Carry On Corrie

(This post was originally posted by David (Clinkers) on the Coronation Street Blog in September 2014.)

Earlier this week, our Graham posted a heartfelt blog about the malaise that seems to have befallen not only him but a few of us here at Blog Towers. It can happen when there is nothing startlingly noteworthy to comment on. Something needed to happen to shake the communal apathy. Maybe last night it did.

To be fair, I've only watched the first of the Friday night episodes (last night in Canada). One was enough. By eight p.m. I had no idea if I had been watching a drama or a comedy. For me, the whole twenty-odd minutes were a bit of a mess.

The dominant storyline was the plodding, never-ending tale of Andrea and her men. Now, I know it's become fashionable to shriek with derision every time the poor woman enters stage left but for some reason I like her. Beneath that gurning exterior lies a decent Corrie character waiting to emerge. it's taking some time though. You get the impression that whatever the plot, the poor actress is implored to smile like Doris Day throughout. Picture the scene as Andrea is told that her entire family has been run over by a plot device but the producer urges her to turn that frown upside down "because it's how Andrea would cope with it . . . we'd decided". Give it a few weeks and they will have her dressed in a clown's outfit guffawing at funerals.

Back to last night's 'drama' though. The scene was set. Gurning Andrea, the dreadfully dull husband, permanently crisis-stricken Lloyd. There they were, cavorting around on the cobbles, up and down ladders and stranded on roof tops. Somehow the whole thing felt horribly laboured and like an outtake from an unloved Carry On film.

Meanwhile on another rooftop we had Tim and once again, Joe Duttine managing to outshine everyone else involved with just a few scenes. No finger pointing and definitely no names mentioned but there was a fairly ropey piece of acting from one Street resident. I thought it was just me but the entire household groaned at the same time. By the time last night's shenanigans were over, it felt as though I had emerged from one of the poorest episodes for some time.

Was it all bad? Certainly not. Kevin seems to have returned in a much mellower mood which has to be good news. Maddie featured too and again, I admit to liking her. She is probably the character that Becky MacDonald should have been. No rollercoaster mood swings and ridiculous behaviour, just a young woman who had a bad start and is now growing up. Plus we have Steve and his depression. The seeds for this are being sown and it's a storyline that will require sensitive handling. It will make for difficult viewing but you know that in the hands of Simon Gregson, the tale will be told well.

Maybe it was just me having a grotty half hour but the feeling that the episode was sub-standard persists. Episode two is waiting for me on the Sky box so later I will tune in to see if Andrea crashes to Mother Earth. With a grin.




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