Friday 31 March 2017

Inside the mind of Peter Barlow

(This post was originally posted by Ruth Owen on the Coronation Street Blog in March 2017, reposted with permission.)

Currently, the stand-out character on the cobbles is Peter Barlow. He is so compelling, so watchable and every word he utters, is believable. He is also seriously flawed, which, ironically is a large part of his charm.

Unwisely, maybe, but women have always fallen at his feet. Intelligent women, attractive women - all have succumbed to his charms. He has a very persuasive, seductive way about him so it it's no wonder that he is rarely without female company. Despite this, in his conversation with Toyah about buying The Rovers and disappointed at her lack of enthusiasm, he muttered quite a telling phrase. 'I aim low in life and I still miss.' 

It was interesting how after his conversation with Toyah at the back of the pub, where he lied to her saying that his sponsor was fully behind him, he headed off to Chloe's  - a bottle of wine on the front seat, deliberately intended to make the viewer think that Peter had fallen off the wagon, But no - he grabbed the bottle, took it inside Chloe's house, and asked for a cup of coffee.

Chloe, unlike the rest of Peter's family was very supportive of his new venture and Peter was delighted. Chloe asks if Peter is going to tell the truth - the truth that in actual fact Peter's sponsor is against his plan. Chloe tells Peter that she understands why Peter wants to get the pub as he can then show all those who doubt him that he CAN stay sober.

'Beautiful and wise - a lethal combination,' responds Peter. She leans into him but swerves away and goes off to make the coffee. Chloe certainly knows what she's doing and while in the kitchen she undoes a couple of buttons and squirts herself with perfume. Then, to her obvious shock and dismay, the disappointment writ large upon her face, Peter informs her that he has to leave.

So what exactly is going on in the mind of Peter Barlow? Well, he is clearly confused. He claims to love Toyah, the love of his life he says, he wants to make her happy, to get the money together for  the IVF that they are planning which most certainly doesn't come cheap. Is he going full pelt to commit to Toyah?

If so, then why is he running to Chloe? Yes she's attractive but so are lots of women. Is it that he is flattered by her attention?  Is he angling for an affair? Does he think he won't get found out? Can he just not resist the allure of a woman who seems very attracted to him? Does he wish to have a bolt hole to which he can flee when babies and domesticity lose their allure?

But the disturbing plot development of Chloe tracking him on her tablet may lead to real problems for Peter. Chloe seems to be a woman who gets what she wants. Peter's lack of self-control may well be his downfall.

It may be the case that I have dreamt this, so bizarre is the idea, but there seems to be a storyline that suggests that Peter is the actual biological father of baby Oliver. If this turns out to be the case, then the mind of Peter Barlow would provide sufficient material for a psychiatrists' conference.

Ruth Owen, twitter: @Ruth1722







Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

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