There's something about Neil

There has been a lot of contention about Lloyd and Andrea's storyline from the fans. People are really getting tired of this storyline and of Andea who was  breath of fresh air at the start. I sort of agree to a point. The storyline certainly became a bit tedious once Andrea's cliche secret was dragged out of the soap closet.

Neil, the long suffering husband, didn't think anything was wrong but to be fair, he worked away from home a lot, providing for his family. By her own admission, Andrea married young and in haste and once she had her daughter, felt trapped, unable to break up the family for no real good reason. Neil was never a bad man. He held down a good job, loved his family, treated them all well and maybe he wasn't very exciting but he was dependable. But he was gone a lot. I think Andrea became lonely and maybe resented shouldering all the responsibility of being a single parent when she really wasn't.

We see Neil as a wet blanket, a real drippy guy who's boring and kind of plodding through life, oblivious to his wife's unrest. People seem to be finding his near-stalking of Andrea and Lloyd tedious. Let's be fair, his world has fallen apart. He most definitely was taking his life and his wife for granted but he never expected this, didn't see it coming (which he might have if he'd not worked away most of the time). He thinks if he changes, if he gets a job at home, if he reminds her of the good times, maybe she'll realize he wasn't so bad. But he can't love her enough for both of them and she's long since fallen out of love with him.

Watching the show this week, I'm starting to find Neil a bit sinister. We've seen him take a load of abuse, from Lloyd and Andrea, shouting, cajoling, insulting, nothing seems to be getting through to him to convince him that his marriage is over. He's single minded and obsessed. He lets any and all insults roll off him like they weren't even uttered. Once in awhile, one of Andrea's blunt statements on how she feels seems to hit a sore spot but he immediately pushes it away and continues his determined quest to get her back. It's starting to be a bit scary.

I think he will increase the pressure more and more but stay just this side of legal. They won't be able to peg him for harassement or stalking because he's not threatening. Yet. I won't be at all surprised if he eventually kidnaps her and keeps her somewhere.

It kind of puts me in mind of John Stape stashing Rosie in the attic, justifying it because he blamed Rosie for throwing his life into chaos, mainly because he wouldn't accept his own responsibility for his actions. He was single minded and obsessed, too and he's got that glint in his eye. I can't fault the casting. William Travis is doing a very convincing job. I don't like Neil, I don't even really feel sorry for him but I do think the actor is making Neil believable, as far as you can with a soap.

Neil's motivations are different but his attitude seems to be sliding into that same sort of madness that came over Stape, the conviction that he was right and he can find a way to "make" Andrea love him again. He may even become suicidal with the view to killing her so nobody else can have her, or at least might threaten it. I don't know if he'd go that far but she may not realize it.

Everything will turn out ok, in the end, I should think but I really do see this escalating into something perhaps a bit more dangerous. What do you think?

I don't buy it

Even though I love my Coronation Street, and I am able to suspend disbelieve most of the time because, you know, it's only a tv show and you have to make allowances, there are some things that "clunk" for me. Things that don't make sense.

I find it so weird that Ken Barlow would fancy a camping trip in a caravan. Martha's canal boat really must have given him a taste for roughing it! At his age, nearly 80, and never having had the urge to camp in his life (shurrup, you lot at the back!), it really seems out of character. I also find it weird that he's decided to be a vegetarian. Nothing against the concept, but it seems like if he was going to take up that cause he'd have done it years ago.

I also find it very odd that he didn't know anything about Tina, Peter's drinking, Tracy's engagement, and all the other stuff that went on while he was away. It's as if the only person he spoke to in 18 months was Deirdre and that doesn't make sense. Surely Tracy would have had contact and gloated about her new shop and fella, and we know that Amy used Skype to talk to her grandad. He's been back a week, now, and we haven't seen him make the effort to express his condolences to his good friend Roy on the passing of Hayley, either.

How does Mary survive? She puts in the occasional shift at the Kabin or the cafe to help out yet she maintains that huge RV. She must have some sort of income from years of living at home and saving. I bet we're going to find out some day that she's rich from an inheritance and her mother's a Countess or some such. Mary isn't the type to put on airs and call herself Lady Mary, after all. I don't know if it's legal to park that behemoth on the street constantly and what does she do for power in it? Surely the battery for the vehicle can't support lights and other electrical amenities. Dev's flat is empty, why doesn't she rent that?

Michelle is going to be Tracy's wedding planner? Seriously? Nobody can stand Tracy and Tracy's given Michelle more reason than many to detest her. Michelle can't be that despearate to launch an event company that she'd take on Tracy's demands even if she's an old friend of Rob's.

I wonder if the writers have remembered that the lofts along the old side of the Street are all one, barring the interruption of Number 7 which was rebuilt after collapsing in the 60s. (Remember Les Battersby's tricks playing ghost in Number 1 and 3 and Ken's crash through the ceiling of number 5 onto Leanne and Nick in bed?) So if Jason's building a loft conversion over Number 9, is he also going to build walls to block it off from the rest of the houses (Numbers 9 through 13) or are the kids going to have a huge playroom!? And is Jason going to put in a window? I should think that's required for fire regs.  Inquiring minds are guessing that The Powers That Be have forgotten that little detail. You see a brick wall in this photo but that could be Number 7.

I also don't buy that Gary knows that  the material is not up to par and allowed Todd to threaten his job if he asked Jason about it. Gary would know that using inferior materials can be dangerous even if Todd doesn't realize just how much.

