I only ask because at the time I was very upset about it. I thought it was a mistake, a re-tread of former glories and messed up far too much of a good thing with the Carter dynamic (which is probably exactly what TPTB are aiming for). I even gave the reveal episode a 6/10 rating, even though I enjoyed a lot of the episode before the final scene.

But I was surprised by how quickly I got over it, and how much I actually quite like it now. At first, I think it was the way in which it was brushed aside and just left as a secret that could pop at any time. And then, after an appropriate amount of time had passed we had the explanation scenes with Shirley and Phil which shed some light on the situation and threw open a whole new surprise with the suggestion that not even Stan knows. Add to that Dean's sticky relationship with Linda and his implied jealousy of Mick, and I actually really like it now and is a plot twist that I have just accepted.

I'm ambivalent. My initial reaction was the same as yours. Im sure the reveal will be great but I feel I can 'see the join' if you know what I mean. I don't mind being manipulated in the name of entertainment but it feels a bit clumsy to me. Be interesting to see the reaction once it all plays out on screen.

I was against the idea right up til the last minute. Now I think it's great, so much potential...and with her other son settled on the square who knows how it will pan out.

I think it's a rubbish fanboy fantasy to be honest. Unnecessary and ruins the fresh dynamic of the Carter clan. I'd rather they just made more of the Dean/Linda thing as their main plotline.

I still think its a cliched rehash of the Slater story, but with the extra elements such as the Shirley-Phil co-blackmail, Dean's unsteady relationships with his bruv & sis in law & stan not knowing, I think this makes it multi- layered and a bit more sophisticated.
JUST.

Still think it's silly, especially Stan "not noticing".

It's just so necessary. The Carters were better without it.

I think its brilliant. I didn't guess so the reveal episode was a shock to me, I loved how understated but poignant it was. After finding out about the back story, I'm even more intruiged, there is so much potential plus the possibility of new characters in the form of Sylvie and Andy. I I also love that Stan doesn't know, that was a brilliant twist on an already brilliant twist. The reactions are going to be immense.
I don't see it as a rehash of Kat/Zoe, the basis of sibling being true parent is the same but the whole story is completely different, as are the characters.