Coronation Street at its best?

(This post was originally posted by Graeme N on the Coronation Street Blog in October 2013.)

I loved Coronation Street last night, (Tuesday and Wednesday in Canada this week) I really did. Watching that wonderful hour, I struggled to come up with one single criticism. It may have been the best episode of Corrie in quite some time.

And for obvious reasons too. Roy and Hayley stole the show. The Blackpool scenario was superb - it was like going on a trip with two lovely old friends. There was so much affection and love between the two characters it almost came bouncing right through the screen. Julie Hesmondhalgh and David Neilson must be right up there with the best acting talent on our screens right now. With no disrespect to Corrie, the quality of their performances takes the programme to a different level. 

I loved the little touches of humour laced with pathos. Roy wandering around with the toy elephant protruding from his shopping bag; the sight of poor old Roy struggling to get his socks off and going for a paddle; Hayley's sheer childlike joy at the ballroom. All classic, human Corrie moments. The Roy and Hayley journey continues to be amazing, even though we know how it's going to end.

The other major story running through Corrie last night was the climax of the latest Platt family dramas. To be honest, I was dreading this slightly. It really feels like the bubble should've burst on this storyline a long time ago. It has become a tad tedious, despite terrific performances from Jack P Shepherd and Paula Lane in particular. Was it all a bit cliched? Yes of course it was, but somehow it still had me gripped. Big secrets always seem to come tumbling out at a big, public events. How many times have Emily and Norris sat on bum-numbing church pews while weddings have crumbled, brides have fled and babies have gone unchristened? 

Anyway, thank goodness all the secrets are now out in the open. The Prices circled round poor Leanne, while hissing at brain-damaged Nick like a bunch of over-made up puff adders. I don't know if I feel more sorry for Leanne because of what Nick has done, or because those women are her family. Bring back Janice! She'd have downed a pint and decked Nick. Job done. 

As for the rest, well Gail's acting all pious (Ivy Mark II) despite being in on some of the lies, Kylie's now a single mum and David's out in the cold. It's poor old Audrey I feel the most sorry for in all this. She's the only one who knew absolutely nothing of any of it. Why she doesn't just ditch the lot of them is anybody's guess.

So what did you think of last night's Corrie? Do you agree it was the best episode in a long time? Good or bad, let's have your comments.


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