I never bought that Leanne went back to Nick. Well I did, but not because she realized she always loved him like he did her. She rebounded from Peter to Nick. She had an affair with Danny Baldwin and when fiance Jame found out and turfed her, she moved in with Danny. Not because she loved him but because what else was she going to do?

Now she's rebounding with Kal who's not really very exciting and is going to bore her to tears after awhile. I'm not worried about the disapproving family. She faced Gail off as a mother-in-law twice, after all and Gail had become far more Ivy Tilsley the second time around. Yasmin Nazir is an amateur compared to that. It's kind of sad that Leanne doesn't seem to be able to exist without a man in her life, though and as tough and independent as she seems to be, she obviously isn't.


Simon is 12. You can hear his voice dropping and it will probably change in a year or two. Yet he's still crayoning get well and birthday cards and needing babysitters? He still needs to be walked to school? Admittedly, with everything that's happened to him in his young life, it's not surprising he's not a gibbering heap in the corner, but can't they grow him up a little bit? I suppose when they finally do, he'll be a raging drug addict full of anger and resentment and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised. Addiction often runs in families.

And whatever happened to his friendship with Aadi Alahan? Is he just too soppy for Aadi to hang out with? Faye is the same age as he and Amy, but they don't seem to act like they really have anything in common. Maybe that's because of that bullying incident with Grace last year. Surely they still all go to Bessie Street school, instead of having all the parents take them to school, why don't they all walk there together? The school is only a few blocks away and there are crossing guards (Lollipop men and women).

I thing I've got too much time on my hands!

Has the worm turned?

Since Ken's been away, Deirdre's character really has come into her own. She's been funny, daffy and interesting. She's been wary of Rob but they've grown quite fond of each other. She's supportive but she'll tell you off if you need telling. I've really enjoyed her blossoming out of her shell.

But now Ken's back and I feared for Deirdre. For a few scenes, I thought my worries were going to turn out true. Ken found out the hard way that Deirdre kept most of Peter's troubles from him and he blew his top. I don't blame him for that. She should have told him a long time ago that she needed him. Adam might have been very seriously ill at first but over time, he was recovering and probably didn't need Ken there full time. It sounded very much to me like Ken stayed longer than he needed to, as well.

He was right in telling her off and getting angry. But when she tried to tell him how she felt, he accused her of turning it around on him and blaming him. He was putting words in her mouth, to use a cliche, but some of the time, it was exactly what he was doing. "You're not listening. You never have" she accused. And she's right.

Of course, she did blame him a bit, that's only human nature. For whatever reasons he had, and at least for most of the time he was away, they were valid ones, she did feel abandoned. He wasn't listening. She was trying to tell him how *she* felt. All he continued to do was holler at her and berate her for trying to make him feel guilty when she was entirely at fault for not telling him Peter had been arrested.

Then. It happened. She looked him in the eye and screamed at him. SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!! I cheered. Boy, did that take him aback! Yet did he apologize?

Did he 'eck.

He changed the subject to Peter and continued to make her feel bad for doubting Peter when he hadn't been there to see the evidence mounting up and Peter, with alcoholic blackouts nine to the dozen, circumstantial evidence mounting, bleating ineffectually that he didn't do it. (He should have taken lessons from Deirdre, though, thinking back, that didn't do her any good, either. She went to prison as well!)

Deirdre was a mess after Ken gave up and went to bed to sleep off the jet lag. I hope she doesn't back down. I hope she doesn't give in. I hope this 18 months of enforced independence has given her the backbone to stand up for him and give him hell when he gives her flannel. But you know, he won't take any notice of her anyway. Ken's found a new crusade and he's going to save his son. And so he should.

It's easy for him. He's not been in the thick of it and maybe had he been around, Peter might not have got in so far over his head in the first place. Ken was always Peter's touchstone. The other good thing is that Ken doesn't like Rob. He's not been on the receiving side of Rob's suck up attempts. He wouldn't be won over so easily in any case. This is a man that held a grudge against Mike Baldwin for 30 years. He may have come to terms with Mike but he never trusted him and he doesn't trust Rob. He'll be the one to see behind Rob's agitation, his continued attempts to stitch up Peter and take attention away from  himself. Ken's coming at this from the outside so will be able to see things more clearly.

It's only a matter of time, now, Rob. I hope you look good in orange, me laddo.

State of the Street - July 2014

Gary and Izzy broke up, probably the result of all that stress and it looks like the Windass family have hit bottom. Owen is now bankrupt but it remains to be seen whether he'll lose the house, too. They didn't say, did they?  but it can't be far off.  Still, when you read the bottom, Anna figured the only thing to make it all better is take Owen back into her bed. She does love him or i'd have said it was a pity thing. Next thing you know they're all smiles and are hopeful and if they are about to lose their house, it's a bit odd nobody's panicking. They're acting like it's all over, for the grand sum of just over 5 grand, wasn't it? Just in time for Faye's teenage hormones to hit. Looks like there's something on her mind and according to Craig, the social media is ablaze with rumours about her sleeping around.

Is she being bullied again? Or is it true? There are rumours but I'm waiting to see if they're just that because if the rumours are true, we've already done that so why do it again unless the outcome is going to be different. I'd much rather see her get into a drug habit considering her mother was an addict. Well, no, I wouldn't *really* want to see that happen but it would be more in line, continuity wise.

