Coronation Street: Discussion Thread

[Bright Eyes]

Well Slyph, obviously you suck at searching on YouTube. Here's Part 1, the rest are easy to find. Now that it's been brought up, maybe I'll take a second look see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJQNGjfB3KU&feature=player_embedded

Edited February 17, 2011 by Amello

[DRW50]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/3427774/Jim-McDonalds-armed-bank-raid.html

[Sylph]

Thank you, Amello!

<span style="font-size:9pt;">If you could suggest or if you know where to find the original 1971, 5-season Upstairs, Downstairs, let me know. I'd like to revisit it.</span>

[Bright Eyes]

You're welcome. I never heard about Upstairs, Downstairs until recently but if I do ever come across it I will be sure to inform you.

[Ben]

Carl, here's my requested thoughts.

I'm still not watching every episode, but there are definite positive changes that have taken place over the last few months. I love that they're committed to playing every beat to a story, and not just letting (most) things slide, or fizzle out, and moving quickly on to the next big plot. But, this is also part of the reason why I'm still not liking the show - they're still playing out the same storylines from last year, the very same ones that were part of the problem.

Day-to-day eps now feel and look much better, not messy or disjointed; Storylines flow naturally along - the one thing that EE sadly suck at.

There is still a certain dullness about a lot of characters, and a lack of varying archetypes, too. I'm hoping that now the horrendous Nick/Leanne/Peter/Carla quad is over, that all those characters can move into new stories that develop their positive qualities (I'd love to see the back of Nick for good, but unfortunately, that's not going to happen). David & Kylie are actually a good pairing, and I like that they're going to be filming in London for some special Easter episodes that will include returnees Jamie, Violet and Todd (3 characters I liked). I also liked James (Ken's grandson), and will happy to see him return that will hopefully conclude his very rushed story from last year.

But, there are a load of characters that have no direction, like Sophie & Sian - as a couple, they're never developed, Mary (who is really pointless), Julie, Tyrone, Kirk, Izzy & Gary, Chris & Maria (who has taken over Michelle's story w/ Frank), Tracy still doesn't serve much of a point, and Becky has been ruined.

Owen's a bit more tolerable since he's shown how manipulative and scheming he can be. I like Xin from what I've seen; it's nice seeing Tina interact with a female friend.

The farcical John plot still continues plodding along, now with Fiz at the deception helm. *Yawn* Why can't they just put this story out of its misery?

[DRW50]

I will be happy to see Todd again but his return story sounds...odd, from the spoilers. Collinson seems to like to try wacky comedy but I don't know if it's ever worked (I am still confused as to why they had Sally get together with her daughter's pornographer).

It will be nice to see Violet again, to make up for her exit story.

I was wondering what you thought of the world's most lackadaisal attempted rape. Why they would give this story to Maria I don't know, as Samia Smith can't do terror or drama (she is much better at breezy comedy and one-liners, or was, when the show gave her that). They apparently planned to do this story with Michelle but that also makes no sense to me because why would you give this type of story to a pregnant actress who lost a baby a few years ago? The whole story is so rushed and as with a lot of the show now I think it lacks energy.

I don't think Peter/Leanne will last long. The show choosing to reunite them the very same week they split up and have them deal with none of their issues seems telling. I just don't know what the options are. Carla/Peter probably, but I have never believed she loves him and it just seems like a lot of melodrama lifted from a 1943 women's picture.

[Ben]

I didn't see it. But I've read similar thoughts to your own. I think they had this story in mind for Michelle before they found out she was pregnant. But, Kym Marsh took early maternity leave, so they handed it all over to Maria. If KM hadn't, they probably would've discussed it with her, and went from there; I don't see how that's a problem though, considering many actors have to act out scenes that may be too close to home in some way - just look at B&B giving Hunter Tylo the grieving mother story after her own son had died! Maria was the only logical solution, whether she's right for the part or not. I also think this shows how Michelle isn't needed, as they have Maria to play out Michelle-esque stories/scenes. So, why keep her Michelle on? Now that makes no sense to me.

I thought it was weird that they reunited them in the same ep. I don't see any chemistry in Peter/Carla, and I don't buy any of that relationship, especially the love angle.

I don't know why they didn't use Dr. Oliver as Sally's love interest, as she didn't necessarily have to be his patient.

[DRW50]

I think that it would have been better if the show hadn't given Kym Marsh any dramatic material during her pregnancy. (Frankly I wouldn't give her any dramatic material ever, since she can't act, but that's something else entirely).

I'm not entirely sure whether this story would have worked for anyone, but it makes no sense to me with Michelle or with Maria. It seems even more bizarre with Maria because they casually trashed many years of friendship between Maria and Audrey.

This seems like generic woman in peril, with a large dollop of "she was asking for it," which is sad. I still don't understand why Collinson has such a need to degrade female characters. But at the very least give the story to someone who can act.

[DRW50]

I wonder if they are even going to use the doctor.

I think they wanted everyone to be shocked and amused that Sally was dating her daughter's pornographer, but I thought it made Sally look like a terrible mother and also made a joke of any idea that she was somehow "stronger" without Kevin. Strong doesn't = being with a man who lied to you and tried to get your daughter to get a boob job.

They always seem to want us to laugh at Rosie whether it's actually funny or not. Half the time they just have her yell her lines. The only one at this point in the family I find believable is Sophie, mostly because she's the only one they haven't turned into a ha ha shoutfest.

[DRW50]

Chris Fountain sucks in his stomach for a photoshoot.

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Meanwhile, Helen Flanagan is taking a break for 3 months but getting her own webseries as Rosie tries to become the new Katie Price (so sick of that story).

[All My Shadows]

Chris Fountain was so, so pretty on Hollyoaks circa 2006-2007. Now he just looks tired and sad.

[DRW50]

I think it's bad marketing. He's attractive to a different group now. He's cuddly - there's nothing wrong with that. He's just not this ripped guy they keep selling him as, and he's also not any type of "jack the lad" heartbreaker either. The fact that Corrie is

tells me they are going to fail him as they have failed every single new character they have created in the last two years.

[Bright Eyes]

Like Emmerdale did James Sutton?

[DRW50]

Probably, yes. Emmerdale at least had a few promising new characters. Corrie has had none. What baffles me is that when I see some fans at DS talk about new characters they're almost rattled off like a list, oh, just wait until _____ and ______ and ______ comes along. That kind of underscores how thin and ultimately irrelevant most of the new characters are. I'm still surprised sometimes at just how lethargically written most of their stories are and what transparent plot devices they are. The show did not even try to make any effort with the wretched Kylie or Xin, or the sleep-inducing "villains" Owen and Frank.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

I hate Becky. This character has really gone done the shitter over the years.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3/coronation-street/scoop/a310071/corrie-vid-becky-forces-liz-out-of-the-pub.html