May 19, 2020 – The Soap Dish

(Monday 4^th – Monday 18^th May 2020)

Again, apologies for taking so long to update my Emmerdale blog! No excuses!

So, the ongoing feud between Arthur and Archie came to a head at Rishi’s 70^th birthday when the whole family (including Jimmy, Nicola and the kids for some reason) had a camping event in the garden. Now, don’t get me wrong, I adore Laurel and I think she’s an amazing Mum, especially with everything she has been through, losing Ashely the way she did and everything. I have never been able to fault her or her love for her kids. But the way she has pushed Arthur away recently has been so sad to watch. This kid has behaved atrociously. He’s been a serious bully towards a smaller, vulnerable child. But he owned up to it and he asked for help. Since then, it’s like Laurel doesn’t like him anymore and is completely favouring Archie. The whole reason this started was because Arthur felt shut out and pushed aside. So how is deliberately pushing her son away ever going to help the situation? Arthur needs love and compassion and care right now, not the hard line.

So, after a day of being shut out and pushed away and treated like an outsider and still having the situation with the cabinet and the football tackle where Archie lied about him, playing on his mind, Arthur wound Archie up about starting the campfire they were told not to touch. Of course, it got out of hand and nearly set the tent alight that little Dotty was sleeping in and everything got very intense very quickly. Arthur got into serious trouble, to the point that Laurel contacted the police to frighten him and it was only Gabby that really took the time to listen to him properly and believe that Archie has been telling lies and giving it back to him since the truth all came tumbling out.

Laurel calls the police on her son…
(photo credit: Digital Spy)

Thankfully, when the police were called, Archie did actually confess to the lies he has told but I worry that the damage has been done to Arthur and Laurel’s relationship. And it really is sad because they were so close and he was the glue that held that family together when they lost Ashley. They have found a genuine little star in Alfie Clarke, who plays him. He’s so earnest and so engaging. Even when he is doing the wrong thing, you can’t help but want the best for him.

Now, I was hoping we had reached the end of ‘Emmerdale goes Gangsta’ as Cain and Billy went out on their ‘job’ for Malone but sadly, it doesn’t seem to be the case. On their way back, they were stopped by the police but thanks to Will managing to send Dawn out to collect the drugs, the police found nothing in the car. Of course, this has major consequences as a) Dawn and Harriet were furious to finally discover what has been going on and b) Malone easily worked out that Will warned the boys and therefore had him beaten to a pulp. Ouchy.

It was left to Harriet to send Malone packing. Well, if only they’d let her in on it at the beginning, we’d have all been saved a lot of hassle. Well, I say that, by Monday of this week, it became crystal clear that the history between them was ready to come rushing to the surface, so to speak. In a move that makes no sense whatsoever, Harriet ended up bedding Malone in the church. So, she’s mad at Will because he is liar and a criminal but this is something that turns her on in Malone? Right. Okay. That must follow someone’s logic somewhere but it’s missed me completely. But that aside, the bad news is that the boring plot is clearly going to continue forevermore.

Harriet gets up to no good with Malone…
(photo credit: Digital Spy)

In a more engaging plot, hopefully, Charity and Vanessa have turned a corner at last. When Tracy discovered that Vanessa has overthrown both her and Charity and chosen Rhona to be Johnny’s legal guardian if the worst happens, she royally kicked off and couldn’t understand why Charity wasn’t doing the same. But Charity just seemed uncharacteristically numb until she finally burst out that the reason she hesitated was because she couldn’t bear to consider the idea that Vanessa might die; it was nothing to do with not wanting Johnny. She loves him and considers him to be her child. After a night of not speaking and both of them feeling bad, Rhona looked set to knock their heads together and they set about planning for Charity to adopt Johnny.

Unfortunately, while Sarah brought Diane round to give Vanessa support over suffering with cancer, having survived it twice, Charity hit a snag over the adoption. She can only adopt Johnny with Kirin’s permission and Kirin hasn’t been seen for years, having run off to South America after knocking down Pierce’s wife Tess and killing her. She tried and failed to get information from Priya, who doesn’t know anything. Then Charity opted to lie to Vanessa about her progress, not wanting to disappoint her, although Rhona caught her out, claiming her pants were practically on fire! Charity looked into a private detective to help. I’m intrigued as to where this story is going.

Charity is desperate to track down Kirin…
(photo credit: Digital Spy)

In other storylines: Chas supported Paddy over his anxiety regarding Eve, Andrea fought for Jamie, Victoria took a job as Head Chef at the Outdoor Pursuits Centre, Jai caught Al and Priya at it, Cain and Moira began to settle their separation/divorce, Leanna was a brat, Vinny turned out to have a lovely singing voice and why have I never noticed how cute Kyle is before?

I’m not sure Cain and Moira will ever be truly over…
(photo credit: Digital Spy)

Emmerdale plans to resume filming in June

For now, it airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV1 at 7pm

(Monday 4^th – Monday 18^th May 2020)

Many apologies for the lack of update on Corrie. I have no excuse. I mean, I haven’t exactly been out gallivanting! Emmerdale, Home and Away and Neighbours will follow shortly.