The net is closing in on Rob so he's fighting even harder to point the finger at Peter and it seems to have worked. Now he just has to keep him there and keep the suspicion off himself. Meanwhile, he's jumpy and irritable and it's so obvious he's acting guilty and under pressure. I'm surprised nobody really notices. He couldn't be that upset over Tina's death or upset at what Carla's been through. Angry, yes, jumping out of his skin, no.


Peter's in prison and thinks everyone has abandoned him. Well, his father at least. That will probably be enforcing that old abandonment issue he has had since he was a kid and Ken shunted he and his sister off to Scotland when their mother died. It's not Ken's fault, nobody told him a thing! I don't really understand, though. Ok, Deirdre never said anything but I don't believe for a minute Tracy hasn't spoken or communicated with her father for over a year and even Amy would have been likely to tell  her grandad something big like Peter going to jail.

I know it is an unusual circumstance and we have to suspend disbelief on this one due to the actor's forced absence but it's difficult to swallow just the same. Deirdre still hasn't told Ken because he's going to be coming back very soon. Boy is he going to get a shock!

Anyway, Peter seems to have a congenial cellmate so we won't have to watch our boy struggle like Fiz did, not in that way at least. But he must be going through the physical hell of the DTs by now. Again, the Weatherfield police, who started off so promising because they could tell Tina was hit after she fell, dropped the ball. The circumstantial-at-best evidence just doesn't hold up. You can't count the fingerprints on the bracelet because Deirdre told the police she washed and cleaned it after the dog found it. Any prints on it after that are irrelevant, Your Honour. And why would he kill Tina then go and tell Carla about the affair? Any decent solicitor would have that charge run out of court. Of course we know Rob did it and soap law dictates he'll get nicked in the end. It'll be interesting to see how he holds up in the meantime because he's definitely not as steady about all this as he pretends.

As I said, Gary and Izzy are no more and now we have a new drinking game while we watch the street. Every time you see Gary in a scene, Alya shows up and vice versa. Have a pint (or bevvy of your choice) every time one coincidentally runs into the other. It's been happening all month, either directly or indirectly when we see one or the other in the background of the shot watching the one in the foreground. It's ludicrous and it couldn't be any more obvious and "in our face" that the powers that be are pushing them together. It's being forced and that's why it won't work in the long run. It will be interesting to see how they go about it, though, because Alya's a good Muslim girl and doesn't drink, nor will she jump into bed with Gary.

We have now met Kal's mother, Sharif's wife, Yasmeen. She's very forceful and determined, isn't she? I like her! She's far more interesting than either Kal or Sharif have turned out to be so far. It's apparent from the dialogue that she's the dominant one of the family and isn't afraid to get into trouble for causes she believes in. That's a nice addition to the character instead of her being just out and out bitchy and bullying her family all over the place.

Now she's determined to save the local library where she's head librarian. Fair enough, it's not just a resource for the community, it's her job! Nice to see that Emily was involved in a few scenes, too, and standing her ground like always. Yasmeen definitely understimated our Mrs. Bishop, Miss Nugent as was! There's fire in the old girl, yet! Roy is being drawn into it as well which is great. I'm so glad Roy will have a storyline of his own and this is right up his alley. He isn't confrontational but maybe he can find some of that fire within himself anyway. If Ken had been here, he'd certainly have been involved, too but when he gets back, he'll have his hands full with Peter.

Gail has a new project and his name is Michael. I always said he was the most pathetic burglar I've ever seen. Also, how did he get such a harsh prison sentence, short though it was? He makes it sound like he was inside for years and everyone seems to assume he's a hardened criminal. Now he's out with a monitor ankle bracelet, too. I just can't see it when so many first time offenders get their fingers slapped and community service at the worst.

Everyone is calling him a thief but as I recall, although he did break in, he didn't steal anything because Kylie scared him off. Anyway, he took to Gail straight away and admitted it. He fancies her something rotten. She was only just starting to return the affection but yet again, she's up against her family who don't trust him. I can understand them being a bit worried initially but he really isn't that threatening and is more of a sad sack than a hardened criminal. Nick even made her choose and rather than break her family even more than it is, and pandering to her spoiled brat of a son, she gave Michael the boot. I don't imagine it's for long, though. I think he'll be back.

With Lewis, her family's concern was warranted but it does seem like Michael is a good guy, who was only brought down to crime by circumstance. So far, anyway. They might make a pretty decent couple and if the actor is going to stay, maybe Gail can find some happiness finally. It's nice to see her smile and having fun. It would also give her a chance to rub it in Eileen's face, too! I really hope Michael can find it in himself to smack Nick, though. No, ok, not. He'd probably have more luck standing up to him verbally and keeping his integrity as he has been doing.

Nick is being viler than a vile thing. Fair enough, Leanne hurt him a lot but nobody's pointed out that he was the one that insisted she leave him in the first place. Then he became sorry and decided he could win her back but it was too late. I suppose he's being so nasty because he's feeling foolish on top of it all. I don't think his brain injury is coming into play here at all, not this time around. He's not being impulsive for the most part, he's being vindictive, calculating and plain old nasty, both to Leanne and to Michael. Nick the Dick (let's be blunt but not as graphic as I'd like to be!) This is my blog and I can call him that, right?  Nick might act threatening but even with his latent brain injury, he's just having a bad temper tantrum because he couldn't have what he wanted after he pushed it (her) away.

I never liked Nick and Leanne together and I always felt that she rebounded on Peter to Nick. Now she's rebounding to Kal so chances are pretty good that's going to end in disaster, too. It's too bad Leanne seems to be the sort that can't be without a man. Ever. Sends the wrong signals, I think.

