Missing: Fri Mar 12, 2010 Corrie Episode Review

Written by Jayne Hollinson (7:30) and Joe Turner (8:30), directed by David Kester

Peter’s on the phone with his solicitor trying to get to the bottom of this “residency” order that George has taken on Simon for temporary custody. Peter has to wait for the hearing, and then he has to contest it at that. Ken advises Peter to stay calm, or he’ll play right into George’s hands. Ken and Leanne try to assure Peter that they’ll get a good solicitor and that of course the judge will order Simon back to him. With all of George’s connections and wealth, Peter’s not so sure. Peter is even beginning to think George is right – maybe Simon would be better off without him. Ken takes this opportunity to say “I told ya so” about George.

After Ken and Deirdre leave, Leanne suspects that Peter is having booze cravings and tries to stop him from leaving the flat. Peter once again, insists he only wants “one drink” and leaves. We all know that there’s no such thing as ‘one drink’ for Peter Barlow. Leanne chases Peter into the street and accuses him of just finding excuses to drink telling him that he’ll have more excuses to after he loses Simon and she leaves him, which is what will happen if he drinks again. Peter breaks down in tears scared he’s going to lose Simon.

George and Eve take Simon to the aquarium in Blackpool that is playing some rather relaxing music. George and Eve get into an argument over Simon’s custody order, she doesn’t think George should try to take Simon’s father from him since he’s already lost his mother. Why didn’t she voice these concerns earlier? Simon overhears George tell Eve that he’s not going back to Peter. Simon asks George why he can’t go back to his dad’s – but George lies to him. Simon insists he wants to see Leanne and Daddy again. Eve tells George to think it through, and he says he wasn’t there for Lucy, and he will be for Simon. Life doesn’t come with erasers, George.

Eve insists that they should take Simon back – now, but George says “no.” George tells Eve that he’s taking Simon to Berkshire whether she comes or not. Eve can’t believe he’d actually wreck their marriage over this, and tells George she’s taking him back. As they’re arguing, they don’t noticed that Simon has run off. After doing a brief search and not finding him Eve thinks they should call the police, but George says no. Finally, they decide to ring the police, but George doesn’t want to call Peter.

At the bookie’s flat, Peter’s phone rings and it’s Eve. Peter is clearly shocked to hear that they’ve lost his son in Blackpool. Peter tells Leanne that if anything has happened to Simon, he’s going to kill George, and we believe it. Leanne and Peter head to Blackpool where currently poor little Simon is cold, scared and sobbing sat beneath an empty kiosk in the dark, alone. It’s enough to make the blood drain from your face. Janice lets Ken and Deirdre know, and they head out.

Eve tells George she’s phoned Peter and he’s on his way, and George isn’t happy about it. George finally admits that he’s made a mess of this and can’t believe what he’s done. Peter and Leanne arrive, and talk to the police about finding Simon, and give them his photos. George apologizes to Ken and Deirdre also. Peter is terrified as to what is happening with Simon at that very moment. This is a parent’s absolute nightmare. The ladies return to their accommodations, and the men (including George) stay out to look for Simon. Oh, poor Simon!

Tina has taken her mourning to Roy’s Rolls Cafe and John keeps her teas on refill. He gets a call from for an interview for that teaching job, and lies to Fiz about where he’s going. At the interview, John is more nervous than a hooker in church, but can relax after the interviewer tells John that he’s desperate. The interviewer asks John to tell him all about himself – warts and all. Oh, John’s hands aren’t too hairy to hide yet. John lies that he stopped working at Weatherfield Comprehensive because he needed to take some time out travelling. The interviewer tells him the job is his, and asks if he can start a week Monday. I don’t know why he’s lying to Fiz about going for this job. John sets the table for Fiz and tells her about his teaching job – with adults, two evenings a week. When she realizes that John didn’t tell them about his criminal record, she’s displeased. Fiz asks him what he’ll do if they check his record? She finally decides this is good news, and give him a kiss.

Molly sees Fiz on the street and tries to get chummy with her, only Fiz is confused and dismisses Molly’s friendliness. Were they ever friends? How strange. Molly also seems shocked at this dismissal. How much has she lost because of “Molvin” now? Aunty Pam arrives at Molly’s flat to find her sobbing. Yes, Aunty Pam is back! Go Team Pam! Molly tells Aunty Pam how everyone loves Tyrone, and hates her for leaving him. She’s pretty much right. Just imagine if they knew WHY. Molly still cannot get it through her thick head that Kevin is married, and isn’t going to leave his wife for her. Molly says that seeing Kevin everyday is like torture so Pam suggests she move somewhere new. If Kevin was the highlight of Molly’s life – I really feel sorry for her.

Gail tells Audrey that Tina’s upset again after their visit to the undertaker, but feels as though she has to be strong for Tina. Audrey suggests that Gail get away for a bit after the funeral. Gail figures she can go see Ted, since he’s still poorly with the flu (wondering where he was). Audrey think she’s best to go to Milan to stay with Sarah for a while. Gail thinks this is a good idea.