So, we continued to witness Yasmeen’s utter trauma in the wake of stabbing Geoff as Monday 4th’s episode opened. In state of shock, she hardly knew what to do but did eventually do the right thing and call 999. Convinced Geoff was already dead, she didn’t even know what service she needed and brokenly told the operator that she had killed her husband.

The locals in the pub were pulled away from their gossiping when two police cars and an ambulance flew into the Street, straight over to Yasmeen’s. It seems clear to me that Eileen and Peter had been quite troubled by the evening’s events, something not quite sitting well with them about Geoff and Yasmeen’s behaviour that they couldn’t quite put their finger on. However, Cathy and Brian should, quite frankly, be ashamed of themselves. Even after Geoff was taken to hospital and Yasmeen was arrested (by the kindest policewoman ever), they gave a really unhelpful representation to the police about Yasmeen and her relationship with Geoff.

Fragile Yasmeen attempts to explain what happened…
(photo credit: Digital Spy)

Tim was devastated over what has happened to his Dad and cannot understand why Yasmeen would have attacked him. While he kept a vigil by his bedside (at this point it was touch and go as to whether he would survive or not), Sally was also puzzled as to what has been going on. I’m pretty sure she has been puzzled for a while, again, not quite able to put her finger on what was wrong.

Meanwhile, at the police station, the police took the awful red dress from Yasmeen and gave her a tracksuit to wear. And I’ve never been happier to see Imran before in my life! Ryan had contacted Alya to call her home and also sent Imran over to the station to represent Yasmeen, who panicked that she couldn’t pay him. He was so gentle and so kind to her, reassuring her about the money and begging her to be careful about what she said to the police to not get herself into further trouble. He was exactly what she needed. I am so desperately worried about Yasmeen now. My only hope is that she phoned the police on Geoff’s phone because of course he had confiscated hers so perhaps they will have to take that into evidence and they will discover the evidence of abuse on it…

Yasmeen continues to suffer…
(photo credit: Digital Spy)

While Yasmeen suffered terribly in her cell, trying to clean it after the months of control and abuse from Geoff, SOCO examined the crime scene at the house, unaware that they were being filmed by Geoff’s secret camera. Tim and Sally kept a vigil by Geoff’s bed but when he woke up, claiming that Yasmeen tried to kill him, it was clear that Sally was troubled by his version of events. When Alya turned up, having first tried and failed to see her Gran, insisting that Geoff is a liar and an abuser, I am certain that Sally was wavering in her commitment to Geoff. Please follow your instincts, Sally!

Geoff lies, physically and verbally in his hospital bed…
(photo credit: Digital Spy)

Geoff claimed that they were arguing about her drinking. Yasmeen hit him and he has no idea why she stabbed him but that she has hit him a couple of times before. At the station, Yasmeen was still clearly in shock. She was desperately worried about Geoff (even after everything) and begged to see him (no!). She struggled to explain what happened except that Geoff had a knife. Thankfully, the police officer seemed to be beginning to piece things together and questioned Geoff not only about Yasmeen but also about his ‘violent’ ex, with whom there was the pub incident and also about his ‘violent’ ex, Tim’s Mum. Interesting that he has had so many violent exes with drink problems. Unfortunately, Yasmeen is unable to give her enough to prevent her charging her with attempted murder and the judge refused bail. Honestly, this is more upsetting than that time Diedre went to prison!

While the locals all tried to get their heads around what happened and Yasmeen’s friends begin to realise the truth, Alya made no secret of the abuse Yasmeen has endured and the way people have let her down. Roy has to break up a row between her and Tim in the café. But let’s take a moment to praise Evelyn and Rita who can clearly see though Geoff and know that Yasmeen must have been pushed to the brink to do what she did. If anyone thought this was going to be the climax of the story, they were wrong; I think we are just at the beginning of a long, heartbreaking road.

Evelyn knows exactly what kind of man Geoff is…
(photo credit: Digital Spy)

Meanwhile, Oliver was rushed to hospital with another seizure and then again with a third, this time landing him in intensive care. While most of the family are sure that he must have epilepsy, it turned out he has a condition called Mitochondrial Disease. So, I went against the Doctor’s advice and Googled and this is going to be a seriously heartbreaking story. Be warned.

Leanne and Steve attempt to wrap their heads around Oliver’s diagnosis…
(photo credit: Digital Spy)

While Ed and Michael endured those kind of ‘backhanded’ racist comments as they completed the building work at The Bistro (Danny has moved down south for a new job), Tim had to intervene when James was the victim of homophobia. So, not a great day for the Baileys. Not a great day for society, really.

Ed and his family are due some difficult times…
(photo credit: Digital Spy)

In other storylines: Nina protected Asha from bullies and attempted to show her how beautiful she is – I think this could be a really lovely direction for both these characters; Gary persuaded Paul to allow Kelly to continue living with him, Billy and Summer despite her awful behaviour; David continued his reckless behaviour and let Max down; Craig very sweetly reached out to David; Chesney took Gemma to a post-natal depression group, making her realise that she isn’t alone and finally; Evelyn and Arthur went on a date.

Coronation Street plans to resume filming in June

For now, it will air on ITV on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:30pm