Dennis is gone again. What a shame how much they wasted that wonderful actor and character. It was so nice to have that connection to the old days though they rarely had him do any reminiscing. The problem with his scheme with Julie to "make him homeless" so Rita would take him back in is that I think Dennis really does love Rita but Dennis being Dennis, he resorts to scheming and it backfires. Rita still has enough distrust in Dennis after being so hurt to have doubts once Norris brought up that little gem. She made him leave once and for all.

Andrea has been outed and Lloyd knows she's married. Or was. She's left that pathetic stalker-wannabe but Lloyd currently won't have her back. I don't know why Lloyd seems to be even more of a loser in love than some of the classic love-losers like Curly Watts or Steve McDonald. He really does seem to be a chump, doesn't he? Neil is sadly running around begging Andrea to come back and Lloyd to give her up. He really must have had his head in the sands of Dubai or wherever it is he goes away to work. Never had a clue she was bored, unhappy and felt trapped.


It's annoying to me that people trapped in an unhappy life like that continue to do nothing about it when there would be no real reason why they can't leave. Neil doesn't appear to be violent so she can't be scared of him that way. She also doesn't seem to have any friends at all aside from Steve. She did mention once that her friends are also Neil's and she didn't want to put them in the middle but really, it's just contrived so she'd be putting Steve in the middle between her and his best friend. Duh. This storyline really has turned into a cliche and I've gone off it and off Andrea now. Even if Lloyd ends up forgiving her and taking her back, he should never trust her again but he would, wouldn't he? Because that's what he does.

We lost Marcus, too. He finally saw the light and realized Todd was playing him the whole time. Todd's such a pathological liar. I think he even knows it but he can't seem to help himself. They wasted Marcus when they put him with Maria and I never bought that Marcus would fall for Todd. But it was contrived to give Charlie Condou his exit storyline. Don't you find that exit storylines end up being rather lame on the whole, general preceeded by a visit from a personality transplant fairy. In spite of the unbelievability of Marcus falling for Todd, I enjoyed it because even if it seems like a big personality change for Todd, he's turning into a really enjoyable bitchy character to watch. He's not evil, not like Tony Gordon, but he's nasty, manipulative and self serving and it's a hoot sometimes watching him play people. Frustrating that they continually let him get away with it though. Eileen keeps overlooking it because she doesn't want to lose him again? She'll only finally put her foot down if the actor wants to leave.

AT the moment, Todd is kind one dimensional. I hope they find something that can redeem him because if it keeps up like this, there might be no way back. You don't want to back a character into a corner. Even Tracy Barlow seems to be showing feelings for her family these days, albeit briefly.

State of the Street - June 2014

June started off in tragedy. Tina McIntyre was murdered good and properly by Rob Donovan. She survived a fall off the balcony over the builders' yard which she approached through a door in the flat. A door nobody ever knew existed. Never mind. Rob took an iron bar and bashed her over the head but when Leanne and Kal found her, she was still alive. Touch of the Terminator, was our Tina. I was hoping we wouldn't go for a rerun of Rob killing her in the hospital like Karl did Sunita. Surely they wouldn't be that stupid? They rerun a lot of similar storylines, but, no, Tina died of her injuries with Rob outside looking in. Rob is now a murderer and Marc Baylis' time on the show is officially limited. How long that will be is anyone's guess.

Carla was found looking over the balcony at Tina's body and nobody knew if she'd pushed her. She was certainly angry enough, having just heard that Tina and Peter had been having an affair since her and Peter's wedding day and she'd stormed over there vowing to kill her. Oops! But we veteran soap watchers know that the one that utters threats like that in public is never the one that did it. *Usually* it's a minor character and I was sure it was going to end up being Tony so kudos to the powers that be for having it be a main character, although the "Last one in, First one out" principle does apply here. Where this leaves Rob and Tracy is anyone's guess but it's always been unlikely that Tracy Barlow would have a happy ending. She's messed up too many other peoples' happy endings for that.

Rob is intent on placing the blame on Peter and it feels like Rob has almost convinced himself. Peter should take a lot of the blame for a lot of things...the affair, the drinking and all that stress that caused or contributed to Carla's miscarraige. Rob takes all that on board and that's become  his mantra. Peter's reeling around the neighbourhood, stinking of booze and trying to grovel to Carla. Good luck with that. Poor Simon. It's no wonder that child acts like a 6 year old with what he's had to deal with in his short life. But where was Leanne at the funeral? I can't believe she'd have let Simon go without her, his erstwhile mother, the mother that fought tooth and nail for him.

Another victim of all this is Steve. It's hit him hard because he knew about the affair and didn't tell but he was in a tough spot. He was told in confidence and Peter kept saying he was going to end it with Tina. Liz had a pretty good idea too but didn't come in for nearly as much flack from Michelle who walked out on Steve for a minute. I'm not going to go into how much I really feel these two never ever suited each other. I could go on for many pages so I won't.  It seemed to have sparked a mid life crisis in Steve who turned 40 at the end of the month. He recognizes that he always takes the easy way out and is somewhat of a coward. He's vowing to change. Time will tell.

One thing that really annoyed me is that we only got to see Tina's mother days after she died. Rita thought maybe someone should call her mother while they were holding vigil in the hospital. I would have thought the police would have done that straight away as her mother would be Tina's only next of kin so that was unbelievable. We know Tina has usually said she doesn't get on with her mother that well and that's ok, that solves the problem why mother wasn't around for most of the crises Tina's had but this time?

