Originally Posted by James J:
“September dawns and Coronation Streeet is back with a bang; what a phenomenal set of episodes tonight.
I was worried about the show last week but caught up tonight and wow - what a sudden jolt.
Roy and Hayley's story is making soap history and tonight's episodes will be in compilation shows in 20 years time. David Neilson and Julie Hesmondhalgh were impeccable tonight as Hayley found out she was going to die. The characterisation was spot on: Roy, the deeply emotional, inhibited, good man, struggling to remain strong while his own rock falls apart; and Hayley, stoic to the point that it took my breath away, faltering only for the briefest of moments.
Yet the pain and sorrow of the diagnosis left me not feeling depressed, but alive. There was an underlying message in tonight's episodes, one which resonated through every scene, even the others unrelated to the storyline: good will prevail eventually, love conquers all.
As the episode drew to a close, we saw Hayley asking Roy to write down that he needs to learn to drive. A classic reference to it always having been Hayley who did the driving; a symbolic reference to the fact that he is going to have to learn when she has passed. As Roy dutifully went to the notebook, he found the wedding ring he was sure he had lost while Hayley was in theatre. He found the token of their love, the symbol of their two marriages and beautiful story.
The sorrow from Fiz as she heard the news (with a beautiful performance from Jennie Mcalpine) served as a reminder of the true brilliance of this couple who will surely be remembered as one of the all time bests, up there with the likes of Jack and Vera, Stan and Hilda.
The fear in the characters as they waited to discover news, how much time remained, where the land lay, spurred me to consider life and what it means to make the most of it. Hayley's death will not defeat the enduring love of this couple; it will, if anything, provide a beautiful stage for the final act of the most phenomenal, understated story to play out. And doesn't it make you wonder what life is all about?
Life is short. Life is cruel. Love while you can.
We will see a real goodbye, planned out to perfection in true Roy and Hayley style, beautiful sights, a community coming together, dreams fulfilled and lessons learned. And Hayley will no doubt ensure she has prepared Roy, himself, for when she's gone - by ensuring he learns to drive, for instance.
Soaps have always been a cultural checkpoint, a reminder of a sort of life, but mainly messages, little messages and lessons to learn. Tonight, we learned a lesson about life, living it to the full, and loving with all your might while you can.
While evil Karl begins to unravel, he is still on top of things for now; the perfect juxtaposition to the angelic purity of the cancer storyline. We know though that he will eventually be caught, through Dev and Jason's suspicions and his sinister intimidation of Craig.
Evil seems to be on top for the time being. Karl gets away with murder, Hayley is dealt a horrific blow. But the love and happiness the Croppers have had and will have until their story's end is something Karl will never, ever have; and he has the rest of his life to find that out. After all, good does always overcomes evil, and that's what Corrie has always shown so well.
We will cry and we will laugh at this storyline but as it takes hold we will surely come to consider what life is all about, and that reminder is a beautiful thing for anyone.
Remarkable stuff, Corrie. Stuart Blackburn's first glimpses of brilliance, after a rough start.”
“September dawns and Coronation Streeet is back with a bang; what a phenomenal set of episodes tonight.
I was worried about the show last week but caught up tonight and wow - what a sudden jolt.
Roy and Hayley's story is making soap history and tonight's episodes will be in compilation shows in 20 years time. David Neilson and Julie Hesmondhalgh were impeccable tonight as Hayley found out she was going to die. The characterisation was spot on: Roy, the deeply emotional, inhibited, good man, struggling to remain strong while his own rock falls apart; and Hayley, stoic to the point that it took my breath away, faltering only for the briefest of moments.
Yet the pain and sorrow of the diagnosis left me not feeling depressed, but alive. There was an underlying message in tonight's episodes, one which resonated through every scene, even the others unrelated to the storyline: good will prevail eventually, love conquers all.
As the episode drew to a close, we saw Hayley asking Roy to write down that he needs to learn to drive. A classic reference to it always having been Hayley who did the driving; a symbolic reference to the fact that he is going to have to learn when she has passed. As Roy dutifully went to the notebook, he found the wedding ring he was sure he had lost while Hayley was in theatre. He found the token of their love, the symbol of their two marriages and beautiful story.
The sorrow from Fiz as she heard the news (with a beautiful performance from Jennie Mcalpine) served as a reminder of the true brilliance of this couple who will surely be remembered as one of the all time bests, up there with the likes of Jack and Vera, Stan and Hilda.
The fear in the characters as they waited to discover news, how much time remained, where the land lay, spurred me to consider life and what it means to make the most of it. Hayley's death will not defeat the enduring love of this couple; it will, if anything, provide a beautiful stage for the final act of the most phenomenal, understated story to play out. And doesn't it make you wonder what life is all about?
Life is short. Life is cruel. Love while you can.
We will see a real goodbye, planned out to perfection in true Roy and Hayley style, beautiful sights, a community coming together, dreams fulfilled and lessons learned. And Hayley will no doubt ensure she has prepared Roy, himself, for when she's gone - by ensuring he learns to drive, for instance.
Soaps have always been a cultural checkpoint, a reminder of a sort of life, but mainly messages, little messages and lessons to learn. Tonight, we learned a lesson about life, living it to the full, and loving with all your might while you can.
While evil Karl begins to unravel, he is still on top of things for now; the perfect juxtaposition to the angelic purity of the cancer storyline. We know though that he will eventually be caught, through Dev and Jason's suspicions and his sinister intimidation of Craig.
Evil seems to be on top for the time being. Karl gets away with murder, Hayley is dealt a horrific blow. But the love and happiness the Croppers have had and will have until their story's end is something Karl will never, ever have; and he has the rest of his life to find that out. After all, good does always overcomes evil, and that's what Corrie has always shown so well.
We will cry and we will laugh at this storyline but as it takes hold we will surely come to consider what life is all about, and that reminder is a beautiful thing for anyone.
Remarkable stuff, Corrie. Stuart Blackburn's first glimpses of brilliance, after a rough start.”
Absolutely brilliant comment(s).
Hayley and Roy unbelievable acting........cannot be bettered.
I just don't know how Corrie is going to fare without Hayley and I don't know how Roy is going tom either.
Let's make the best of them in the short time we have them both in Corrie.
It was only a cup but it meant so much.Ive watched Corry for years I even remember it when it was in black and white. I always had Stan and Hilda as my favourite couple. Now Roy and Hayley are up there with them.
.
