emily, Norris and Mary. Mary is a latecomer to the discussion but as she bursts into the Kabin as Emily and Norris are talking about the electricity bill at Number 3. Emily informs Mary that since Norris has been the bill payer he's become an eco-warrior.Highly amusing in itself, Emily then speaks of how going to the lavatory would become a race against time if Norris has his way and installs a timer. She wonders what would happen if she was plunged into darkness? Mary interjects and says that Emily doesn't need that pressure at her age of nearly ninety, to which Emily objects, despite Mary's disbelief. Somewhat cruelly though, both Norris and Emily turn down Mary's invitation for a meal.

Cooking in her motor home, stones are thrown again. She launches herself into the cafe and asks Anna, 'Do you know where your daughter is?' Mary is vulnerable, afraid and lonely.The sooner that girl Grace is shopped the better. Tonight, Grace even said to Faye that she, 'Could be such a geek sometimes.' Faye is obviously uncomfortable with Grace, but friendships among young people are complicated affairs and the lies about having gone to dance class will come out soon.

Thank goodness for Dev, who, even on a day when he would no doubt have preferred to hide himself away,  kindly accepts Mary's offer of a chicken casserole and what's more, even invites her in to share it. What a guy!  

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19 comments:

Tvor said...

I think it's time that Mary rent a flat on the Street. The Kebab shop flat is empty now

John McE said...

I cringed every time that Marcus just happened to be there, whenever Brian needed someone to talk. Have the two of them even spoken to each other before? Surely it could have been written better with a few minutes thought.

Frosty the Snowman said...

Brian and his new job just descended into sillyness yesterday and please take Julie with you, she is an exhausted and now pretty pointless character who has nothing to do but be "concerned" over the miseryguts that is Eileen.

And what exactly was Simon doing sitting in the middle of the Bistro doing his homework?. Too young to be on licenced premises and not exactly in keeping with an 'upmarket' restaurant having some snotty nosed kid crayoning at the next table. Stella looked like a ghost yesterday.

Ping Pong Poon said...

Sorry I dont buy Mary as the vulnerable victim. She is also rude and tactless and very odd. The council would have moved that camper van on by now.

Anonymous said...

What's with Simon..he's made of glass or something? And, how old is he anyway? He's not a toddler. Nick yelled at him. So what..it's not like he smacked him about. The kid is sooo obnoxious I'd have liked to give him a good clither myself. The way Peter and Leanne go on and on about the golden child - sickening.
Brian..why is he confiding in Marcus? They barely know each other. I guess Marcus needs some air time.
Todd...I really thought the writers would make this a good storyline but no - back down that old familiar 'bad boy' scenario that's been done to death.
What's with Eileen dissing Brian - what - she's a prize?
Tina... her one line of the night was either 'are you alright?' or 'He's a brilliant kid'. I hope it's not long in the new year that she's gone.
Mary is going into meltdown I think - yes!!!

Humpty Dumpty said...

So much of what we're seeing at the moment is driven by plot devices. Brian would surely confide in a colleagues living miles away from the Street, but then we wouldn't see him talking to a neighbour (Marcus) in the Rovers. Peter and Tina would never have got it together but they have to dramatically leave somehow. It would have been much more believable if Emily had been the victim of Faye and Grace rather than Mary - actually, that's not a plot device just the wrong victim. Mary has been half way round the world and survived heaven knows what. Surely, her childhood demons have already been well and truly conquered.

Anonymous said...

Faye will become a serial killer.

Newfy Pearl said...

If Julie and Brian are living above the Kabin....where does Rita and Dennis live?
I love the scenes with Mary and Dev. He seems to have matured and she needs a love life....a family...someone to care for her...a place to call home. :-)

Newfy Pearl said...

Gail needs a cameo from Russell Brand to relight her fire! lol

Humpty Dumpty said...

Roy and Hayley are being portrayed beautifully in this storyline but, despite the accurate presentation of trans-gender, Hayley isn't a particularly well-rounded character. It's implied by what she says that her easy-going nature is a way to fit in with people. So what's been bubbling up underneath? She has always been for me a bit too goody-goody and it's her relationship with Roy/DN that has made her interesting. I would like to see Hayley settle a few scores in the Street before she goes, namely, Tracy. I don't want Hayley to be a saint where everyone apart from Roy is concerned. If she goes out in a sugar sweet fashion, she'll soon be forgotten. The storyline will live on in people's memories but not her character.

Humpty Dumpty said...

Drat! Posted in the wrong place. Ignore latest post.

Llifon said...

Newfy Pearl - Julie and Brian live at No. 12, where Alec Gilroy used to live and then later Steve and Karen, Jason, Tina while Rita and Dennis live in No. 10a. :)

abbyk said...

One thing is really bugging me: why isn't Nick in some type of rehab or therapy? Even he knows he isn't coping.

Anonymous said...

abbyk - brilliant comment but of course that would make too much sense. No one on the street ever goes for counselling or gets proper legal advice!

Anonymous said...

Dev and his clan are good for Mary. I don't see them as a couple but more so her being his housekeeper. Then she could find a real home and people to associate with. That family makes her behave like a rational person.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 4:41...I agree. Mary is a good fit with that family Not every relationship has to be a romantic pairing.

Newfy Pearl said...

Thanks for the answer. As for Mary and Dev,,,housekeeper...I can see that working until he finds a love interest.....oh well

Anonymous said...

I too enjoyed the brief interlude which saw Mary caring for Dev and his children. I was hoping something would come of it, but maybe sometime in the near future?
Mary has worn a few hats in her time on the street, and I think that the sensible, caring, intuitive, and loving hat that she 'wore' with the Alahans was the best fit yet.

ChiaGwen said...

Agree that Mary and Dev are a good 'fit' but not in the romantic sense. Perhaps her travel home could be destroyed by fire and Dev invites her to stay as housekeeper and carer for the kids. She seems to only occasionally work so where did she get money to go travelling in that behemoth that surely must guzzle gas at an alarming rate..?

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