Legally, her mother had to be the one to make any medical decisions if Tina was unable. If they'd had to pull life support, even Rita would not be allowed to say one way or the other, not without her mother's consent. Plus all this would likely have been in the newspaper. If the police hadn't contacted her, surely she'd have seen it? And if she was out of the country, would it be so difficult to have a throwaway line from one of the characters to that effect? Doesn't work for me.

Anyway...On the other hand, a really wonderful development has seen Roy reaching out awkwardly to support Carla with his quiet dignity. No matter how often Peter came up against Roy while trying to get to Carla, even he doesn't have the heart to get in Roy's face. Roy just has so much dignity and he's not a fighter. That is pure Corrie gold.

Elsewhere, across the road, Anna finally told Owen what she'd done with Phelan to save her family. He was shocked, gutted and ran the other way, grateful he had a two week away job to go to. I wasn't sure if the time away would help him get his head around it or bring it to a festering rolling boil, knowing his temper. And that's what happened. He returned and was absolutely vile to her and then has the gall to say he *could* forgive her. If he hadn't treated her like something he scuffed off his shoe, Anna might not have kicked him out. I can't believe she let him back in the house just for Faye's sake. That kid is another one that's going to go off the rails anytime. She's already had one encounter with alcohol and let's not forget, she had an addict for a mother. That kind of thing has been proven to run in families, with a much higher risk of it coming out in the children of an addict.

It's a horrible situation to have been in and Anna really felt she had no choice after Owen nearly burned the building site and Gary was working up to another breakdown. It wasn't rape but it was an arguable near thing. I'm surprised we haven't seen Phelan again and I guess that's because it's not about him as such anymore, it's about the fallout. It still feels like he's not paid for being so nasty.

I always expected Phelan would end up dead. I suppose he still could but it's too close after Tina's murder so it isn't likely now. And in that case, if he had died a violent death, I would have guessed the "expendable crew member" would be his wife but we may never see that now. We have to see if Anna and Owen will break up and if so, will they find their way back to each other. Katy, who has always been daddy's very vocal little girl, says she understands but can't forgive either. Izzy has more maturity and is supportive of Anna. She probably doesn't agree with what Anna did either but seems to see both sides of it. This has really been a good storyline, for me. Lots of twists and turns and a most excellent actor playing the oily creepy Pat Phelan.

Maddie and Sophie have taken a back seat this month. Thank you Powers That Be. It's the only storyline that I've really not bought into though Amy Kelly playing Maddie is very good. I wish they hadn't thrown her and Sophie into a romance and rather had Sophie befriend Maddie and help her to her feet, much like Hayley did for Becky.

Sally and Tim, meanwhile, are a joy to watch and if Kevin ever comes back, I really hope they won't put him back with Sally. I think far too much time has passed and viewers also have got used to there being no Kevin in Sally's life. She's moved on with Tim and they are wonderful together. Kevin needs to move on with his.

Some fans have suggested Sally and Tim could be Stan and Hilda for the new millennium. While Tim has remnants of the workshy Stan, Sally really isn't in Hilda's league. Hilda was never as snobby and upwardly mobile wannabe as Sally. Hilda wanted better but she was never going to come near it. Sally, on the other hand, comes tantalizingly close but is her own worst enemy at times.

I think Steph is probably my favourite new character. She's daft and cheerful, loyal and good fun in the tradition of lots of Corrie young women like Gail (used to be), Suzi Birchall, Candice, Maxine, and even Rosie Webster. Eva is cut from the same cloth, too, somewhat but a few years older, and more jaded with life. Steph still thinks the world is her "Lobster" and is determined to live it fully. She's not had time and experience to become skeptical and downtrodden. She was gutted by Tina's death. They may only have known each other a few months but when  you live with someone, you do get to be close. I loved the little memorial that she and Luke and Katy had in the flat, sending messages to Tina by balloon.

That leaves us with Nick, Leanne and Kal. Now I always have felt that Leanne settled for Nick because she couldn't have Peter. She knew Nick loved her and had done so all his life so she knew he would treat her well. She probably had some unresolved baggage with him as well and she needed support and a step dad for Simon. She did love him in some ways but not with the lifelong passion and loyalty necessary and it wasn't five minutes after Nick made her leave that she'd taken up with Kal. Leanne can't be without a man in her life and Kal is the ideal rebound fella. It won't last because, as I said, she's rebounding.

We end the month with a new storyline for Gail. The man who tried to burgle her house (who didn't really get away with anything because Gail and Kylie scared him first), apparently went to prison. I don't know that worked because  someone like him who didn't actually take anything would never have got a prison sentence, and he wasn't in the nick for long, either. And the restorative justice thing? Again, I don't buy that it would have happened to a first timer like Michael who's main crime is that he's just a bit wet and pathetic, really. Gail is going to help him get back on his feet and knowing Gail, there will be a romance. Again, a wrong'un but that's our Gail. Michael should run for his life. Only one of her husbands got out alive.

And so it goes.

I don't buy it

Most of us know we have to suspend disbelief when watching television, soaps, dramas, you name it. Often things are a bit off the wall, over the top or just plain unbelievable at times. Some things are far too coincidental or contrived. You sometimes find yourself thinking "this would never happen".  But we watch because otherwise, the stories are good and the acting and writing (we hope) are top notch.

