Sunday, September 23, 2012

The Big Easy: Phil's Secret

From Phil to Sharon:-



OK, so we know that Phil and Sharon are going to get "engaged," and rumour has it that the fake "engagement" is going to turn out to be real. And we also know that Phil is harbouring a big secret from Sharon, which we all know is the "part he played" in Dennis's death.

Well, let's look at the part Phil played. For those of you who don't remember, here's Dennis Rickman's last day on the Square (and in life):-











Now ... didja watch all that? More important, did you listen to it?

First of all, the Sharon and Dennis scenes ... notice anything familiar about her dialogue and the way she spoke? Think ... Denny. That's right. Sharon spoke to Dennis in exactly the same tone of voice and using the same mannerisms with which she uses with Denny. Sharon's attitude toward Dennis was as maternal as Jane Beale's sometimes was to Ian, who played the recalcitrant teenager very well to her.

In the first clip, Phil Mitchell almost references the Oedipal nature of the Shannis relationship, referring to Dennis's time in care and his longing for a mother and family. Dennis was younger than Sharon and looked it. He was obsessed with her in a way that really wasn't loverlike and she mothered him.

What was patently obvious was that Sharon didn't trust Dennis, which was why she, ultimately, was so protective of him. Sharon had a run-in with Jonnie, who told her that if she didn't get Dennis to leave Walford by midnight, he'd be toast. Sharon suddenly acts like a headless chicken and scurries Dennis into returning to the US with her (not that Immigration and Naturalisation would have allowed him to emigrate, being a convicted felon, but this is EastEnders' alternative universe); however, she does tell someone what happened - Phil. Because she trusts Phil, and Phil - behind her back - tells Dennis.

But listen to the dialogue ... there is a reference in there where Phil reminds Dennis that Dennis is an adult and can do as he pleases. He also reminds Dennis that Jonnie killed Dennis's best mate, Andy Hunter. Phil doesn't tell Dennis to do over Jonnie Allen, but he plants the idea in his mind of Jonnie manhandling Sharon. The rest is down to Dennis.

Here's a prime example of Sharon not believing or trusting Dennis - at the twelve-minute mark. Sharon totally refuses to believe Dennis that Chrissie was the one responsible for Den's death:-



And here are some words of wisdom from the Square's matriarch, telling Dennis to grow up, and Dennis acting like a adolescent pillock when he sees the chemistry (as we did) between Sharon and Grant.



I could go on, but I won't. My argument is this: Yes, Phil has a major secret from Sharon. Of course, the viewers know what it is, and many are now creaming their knickers at reports that Sharon and Phil are to become an item again - not in anticipation of them as a couple, but in their hopeful anticipation that Phil's "crime" against the god that was Dennis Rickman (overgrown adolescent and first in a bevy of EastEnders' pretty boys) will be discovered.

I ask ... HOW?

First of all, let's look at who knew that Phil had - well, not actually told, but insinuated that Dennis really owed Jonnie something malignely special.

Peggy knew. Phil told her. In fact, in the wake of Dennis's death (and Dennis would have lived had he not been merciful and thrown his mobile phone at Jonnie), Phil wanted to tell Sharon what he did. Peggy advised against it, saying Sharon had suffered enough.

Peggy's gone now.

Grant knew. Phil told him. Well, Grant is in Portugal, so Grant's gone.

Jonnie knew. So did Danny Moon. They're dead. Jake Moon knew and he may be dead as well.

So everyone who knew the secret has either gone or is dead. Of course, Peggy could return for a guest stint and let this slip. Grant could certainly show up and make Sharon's life difficult, especially if he still loved her.

But, barring that, who's going to tell Sharon? Phil? Maybe. Maybe this is part of his redemptive arc; but I don't think he told Shirley. In fact, I think there are very few secrets from his past which he told Shirley, simply because he doesn't trust her.

I think the "secret" will be a Sword of Damocles which hangs over Phil's and Sharon's relationship for a long time before being revealed, maybe even years, maybe not until Denny, who'll probably bond with Phil as a father-figure, becomes old enough to understand what Phil did and how his father reacted.

So, don't hold your breath ... unless the retcon machine comes into play again, which will suck the situation mightily.

No comments:

Post a Comment