What is wrong with Carla Connor? I'm being serious. It seems that whenever she gets a boyfriend or husband, he immediately turns out to be mad, a sexual pervert, or a mad sexual pervert. Even when they seemed quite nice before. Is it her lipstick? Is it filled with psychotropic drugs, like Poison Ivy?
I admit, I'm heterosexually challenged. But from where I'm sitting Carla seems like a hell of a catch. She's gorgeous. She's funny. She's clever. She's got her own factory and a fondness for necking red wine. Where is the downside? Frankly, I'd be tempted to have a quick bunk up with her, and my entire gamut of sexually experience with "the ladies" is a snog with tongues as a 19th birthday experiment with one of my girl friends. (I wasn't converted).
And now there's Peter Barlow, who's appealing enough if you like doughy tattoo'd former alcoholics with a string of failed marriages and having Ken for a father-in-law, but who was married to Carla for less than an hour before he was snogging Tina on top of the vol au vents at the reception. Next to the voluptuous, fascinating Carla, Tina looks like someone's stapled a pair of Lizzie Duke earrings to a chew toy, and only a fool would pay her even the slightest bit of attention. Yet there Peter is, kicking Simon's Lego to one side so he can diddle her on the living room rug.
There's a difference between the classic Street "wronged woman", a la Elsie Tanner, and Carla. Elsie picked the bad fellas in the first place because she wanted a bit of company and love. She had more in common with Eileen than the feisty sexual tornado that is la Connor. Carla just seems to pick perfectly affable, decent chaps, then sends them careening over the cliff edge of sanity and into the fragrant garden of loony. When the marriage to Peter finally fails - as of course it will, possibly over Tina's bloodied corpse - I can't imagine which affable hero Carla will turn into a psychopath next. Little Max? Tom Hanks? Pope Francis? Surely no man is safe.
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14 comments:
I wonder what the writers are spiking their coffee with these days. Why in the world would Peter go after hamburger when he has steak at home? I guess it's because he really is a low life dirt bag after all. I can't wait until Carla finds out. He'd better hide the scissor!
Brilliant post Scott - and how very true! Carla is like evil catnip. Roy should be very worried . . .
To be fair, this Tina/Peter business is only happening because both actors are leaving. I'm guessing (OK, hoping) the writers would have chosen Rob as a more plausible dalliance. I know Carla (and this has nothing to do with AK's portrayal) has her legion of fans, but she has never done anything for me. I'm too old to identify with her and so she leaves me, as far as her romances go, completely cold. Her affection for Hayley is another matter and that's only a recent development. Until then, Carla was the hard-hearted, cold-blooded cardboard cut-out. She seemed so 2-dimensional that I couldn't even get angry with her. I won't be glad or sorry when her marriage falls apart. She's never been a 'real person' with many layers eg: Leanne, Becky, Sally. As for who might be her next beau, I wouldn't be surprised if AK left for new pastures on the back of this storyline. If she stays, I think she would ditch men for the time being.
Haha! Brilliant.
I love Carla and she's arguably the best character on the show but the writers are SO cruel to her. How much more misery and tragedy is one character supposed to have thrown at her before it becomes a tad ridiculous?!
Over the years the writers have revealed so many different layers to Carla, which I've loved. I've loved her friendships with Hayley, Peter, Michelle, Maria and even Leanne. All convincing friendships - brilliant acting and writing. It also helps that Carla is portrayed by the superb Alison King who understands her character perfectly.
The Tina/Peter storyline has been disgusting. It's wrong on all levels but I felt quite sick at the image of those two after they'd had sex in Carla's bed while she was breaking her heart at her dying friend's bedside.
More fool you PETER BARLOW. When Carla finds out, I imagine she'll make the game of thrones look like a tea party.
Loved the blog Scott, thank you.
I noticed, some time ago, the 'softening' of Carla, lighter hair and clothes and wondered where this was going, obviously the friendship with Hayley and Roy. Are we going to see a new depth in her character? Will she stay when Peter goes? Will she want to stay in Peters little flat? (Couldn't understand her to moving there and giving up her own much bigger and nicer apartment) What will happen with poor little Simon when his dad is no longer there? Leanne has her own problems at the moment and legally she's not his mum.
Brilliant post. Thoroughly enjoyed reading that.
I do love Mrs C. She really is fascinating.
Personally, I would like the writers to delve into Carla and Rob's background more. They did give us a bit of an insight last year when Rob stole the silk... Carla was desperately hoping that her brother wasn't responsible for the theft and she started to talk to Peter about her childhood.
I also hope a Roy and Carla friendship is on the cards. That would be pretty awesome.
Loved you description of Tina!
Another fab article, Scott, thanks. I agree, it's Carla that is the influence for all that goes awry in her male relationships. She really tends to avoid female friendships, but in this recent story with Hailey, she's been a brilliant friend. Perhaps after Peter she'll gain more confidence in being a good friend and find a better male companion. But then we'll not be able to comment like this!
Hilarious post, Scott, which is right on the money. Thanks for your insights.
Bev
HAHAHAHA!!!!! Mad Eyed Moody!!! LOVE this post.
This made me wee with giggles. Thanks Scott! :)
I can honestly say that Carla has grown on me and this is how writer's can change a potentially hateful character into something multifaceted and interesting.
I too feel that Carla has developed nicely....please don't mess it up!!
I will be so disgusted if they turn her into a drunken lunatic when she finds out about Peter and Tina.
Carla is an Amazon....have her act like it!
Scott, loved, loved your blog. You had me laughing out loud!
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