Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Spells &amp; Karma" data-source="post: 391122" data-attributes="member: 23">Episodes 301 - 305 16 -30 September 1985 continued On the subject of dregs, life at Number Seven has become less than scintillating post-Kate. Pat and Terry have secured a bank loan for £2000 to buy a vehicle for their “man with a van” business. Cue lots of scenes of them grinning and celebrating. In the house itself, Terry has objected to Sandra smoking in the house. It’s not a bad written sequence with some comedy (Terry retrieves a cigarette butt from the toilet, and he and Pat sprinkle the tobacco from it into Sandra’s dinner), some conflict (Sandra furiously evicts Pat from their bedroom and he blames Terry for starting the ball rolling) and even about the only reference to the siege in this run where  Pat would prefer to sleep on the sofa than in Kate’s room. Jimmy McGovern also nails Terry’s somewhat parasitic nature when Sandra wails that they’ve taken in this waif from the street and now he’s complaining about a few dog ends. Unfortunately, it’s mostly ruined by the one-note performances. Terry and Pat in particular just feel forced as the “new best-friends-stroke-Laurel-and-Hardy-of-the-Close”. There’s even a scene where Pat says something about Terry opening his big mouth which, with David Easter’s delivery is all but him saying “that’s another fine mess you’ve got us into”. Unfortunately, it feels to raise a smile because it feels as though it’s trying too hard to be funny. And because it lacks any reality or depth, it also doesn’t work as drama.Harry’s had shades of light and dark in these episodes and all have worked far better. The drama has come from Ralph’s confession that Edna’s ring wasn’t buried with her as Harry had wanted. Actually, it’s less dramatic than it is poignant. Harry gives almost a non-reaction where he assures Ralph that he knows he would have done his best, and it’s all the better for it. There was a lighter moment when he settled his bill with Annabelle and refused her invoice, telling her he insisted on seeing her right and that we would refuse to take any change as she’s worked so hard… before handing her an envelope containing £25. It’s a relatable dilemma, because of the etiquette involved, and I found myself pondering what I would do. I decided I’d probably end up taking the loss, just as poor Annabelle did. The arrival of the Corkhills as the current “second” family of the series has also got me thinking how well the writing around the Collinses has adapted to them practically being empty nesters. This run of episodes has given Jim Wiggins some of his best dramatic work for some time, as the VJ Day reunion has invoked him to confess to Annabelle a wartime incident when he froze during action, but ended up taking the credit for a shot someone else had fired at a sniper. And while I don’t relate to the situation, the strong writing makes this ultimately about imposter syndrome which I think is something to which almost anyone can relate. Better still, Paul being so hard on himself has given him pause for thought around his treatment of Gordon which he now feels is harsh and unfair. And while it’s tinged with regret, Annabelle brings an instant solution with the suggestion that they visit Gordon and Lucy in France. It’s a scene that shows so much care between these two, and reminds me how great they can be when utilised properly. Incidentally, I did notice a photo of Gordon on the mantelpiece during one of these scenes. I wonder how much longer it will be there. And this just leaves Heather… currently involved in a creepy phone call situation. It seems connected with the intrusion from journalists over a known issue with a component of Tom’s products (which goes way back), but this is soap so I feel there’s got to be something more personal behind it. Oh Lord - please don’t tell me it’s Tom doing this. She hasn’t had one of her calls while he was present, and I absolutely love watching these two as a couple. While I do know that there’s an end date on Tom and Heather’s relationship, I still remember nothing of the character from previous watches so I really have no idea how it all takes shape. Which is very exciting indeed.</blockquote>

Verification: 6 + 4 =

Poison your name this Hallowe'en

There's plenty of time to choose your spooky October username

Click here for more details

Reply to thread