Sunita Redeemed

Miss a few episodes and all hell breaks loose! We returned to two weeks of Corrie recorded, so feasted on two or three episodes a night to get caught up. The scene for me, from this week, was Dev and Jason deciding which of them would confront Karl. The big story of the week, of course, was the downfall of Karl. And that also meant, at last, Sunita redeemed.

The long scene where Craig tells his story was brilliantly done. From the first part, where Beth literally hauls Craig to Dev’s shop, through to her realization that the situation is much more serious than him stealing sweets or Dev maligning her child. Then to Beth and Dev listening with horror as Craig tells all.

When Jason comes in and Dev says “we’ve got him,” both are quietly pleased that they were vindicated in their suspicions. Jason wants to head to the registry office and save Stella. He was involved with her, he tells Dev.

Dev quietly trumps that card: “And Sunita was the mother of my children.” Both men showed the strength of their dignity and sorrow in this scene, with neither flailing about nor shouting.

Stella needs rescue

Eventually, both do ride to Stella’s rescue. And she needs it. One of those police officers ought to suggest a refresher course to her on how to get out of your own premises in a hurry.

During the fire, she was unable to open the upstairs window either by unlocking and lifting it or by breaking it. This time, trying to get out the front door, she pounded at the glass right beside the lock. A quick turn of that knob and she’d have been outside.

Somehow the finale of the story was unsatisfying. I don’t know exactly why or how. That Dev, regaining consciousness after the blow to his head, sent a text to Jason – even signing it – seemed odd. Wouldn’t a 999 call be more likely? And we didn’t see Craig again after the detective took him in to give his statement. It really was Craig’s story. And presumably it was what he said that caused the police to arrive at the pub. Even a moment in the interview room with the detective realizing his story was credible would have been enough. 

It also was Karl’s story. Perhaps another moment in the cellar when he realizes he has no choice but to give himself up would have explained to us why exactly he chose to come outside.

I am sorry to lose Karl. He played a wonderful villain. But he would have been an excellent long-term layabout in the tradition of Stan Ogden and Jack Duckworth. We have had a lot of villains in recent years and not so many of the classic Corrie idlers. I think Karl could have become one of the greats.

Karl Cam

My favourite camera shots ever were at the end of last week: first Karl then Gloria looming into the faces of the two unlikeliest school “bullies” in the world. I was delighted that Corrie Canuck made a “Karl cam.” For reasons unknown to me, CBC’s online episode cut the final moment that had Gloria frightening the children. What, another programme is going to start?

In other stories

Nice to see Ozzy the dog have a star turn in Audrey’s story of being a houseguest, a very welcome guest for Ozzy and Liam, not so much for Maria and Marcus. Ozzy also came to Max’s birthday party. It seemed to me the fastest way to get Max out of his sulks would have been to take Ozzy upstairs to him.

Also, Hayley and Roy’s story has been painfully wonderful and wonderfully painful.