Tina sees the detectives at the medical centre and can’t understand why they’re still trying to dig up dirt on her dad. The detectives think that Gail must have resented Joe for showing her up in front of her colleagues after the whole breaking-into-the-medical centre fiasco. They clearly don’t know Gail well if they think she’s the type to be embarrassed or care what people think. She’s not exactly Sally Webster. Uh oh, here comes that call from that couple at the lake telling the police they witnessed the McIntyre’s fighting the night of Joe’s death. Now that they’ve told the police that Gail was on the boat too, it completely contradicts what Gail told them making things even more sinister seeming on Gail’s part.

The detectives question the couple from the lake, who confirm the facts – they saw the McIntyres fighting on the boat. They figure that Joe could have been knocking Gail about. Does Gail just have that “victim” look about her that makes people think this? If Gail were in the room, she’d have informed the couple that Joe was a “good man” end of.

Tina discovers that Gail is going on holiday to Milan after the funeral, and thinks it’s a strange time to take a holiday. Gail tells Tina how she couldn’t be able to speak at the funeral. Gail asks “what’s the worst that couple happen” just as the doorbell rings. It’s the detectives, of course, and they want to speak to Gail alone, but Gail doesn’t mind Tina being there. The detectives tell Gail about the eye-witnesses coming forward, and Gail agrees that she was on the boat fighting with him, trying to make him stay. Gail is adamant that she wasn’t on the boat when Joe sailed out, but Tina (and the detectives) look thoughtful.

After the detectives leave, Tina questions Gail herself. She wants to know what really happened. Gail says she’d never hide anything from Tina. Except for the whole birthday text message thing, right? Tina accuses Gail of playing games with her and the police, when her dad’s dead. Tina tells Gail to stay away from Joe’s funeral, since she doesn’t want her there. Oh man, poor Gail.

Kelly pretends that she’s lost an earring and asks Carla if she can have the keys to lock up after she finds it. Carla gives her the keys, against her better judgement, since she’s later for a very important date. She makes her way into Carla’s office, only to stare blank-faced at the computer screen. Kelly calls NuNick for help, explaining that she doesn’t “do” computers.

On Carla’s date, they have a drink in the Rovers. Trevor tells Carla he’s a bin man after she asks what he does and the look on her face is pricelessly snobby, he laughs when he sees it. As though he gets that look “all the time.” Carla tries to assure Trevor she’s not a snob. Pffft. Trevor surprises Carla with dinner. Trevor thinks that Carla is ashamed of him, since he’s a binman, which she disputes that she isn’t. I’m sure she could care less about what people on Coronation Street think of her being with a binman. Just then, NuNick bumps into them and asks who Trevor is. NuNick is just dwarfed by Trevor! Saved by the twat was Kelly as Carla decides to proudly take Trevor straight into the Rovers on her arm, and not back to the factory to check up that she locked the place sound.

NuNick finally arrives and gets the information he needs off of Carla’s computer. He tells Kelly to get back to hers and he’ll meet her with a bottle of bubbly. NuNick has some errands to run first. He slides in next to Carla at the Rovers while Trevor is MIA, and tells her that she needs to get Tony to sell his shares of the factory to him and he’ll guarantee to bring in a client list of orders worth over a hundred grand. Carla is really enjoying herself with Trevor, and vice versa. It must be nice to date a “normal guy” after Tony.

HIGHLIGHTS
- Leanne’s persuasive speech in getting Peter not to enter the Rovers and have “one drink.”
- Carla trying to tell Trevor that she isn’t a snob. She’s not really, she’s more just a rotten b*tch with a superiority complex. Oh, is that the same thing? This was akin to Norris telling folk he didn’t gossip.
- I know everyone already thinks that Trevor is hunky and all, but has anyone noticed what nice eyes he has? What, they’re nice.
- Aunty Pam is back! Finally, we can resume “Team Pam”

LOWLIGHTS
- Eve thinking that Simon should be with Peter is all well and good, but why didn’t she voice this sooner? It’s all a little Johnny-come-lately if you ask me.
- Ken taking the opportunity to say “I told ya so” to Peter. Oh really Ken, grow up!
- Peter wanting to have “one drink” again. Seriously!?
- John’s whole “getting a teaching job” storyline. He and the storyline bore me to tears.
- John telling Fiz how when he got hired for the teaching job, as for a moment “all the Rosie stuff” just went away. Gee, I wonder if his teenage victim feels the same way.
- Deirdre pointing out the fact that Simon could have gotten snatched. Well, duh, that’s why they’re worried for him. Not because it’s getting dark and they’re not certain he’ll be able to start a fire on his own.
- Aunty Pam having to tell Molly for the umpteenth time that it’s OVER between her and Kevin. Girl is as thick as she is young!

Overall Episode Rating: 6/10
Drama: 8/10, Humour: 5/10, Classic Corrie: 5/10, Wow Factor: 7/10