I do like to pick up on small inconsistencies, continuity stuff ups and things like that. It can annoy me but it can also be a bit fun finding where the writers obviously haven't talked to each other to coordinate what they've written. Every once in awhile, though, something occurs that really glares. It stands out like the proverbial sore thumb and it's hard to swallow. I've enjoyed the whole Tina/Peter/Carla storyline, all the twists, ups and downs. But this week, in the wake of Tina's death (pun intended), her mother, Ann, has finally shown up.

Wait. What?

Now, it's been mentioned before in the show that Tina doesn't really get on with her mother. We've rarely heard her mention her mother, even during the major crises in her life. Yet her mother told Rita that she spoke to Tina two months ago. Well. Ok. If you say so. The issue I really have is this: Tina was in a grave and critical state after her attack. The police were involved in an investigation. There's no way on earth they wouldn't have tracked down and contacted Tina's mother as her legal next of kin. Add to the fact that this would have been in the news and in the papers and her mother never showed up at the hospital? Nope. Don't buy it.

Rita did mention that someone should call Tina's mother and David said he thought Gail might have the number. And still she didn't appear. Would it have been so difficult to have a throwaway line from one of the characters to say Ann was out of the country or something? But no. And there was no explanation when she finally did show up. It all felt a bit like crocodile tears as a result, all that sentimental sobbing about a long labour and giving birth.


You can suspend disbelief but now and then the writers stretch credibility so far that it snaps like a rubber band in January.

I rest my case, Yer Honour.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

 Honestly? I feel a bit sorry for Steve at the moment. He dragged Peter out of a bar, discovering him drunk as a Lord. He tried to do a good thing, in his eyes, by taking Peter somewhere to sober up in hopes that it was a one off. Peter blabbed his secret. He's having an affair with Tina and now Steve is really in an awkward position.

Steve found out that his mate is cheating on Steve's girlfriend's best mate. Does he tell? Does he keep the secret and hope that Peter's promises to end the affair are not false hopes? He keeps the secret.

I know on the surface, it's going to look like "You men all stick together" but let's face it, we women all stick together, too. It's a tough spot to be in. You're placed in a position of confidence and it's just not the done thing to betray a confidence in most cases. You don't want to be the messenger that got killed for the bad news he imparts. You have to live a double life, knowing your partner is going to feel like you betrayed her trust by keeping the secret, too.

Steve McDonald is not really known for having the best judgement at the best of times. He's dropped himself in it more often than not and has had other's throw him under a bus, figuratively, as well. Heck, he's been in the same situation Peter's in. He had an affair on Michelle with Becky and Blanche knew about it, albeit by accidental discovery. Blanche didn't tell on him but that's probably only because she was able to wring free drinks out of him.

But to turn this around, think back to when Liam was married to Maria and having an affair with Carla. Michelle knew and never told Maria. At that time, she wasn't Carla's bezzie mate and was more a friend to Maria but still didn't spill the beans. Hypocrite, much? 


I'm not saying that Steve did the right thing not telling, I'm only saying I understand his position. If he'd told the truth as soon as he knew it, Peter and Carla's marraige would have been busted wide open but he gave Peter the benefit of the doubt at first. Peter didn't end up staying away from Tina and by then Steve had kept the secret too long. Plus, Steve was told in confidence and that's important stuff. He was damned if he did tell and damned when he didn't.

Now the truth is going to come out and Michelle is apparently going to walk out. Frankly, he's better off without her but that's another story.

State of the Street - May 2014

Maria seemed to be doing a good job is shoving that wedge in between Fiz and Tyrone. It's all about rebounding for her but poor, oblivious Tyrone didn't have a clue for the longest time even though Fiz's suspicions were raised early on in the month. But Maria couldn't leave it there. She'd sent one more text and Tyrone smashed his phone. The police are involved and it turns out Kirsty has left the building. er. country. Can she do that? I thought when you first got out of prison, you had to check in with a parole officer. Maybe not if you've served the whole sentence. And of course, she does have connections.

She manipulated and practically stalked Tyrone, showing up at the garage constantly and pouring poison into Fiz's ear, lying to Audrey and to Fiz that she and Tyrone were in love. All this time, David looked on bemused. That's kind of tacky, not saying anything to anyone but it's pretty normal stuff for David. And Fiz finally decided to call the texter's phone number.

I'm also surprised the police never phoned the number rather than just investigate it. Maybe they did but Maria didn't answer any unknown numbers. Also surprising that neither Fiz nor Tyrone never called it either. Fiz did the once when David heard her voice but she hung up. Anyway she did and Tyrone saw the phone and her name on it and the jig was up. Maria is finally busted and is scuttling off to Cypress to clear her head.

I liked this storyline though i know a lot didn't. It made sense that Maria went a bit doolally after all the men she's had that cheated on her or were murderers. Tyrone was the only one that treated her properly and she latched on to that. On the edges, Todd managed to get Marcus and flaunted him in front of Maria at every opportunity. Smarmy. Tosser. Petty. Mean. He deserved that smack Tyrone gave him (yes, normally violence is not the answer but it's television and didn't we all want to smack Todd soundly?) I'm pretty sure that now Todd has Marcus and proven his point, he won't want him. Marcus isn't the love of Todd's life, he was a game to Todd.

