Until Sean O'Connor's name is off the credits and we viably see his quirky vision being corrected with regard to the show, I simply cannot be bothered with what amounts to absolute rubbish.
Tonight was an absolute load of twaddle. In fact, Katie Douglas inadvertanly spoke for the entire viewing audience when she had Donna utter her devastating critique of Robbie Jackson, which fit about everything that's been opined about O'Connor.
If we're about to explore Derek's history, they made a cack-handed attempt at that, with Keegan so obviously shop-lifting that even Honey saw his move, which turned into a bad parody of Ali G (Is it because I'm black?) and Denise hissing to Honey not to get involved with the situation. That's right, have an employee just stand by gormlessly as someone shoplifts merchandise in front of her very eyes, taking the advice of an ex-employee to look out for herself first and not get involved with someone who caused her bother.
Consider the plights of both Dot and Derek in this episode as related to the Square's current resident Mother Theresa, Denise. Denise's and Honey's "concern" for Derek came across as singularly patronising, especially the incident with Keegan. Not a few weeks ago, it was Derek who spotted him shoplifting (because Honey's nose was so far up her own arse in discontent at Derek working there that she didn't notice), and he didn't hesitate to confront him either.
He was visibly perturbed at Keegan's remark and despondent upon receipt of Yolande's phone call. The incident with Keegan, and the phone call point the way to the fact that Derek's criminal record must stem from something which occurred in the days when homosexuality was illegal in the UK. This was given more credence in his confrontation with Johnny about Johnny standing by and doing nothing. (Actually, what Derek told Johnny was true in many different ways about the resident plank on the Square); but he was right, indeed, people like Derek suffered immensely so that people like Johnny might enjoy their lifestyles freely - although, I daresay, Paul Coker would beg to differ. He died for being gay, and in the 21st Century.
But compare Denise's "concern" for Derek as opposed to her almost total non-concern for Dot.
I don't understand Denise's efforts to reach out to Derek, unless it was general curiosity about his confrontation with Johnny or why she should even make an effort to call back around the Minute Mart to see if he were all right after the encounter, even making the lame excuse of not getting involved, herself, but neglecting to say how she was trying to coerce Honey to do the same. But she was so off-hand about Dot's absence from Patrick's birthday celebrations, it was almost callous.
Patrick probably knows Dot better than anyone on the Square. He knows that when she says she'll show up for something that when she doesn't, something's wrong. Patrick, indeed, felt something was wrong and was determined to check on her. Yet when there was no reply to his call and Karen mistakenly said she'd seen Dot leave the house, Denise was content enough to guide Patrick away,even though his feelings were telling him otherwise.
As for Dot, I thought her soliloquy to Dave (who must have been three sheets to the wind, having lapped up a fair portion of that rum cake) was sorta kinda cringeworthy. For example, why was she ruminating about Sharon and Ian coming around to check on her, when Dot has ample family on the Square? Jack, supposedly, checks on her regularly enough - at least, when he needs a babysitter. Abi was just around recently, and although Lauren and Max seem to make themselves scarce, they do call around. It would be a different kettle of fish if there were no Brannings about and Dot's only real link with the familiar would be Ian, Sharon, Kathy and Martin, but it's not as if Dot goes days on end without seeing anyone. And to be fair, Patrick called around, but with the noise outside, and Dot only faintly calling for help, he couldn't reach her. All in all, this was a pitch-perfect contrivance and the ideal situation in which to involve someone who's, arguably, the most self-righteous character in the show - Sonia.
When Sonia came bellowing back to Walford before, after Rebecca called her and subsequently wished she hadn't, Sonia stayed with Dot; but only because she really couldn't stay at the Fowler house. Prior to that, when she lived on the Square and was loved up with Tina, she rarely had time for Dot. This is just another situation which Sonia will use to gain the moral high ground over everyone from Martin to Sharon to Kathy to the Brannings. Sonia's life must be really sad that she has to use incidents like this and her daughter's bullying to score brownie points over others.
The other cringeworthy part of the episode was Robbie Jackson and everything about him. Robbie was never intentionally funny, even when he was the straight man for Barry Evans, but this time, he's being re-introduced as a cartoonish fool, because somehow, everything Sean O'Connor touches seems to turn into cartoons - the bullies, the lecherous Josh, Max the villain and now Robbie the village idiot
Donna spoke for us all, and not just about Robbie, but about the show in general.
As for the Carters, I have just three observations - Mick may have had qualms about the freehold of the Vic being sold, but he had no qualms about using the proceeds of the sale to pay off his credit card, which was pretty maxed out before he left for Albania or Bulgaria or wherever it was that Nancy got hit by a car. Klosters is an exclusive ski resort and that doesn't come cheap. Secondly, I'm wondering if Johnny's quest for a position in a solicitor's firm might be his swansong and an opening for his departure.
And third, maybe it was me,but I thought Mick's browsing through a sexy lingerie brochure was done more with Whitney in mind rather than Linda. Linda's homecoming is going to be interesting ... wait, what am I saying? Is anything Sean O'Connor does interesting? Linda's homecoming and birthday will probably, inevitably, be all about Denise or Michelle.
