Apart from two minor technical boo-boo's, Corrie Live went without a hitch and the acting was superb, especially by Tina O'Brien, who for me, was the star of the show.
Tina looked genuinely frightened as she acted out Sarah-Lou's battle against Callum and thereafter, her acting never faltered. Paula Lane and Jack P Shepherd were also brilliant and kept the panic temperatures rising, as the three comprehended the fact that they had Callum's dead body on their hands.
Not one cast member slipped up, which for some of us out here, was a disappointment (every one secretly loves a 'How's Adam' moment, don't they!)
Where I'm praising the cast and crew for brilliant performances, I can't help but feel slightly let down by the actual plot of the Live.
We were given that fantastic trailer for 'Nowhere Left to Run' and I feel that the main action was over far too soon. The opening ten minutes were action packed, and brilliantly played, but the crescendo peaked too soon, for me. By the first commercial break, Callum was dead on the floor, and I feel that the struggle between him, Sarah-Lou, Kylie and David could have stretched out until at least the second ad-break, and then taking us into the shock, and finally, the concealment of the bad lads body.
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| Callum had the upper hand... |
The rest of it is all positive, because this Callum story is over in its first chapter, but the story to follow will break Sarah-Lou down (she's already in bits!), push Kylie and David to breaking point and possibly leave Gail sleeping above the Platt family nemesis' body!
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| Until Kylie walloped him for attacking Sarah... |
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| David and Kylie think the unthinkable... |
The Callum situation has bonded David, and his sometimes strained relationship with Sarah-Lou, so can it bind two families whose mothers have been warring for years on end?
The Tony and Todd stealing of the car was a little silly - I think Tony of the sort of guy who wouldn't joy-ride and blow his enemy's car up (not at least without him in it!) but it's also understandable that with a live episode and wanting to give an ensemble cast a little bit each of airtime, some scenes are 'fillers'. It also gave away the Platt's chance to remove Callum's body, directing the storyline into a more interesting territory.
I also wonder how Kylie, who is a strong soul, will cope with the fact that she's killed someone. And not just any 'someone', but someone she once loved, someone who's her sons dad, and someone who has been ruining her life over the last year? I think the third point will be the one to keep Kylie together. Now that Callum's gone, the terror is over. Isn't it?
Another main story of the night was Lloyd and Andrea's leaving do, which was another great way of making sure cast members not directly involved in the action were part of the live show. I was also a little confused after it was revealed a few days ago, that something would happen during the live, that meant Andrea and Lloyd reappeared in Friday's episode. But as far as I could see, they left pretty happily ever after. Lloyd's speech in the Rovers was lovely, and it seemed to come from Craig Charles' heart.
Then there was the reveal of Sally and Kev's illicit snog - thank you drunken Anna! Debbie Rush played her tipsy role very well, too, and is it just me, or can you also see a spark between Anna and Tim? I'm not sure if it's a romantic spark, or just one of a nice friendship, but I hope we see more, especially as they have Faye in common.
Sally was left as devastated as Tim by the revelation, and it looks at the moment like the wedding is off, off, off! Sal and Tim are a great comedy couple, so as much as I like the friendship between Tim and Anna, I do hope Sally gets her happy ever after too. The coupling works because they are actual polar opposites - who would have thought that Sally the Snob would be a match for laid back Tim? I think the relationship also works, because Sal's daughter, Sophie, and Tim are also on the same wavelength, and not afraid to call Sally out on her snobbery at times.
More importantly to some viewers, though, will be whether Tim and Kev's friendship will weather this storm? I love how the writers have made the Websters a fantastic modern family, with an ex-hubby becoming best mates with their ex's new hubby. It works. And for that, lets hope that Stim (or Tally!) make it!
The third major story which played out between Roy and Cathy gave the classic Corrie 'Aw' moment. Since Hayley's death, Roy has struggled, and when Cathy was introduced, the Corrie team were worried about how fans would react should she turn into a love interest.
It's been nice that the friendship has developed slowly, and crept up on us as much as it's crept up on Roy.
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| Happiness again for Roy and Cathy... |
He did, and as the two shared one of Rita's Rum Baba's (I need to try one of those myself!), they also decided it was time to make new memories of their own. And shared a little peck. Awwww, see!
Oh and for those whinging about Callum's corpse still breathing - he wasn't really dead in real life - Coronation Street is make believe!! (Who'd of thunk it!)
Well done Corrie team.
What did you make of the Corrie Live?
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