I'm also enjoying Anna and Owen's story but I do wonder what's happened to Phelan. I realize it's not really about him anymore, it's about Anna and Owen but it feels like he's been let off the hook. Anna finally told Owen the truth and he looked like he'd been kicked in the gut. He backed away from her and looked stunned. Even worse when he realized Phelan didn't force  her. Well, not physically at least. She did go willingly but it wasn't like she felt she had a choice. Owen pointed out that it was still her choice and they could have sorted it out but when you find your partner about to burn down the project and your son having a flashbacks and panic attacks, you might not feel like you have a choice.

And the biggest story of the month was the culmination of Peter's affair with Tina that ended in Tina near dead on the cobbles at the end of the month. Peter's rehab didn't last very long when he found out both Tina and Carla were pregnant. Tina wasn't, in the end, but it was enough to send him back to the bottle. He struggled with that the rest of the month, letting people down. Alison King and Chris Gascoyne were powerhouses. The scene where Carla attacked Peter when he missed the first scan because he was drunk made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. He couldn't keep away from Tina but he loves Carla the most and it's destroying him.

Tina guessed that Rob and Tracy were doing dodgey deals with Tony. It kind of surprised me that they would because Rob was so adamant that everything be legal because he really didn't want to go back to jail. The hair dryer scheme seemed to go ok and Rob first seemed to think that was pushing his luck and that was the end of it but  no, he got lured into more. Tracy egging him on didn't help, I suppose. Tina guessed the truth even without any real evidence but it would certainly be enough to get the police to investigate, at least. That threat and the fact that Tina and Peter were cheating behind Carla's back were enough for Rob to go after Tina.

The inital fall off the balcony was accidental. The iron bar to the back of the head was not. And still Tina lived and as we head into June, she's clinging to life, by a spider web of a thread. She must be part Terminator. We know it was Rob but Rob is trying to get Peter banged up for it and Carla's a suspect as well. Tina must have Peter's dna under her fingernails after scratching him. Roy overheard them arguing. Carla was seen on the balcony over Tina and had announced to the whole pub she was going to kill Tina. I know. It's just something you say but she was angry enough, in the eyes of the police. Peter had the opportunity before he went to the engagement party though timing-wise, if Tina had been on the street unconscious for that long, someone would have seen her. Surely the police can tell if the injury was from landing on the street or from a blunt object, though.

In time, of course, Rob's guilt will be revealed and we'll lose Marc Baylis, sadly. Rob has grown and in turn, has grown on me and I like him and the character. I won't be sad to see Tracy Barlow dumped again, though. I only hope she doesn't make another beeline for Steve again. That's done like dinner.

What's really interesting is watching Peter. As always, he makes all the excuses he can find to avoid really taking responsibility. He's weak. Tina chased him and he just couldn't resist. He drinks. He just can't change. The women he loves try but they just can't save him. He can't save himself either and in the end, he's a tragic figure. All the things he said to Carla when he was backed into a corner and confessed the affair were very similar to the kinds of things he said when he was juggling Shelly and Lucy and when he was cheating on Leanne. He tells them all what they want to hear and it's never the truth, or maybe it is in the moment he says it. Carla accused him of changing his mind to suit the situation and that's pretty accurate. Peter Barlow is one of the most flawed and interesting characters on television these days and a lot of that is down to Chris Gascoyne's talent.

In other news, Leanne and Kal have been circling each other all month. This is Kal's first involvement since his wife's death. Boy can he pick 'em! I bet he never thought he'd have to carry all Leanne's baggage. I could see this coming months ago but it's a really bad idea because of Nick's friendship with Kal. You have to wonder about Kal's common sense or lack thereof. He's made friends with Nick who confides in him and yet still follows through on his attraction to Leanne. Under other circumstances, I would like them as a couple but it's just too messy.

Lloyd had a heart attack during the charity run and that seems to have dropped into the Corrie closet. Aside from one time in the gym with Lloyd on a treadmill, surpervised by Andrea, we've really seen nor heard of it again and I'm sure like most medical issues, it will be swept under the carpet. I think it really wasn't about the heart attack. It was about creating more conflict between Jenna and Andrea and to make us realize that there's something going on with Andrea, some secret that's going to lead to Lloyd's already damaged heart getting broken again.

The fallout surrounding the end of Tina and Peter's story will play out in June. Everyone's a suspect. Owen is off to Aberdeen for a couple of weeks (the actor, along with Mikey North who plays Gary was touring in Canada). What's going to happen when he gets back? Is the family Windass irreperably shattered? Can Fiz and Tyrone put all their troubles behind them and finally be happy when Maria gets back? Kal and Leanne are trying to find the right time to tell Nick about their budding relationship. How badly is that going to put Nick's recovery back? Stay tuned for the next issue of State of the Street for June, next month.

Things I wonder about

So every now and then, I like to write down little thoughts, musing and random comments about Coronation Street.

What on earth does Marcus see in Todd? He's a sniveling toadie who used Marcus to prove a point. Now that he has him, he'll tire of him in weeks, leaving Marcus with nothing. 

If Adam Barlow was so ill that Ken has spent a year by his side, shouldn't something have been mentioned? Was he on his deathbed? Brain tumour and major operation recovery? I wonder if the writers will fill in some of the blanks when Ken returns. And since he was absent for a year, does William Roache still get to keep the Guinness record for longest continuous serving soap actor.