Tonight was an absolute load of twaddle. In fact, Katie Douglas inadvertanly spoke for the entire viewing audience when she had Donna utter her devastating critique of Robbie Jackson, which fit about everything that's been opined about O'Connor.
If we're about to explore Derek's history, they made a cack-handed attempt at that, with Keegan so obviously shop-lifting that even Honey saw his move, which turned into a bad parody of Ali G (Is it because I'm black?) and Denise hissing to Honey not to get involved with the situation. That's right, have an employee just stand by gormlessly as someone shoplifts merchandise in front of her very eyes, taking the advice of an ex-employee to look out for herself first and not get involved with someone who caused her bother.
Consider the plights of both Dot and Derek in this episode as related to the Square's current resident Mother Theresa, Denise. Denise's and Honey's "concern" for Derek came across as singularly patronising, especially the incident with Keegan. Not a few weeks ago, it was Derek who spotted him shoplifting (because Honey's nose was so far up her own arse in discontent at Derek working there that she didn't notice), and he didn't hesitate to confront him either.
He was visibly perturbed at Keegan's remark and despondent upon receipt of Yolande's phone call. The incident with Keegan, and the phone call point the way to the fact that Derek's criminal record must stem from something which occurred in the days when homosexuality was illegal in the UK. This was given more credence in his confrontation with Johnny about Johnny standing by and doing nothing. (Actually, what Derek told Johnny was true in many different ways about the resident plank on the Square); but he was right, indeed, people like Derek suffered immensely so that people like Johnny might enjoy their lifestyles freely - although, I daresay, Paul Coker would beg to differ. He died for being gay, and in the 21st Century.
But compare Denise's "concern" for Derek as opposed to her almost total non-concern for Dot.
I don't understand Denise's efforts to reach out to Derek, unless it was general curiosity about his confrontation with Johnny or why she should even make an effort to call back around the Minute Mart to see if he were all right after the encounter, even making the lame excuse of not getting involved, herself, but neglecting to say how she was trying to coerce Honey to do the same. But she was so off-hand about Dot's absence from Patrick's birthday celebrations, it was almost callous.
Patrick probably knows Dot better than anyone on the Square. He knows that when she says she'll show up for something that when she doesn't, something's wrong. Patrick, indeed, felt something was wrong and was determined to check on her. Yet when there was no reply to his call and Karen mistakenly said she'd seen Dot leave the house, Denise was content enough to guide Patrick away,even though his feelings were telling him otherwise.
As for Dot, I thought her soliloquy to Dave (who must have been three sheets to the wind, having lapped up a fair portion of that rum cake) was sorta kinda cringeworthy. For example, why was she ruminating about Sharon and Ian coming around to check on her, when Dot has ample family on the Square? Jack, supposedly, checks on her regularly enough - at least, when he needs a babysitter. Abi was just around recently, and although Lauren and Max seem to make themselves scarce, they do call around. It would be a different kettle of fish if there were no Brannings about and Dot's only real link with the familiar would be Ian, Sharon, Kathy and Martin, but it's not as if Dot goes days on end without seeing anyone. And to be fair, Patrick called around, but with the noise outside, and Dot only faintly calling for help, he couldn't reach her. All in all, this was a pitch-perfect contrivance and the ideal situation in which to involve someone who's, arguably, the most self-righteous character in the show - Sonia.
When Sonia came bellowing back to Walford before, after Rebecca called her and subsequently wished she hadn't, Sonia stayed with Dot; but only because she really couldn't stay at the Fowler house. Prior to that, when she lived on the Square and was loved up with Tina, she rarely had time for Dot. This is just another situation which Sonia will use to gain the moral high ground over everyone from Martin to Sharon to Kathy to the Brannings. Sonia's life must be really sad that she has to use incidents like this and her daughter's bullying to score brownie points over others.
The other cringeworthy part of the episode was Robbie Jackson and everything about him. Robbie was never intentionally funny, even when he was the straight man for Barry Evans, but this time, he's being re-introduced as a cartoonish fool, because somehow, everything Sean O'Connor touches seems to turn into cartoons - the bullies, the lecherous Josh, Max the villain and now Robbie the village idiot
Donna spoke for us all, and not just about Robbie, but about the show in general.
As for the Carters, I have just three observations - Mick may have had qualms about the freehold of the Vic being sold, but he had no qualms about using the proceeds of the sale to pay off his credit card, which was pretty maxed out before he left for Albania or Bulgaria or wherever it was that Nancy got hit by a car. Klosters is an exclusive ski resort and that doesn't come cheap. Secondly, I'm wondering if Johnny's quest for a position in a solicitor's firm might be his swansong and an opening for his departure.
And third, maybe it was me,but I thought Mick's browsing through a sexy lingerie brochure was done more with Whitney in mind rather than Linda. Linda's homecoming is going to be interesting ... wait, what am I saying? Is anything Sean O'Connor does interesting? Linda's homecoming and birthday will probably, inevitably, be all about Denise or Michelle.
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