Saturday, September 20, 2014

The Hattrick Episode - Review:- 18.09.2014

This is unprecedented! A hattrick of perfect marks. There was only one slip-up (later).

Let's separate the wheat from the chaff, first off.


The Stinky Bit



Shirley is a total, bitter, twisted, unmitigated bitch. Totally and utterly and completely without compassion or sympathy. This woman knows exactly of what the coward Phil Mitchell is capable. Phil didn't willingly plan for Sharon to get beaten up, he planned to scare the living shit out of her, all because she was getting a bit too independent in her capacity as a businesswoman. If Shirley thinks Phil wouldn't do the same to her, she's deluded. He'd do worse. He has done worse.

I can't fathom why Phil would believe anything that Shirley Queen of Scrotes would tell him. Yes, he knows Sharon was fleecing him, but he said he still loved her. Yet, on Shirley's word that Sharon hated him, he believed that? He's known Sharon for two decades. He's seen her try to stymie Grant and back out at the last minute because of her tender heart. He thinks this is all about Dennis, and that's understandable, but I cannot fathom why he believes this shit that Shirley's feeding him about Sharon - most of which comes from the jealous, vindictive mind of Shirley, who - for some reason - thinks she's entitled to Phil.

I'm not shipping Sharon against Shirley. In fact, I think both women can do far better than Phil and should leave him in the lurch, but I'm getting sick and tired of seeing this tawdry old coot sneak about the streets of Walford, plastered against walls like a Z-list spy, demanding attention from Phil Mitchell.

She was also out of order with Linda at the breakfast table, and -once again - Mick said nothing. She's just a rude, unlikeable, old bitch, and how anyone is expected to believe something or someone like that is being pushed on the viewing public as the central figure in this show is both an insult to the viewers' intelligence and an insult to the ethos of the show, itself.

Shirley, Queen of Scrotes, the eternal victim and patron saint of self-pity. Do one.

I imagine Ben's lurking around the shadows, and it was he who saw Phil chewing on her face. Oh, and Phil Mitchell's been married umpteen times. If he thinks upgrading to first class for a flight to Australia is gold-digging, he truly is pedestrian and stupid.


The Reluctant Hero of the Piece



Once again, centre stage belonged to Shane Richie, ably supported by Danny Dyer. I was curious to see Mick's reaction to all of this, considering he's the only one in whom Alfie had confided about what he was planning. Now I know that Mick's halo has dipped - his rationale was simply that Alfie didn't intend for Kat to get hurt, so that was an accident and not down to him. By extension, that doesn't mean he'd afford Phil Mitchell the same courtesy. Phil knew Sharon would be in The Albert and wanted to frighten her into submission. Alfie's aim was to damage property for an insurance scam. Nothing to do with physically hurting his family.

The highlights for me re Richie's performance were the scene in the pub, when he was overcome with guilt at everyone's gratitude to him and concern for Kat and the way the public had banded together to replace the things the Moons had lost, including coming face to face with the fact that Johnny and Peter had injured themselves going into the burning building to help Alfie, and the duff-duff scene at the end, with Kat in hospital, and her double-edged comment that had it not been for Alfie, she wouldn't have been there today.

I like the bromance developing here. I see far more in common between the two than between Alfie and Ian or Alfie and Terry. You couldn't help but feel for Alfie tonight, the guilt engulfing him as he looked at the damage to the house and listened to the concern of the residents - including the vile Donna, who never had a good word for Kat, and Aleks, whose own scam enhanced Alfie's descent into despair. I'm glad he blanked both of them. The scene in the cafe with the Fire Investigator showed Richie at his darkest best. I don't think they suspect Alfie at all, rather they are thinking about an electrical fault combined with Mo's "accelerant" - the hair spray (so now Mo feels the guilt). I actually found myself tearing up at the Slater/Moons and Alfie as their loss engulfed them, but also because this showed the Square pulling together in the best way, and not necessarily being led by the newcomer Carters. It also offered a bit of light comedy, with Mo at the Masoods, kitted out in Zainab's old gear, Stacey at Max's and dressed in Lauren's clothing.


Girls Just Wanna Have Fun ... Don't They?



The bonding scene over the chocolate between Shabnam and Stacey was sweet, and I'd love to see a friendship grow from this, especially when Shabnam offered for Stacey to stay with the Masoods, if she were finding things difficult at Max's house. I was surprised, however, that Shabnam didn't appear to remember Bradley. She was certainly on the Square when Bradley was there before. She may not have been friends, but she certainly would have known who he was. 

Shabnam has come on leaps and bounds since she was first re-introduced and re-booted. She's got what she wanted - the pharmacy job - but when she sees how Denise is not coping - and she's not, because she made a pithy excuse for the state of the house and her cosying down with yet another bottle of wine - Shabnam shelved the pharmacy job because Denise needed her more, in moral and emotional support.

Tina and Tosh - barf. Just barf. The court jester doesn't do babies. She failed epically with her daughter to the point that she doesn't love Zsa Zsa and Zsa Zsa can't abide her. Both women are extremely selfish - Tosh wants a child, and deep down, she knows, but won't admit, that Tina doesn't. Tina's just playing along, and doesn't want a real child to detract from her own childishness.

Mick's remark to Tina's confession was proper foreshadowing - about not having a baby unless both people want it, and I'm not talking about foreshadowing for Tina and Tosh, who are best off forgotten.

Namwar/Tancy is progressing.

Dialogue exchange of the night goes to Stan and Linda:-

Stan: I may have a few old things I can contribute.
Linda: I'm sure they'll need some old rags to clean up with.


I really love Linda. 

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