Like everyone else, I wonder if these tiny houses and flats are really TARDIS ships because most of them seem to be able to fit far more people inside than they actually have room for. When you see the size of a building like the Kabin and are told there are two flats over top. BOTH of them apparently having two bedrooms, then either the bedrooms are the size of closets or there's an invisible extra floor above. The flat over the Kabin also has at least two bedrooms and, I recall, a "Box" room was mentioned that was sometimes a third bedroom for a roommate or for little Liam. That building is also shared by Streetcars in the back and there's a 2 bedroom flat over that as well. In the real world, both of those buildings would only have room for one one-bedroom flat each. It's one of those times you really have to suspend disbelief but it's not always easy.

Some of the "old" houses do have a downstairs front room that is used as a bedroom (Eileen's house) sometimes. Upstairs, none of them have more than two bedrooms though Number 7 has 

After all these years, everyone that has their hair done at Audrey's still comes out looking exactly the same as they went in. Maybe that's ok if you're just going in for your weekly wash and set like Emily or having your roots done like Rita, but does nobody ever go in for a new look?

Does Aadi Alahan still play golf like a junior prodigy?

Where does Mary park the motorhome? It's only seen locally if it needs to be in the storyline. Surely it's illegal to be parked on the side of a street and living out of it on a full time basis? And where does everyone else park their cars when they're not needed for the storyline?

Has Phelan just dropped off the canvas altogether? It seems like there's unfinished business there. I really did think he was going to end up dead. He was just too nasty for him to leave abruptly like that. Ok, Owen and Gary are off the hook (because Anna had sex with me), See Ya Later Aligator. I suppose it just shifts to Owen and Anna now, with her dealing with what she'd done and the family buried under debt. Anna has finally told Owen the secret. If he thought their relationship was spiralling out of control before, watch this space. Maybe this will turn into a murder mystery yet. A real one.

The hype surrounding Tina's death wasn't a mystery at all, just a campaign to get people to watch on the night because we found out straight away it was Rob. Was it accidental? Kind of looked like it.

But I wondered why we've never ever known that the flat has a second exit, straight into the builder's yard office and upper balcony. I guess it makes sense that it might as it was always owned along with the yard even if rented out but it's never been seen or used on screen or even mentioned. That felt like a bit of a cheat but it did explain what Tina was doing on the balcony when none of the suspects had any connection with the yard. That's why I was convinced the killer would be Tony!

I did wonder if Maria still had Ozzy but there he was in the flat before Maria left for Cyprus.

Does the same child minder look after all of the babies on the street? (Lily, Hope, Ruby, Jake, Jack when he's not in Germany, Joseph).

I wonder how the gym is making any money. They only seem to have 2 cross trainers or treadmills at any given time as the scene requires, one bench, a few sets of free weights and one trainer. Lots of people walking back and forth, though. It's an odd location for a gym, too. It's across from the Victoria Court flats and not on a main road and is located in a small "back street" neighbourhood. Yes, i know, suspend disbelief, it's television. I can't help think the gym won't last any longer than Kal and Leanne's relationship.

What I'd love to see is Steve discovering he actually enjoys the gym. Or Lloyd who is going because he needs to get his heart back in shape. That won't last long and that will probably be another issue that is dropped and forgotten. We'll see Lloyd back in the pub drinking and having a crafty cig out back before long, mark my words. 

Speculating on Tina's demise

Everyone that's been paying any attention at all to the spoilers knows Tina's going to be murdered. It's going to happen the week of May 26 amid a bit "murder week" of episodes. Yeah, I hear you sigh, all the over the top publicity and sensationalism is tedious, right? Well yes, it is but that's just the way it is with telly these days. Coronation Street isn't the only one guilty of that.

Let's look past the sensational trumpeting. A young woman is going to die. We don't know how, yet and we don't know who is going to be the one that dunnit. The Powers That Be are touting different endings to try to fool the public (and probably to put on their website) but you can be sure that they have known all along who the culprit is going to be and the cast know as well. The rest of us have to guess and speculate.

Now most soap veterans can usually spot the one that's going to be the offender. Most often it's a spare character that isn't really meant to be long term. Remember Frank Foster's mother? If it is a major character and we know someone is leaving, that's the next likely suspect. The person arrested for the murder is almost never the one that did it. That's another Soap Law. In this case, to date, we don't know if anyone will be arrested or will confess (sometimes to cover for someone else they think has done it). We do know Chris Gascoyne is going to be leaving the show, at least for awhile. Hmmm....

But I don't think Peter Barlow has murder in him, not even when drunk. If it's going to be him, and I repeat, IF, (because I really don't know for sure) then I think it will be accidental. Even accidental death can put you in jail for manslaughter, and that will give the actor the "out" he wants and a chance to return, if he wants.

The other three front runners are Carla, Rob and Tracy. Of the three, Carla has the most motive should she discover the affair in time. Rob and Tracy? I can't see Rob doing it to defend Carla and though Tracy has form, what would her real motive be? Jealousy? Can't see that and she wouldn't kill on Peter's behalf. Accidental death could cover any of the potential suspects. One news article I ready also threw Michelle in there. Can't see that either.

In my heart, though, I'd really love it to be Tracy because then she'd be back in jail where she belongs! I know convicted criminals sometimes do get out of their sentences due to technicalities like she did but we all know she committed premeditated murder in cold blood. If it can't be Tracy, can it please be Michelle because she's getting up my nose, too. I hate how she's treating Steve! He doesn't deserve it (most of the time).

Nah. I'm kidding.

It's going to be Simon. Look at all he's been through in his young life! One more heartbreak and he's gonna snap! He adores Tina and if he overhears that she and his father had an affair causing his dad to go off the wagon, who knows how he'd react?