Even if they're riding high Corrie certainly knows how to shoot itself in the foot sometimes. They've killed off Mike, Fred and now Vera. Liz Dawn not being able to carry on in the show is indisputable but it seems the producers are going for short-term ratings gain once more.
Re Vera: Best decision in my opinion. I agree with JCB's points. How Jack will leave though, I don't know.
Agreed. It will be a completely different place without Vera, even though she hasn't been in it of late. I also am finding it hard to see how they'll write Bill Tarmey out...
One of my favourite (fairly recent) Vera storylines was her argument with Doreen Heavey (Maxine's mother) over the name-plate thing, back in 2002 IIRC. Hilarious. And then there's the classic Roy Cropper "ghost" thing in the Rovers in the 1990s.
I'll never forget Vera going into the Rovers, telling everybody that she had just seen Ivy's ghost. They all laughed at her, so she huffed:
"Aaaah-- you're all septics!"
Even if they're riding high Corrie certainly knows how to shoot itself in the foot sometimes. They've killed off Mike, Fred and now Vera. Liz Dawn not being able to carry on in the show is indisputable but it seems the producers are going for short-term ratings gain once more.
I think all those cases have been a result of the actor leaving.
This isn't short term gain - it's Coronation Street giving a fitting ending to one of it's most popular characters - and it's far better she goes this way rather than have a big send off, then come back, then go again, then come back, then not come back and never be mentioned again!
I think all those cases have been a result of the actor leaving.
This isn't short term gain - it's Coronation Street giving a fitting ending to one of it's most popular characters - and it's far better she goes this way rather than have a big send off, then come back, then go again, then come back, then not come back and never be mentioned again!
Put that way, it almost sounds like an act of revenge on the actor when big names decide to move on. "Walk now and you're never coming back!"
But what is better, a proper ending, or waving out of the back window of Lloyd's cab with one suitcase, like what would happen if Vera was moving away?
But what is better, a proper ending, or waving out of the back window of Lloyd's cab with one suitcase, like what would happen if Vera was moving away?
Quite. Look at Stan Ogden's death - the scene with Hilda coming back from to the house after his funeral is one of the most poignaint pieces of TV drama from the 1980s. There's sure to be some very moving scenes with Jack here I'm sure.
Mike's death wasn't done well though in my opinion, it was over-dramatic, and was rather over-acted.
But what is better, a proper ending, or waving out of the back window of Lloyd's cab with one suitcase, like what would happen if Vera was moving away?
Quite. Look at Stan Ogden's death - the scene with Hilda coming back from to the house after his funeral is one of the most poignaint pieces of TV drama from the 1980s. There's sure to be some very moving scenes with Jack here I'm sure.
Mike's death wasn't done well though in my opinion, it was over-dramatic, and was rather over-acted.
The difference was Mike left nobody behind we cared about. Fred's worked better because he had established relationships with Ashley and Audree - but that's nothing compared to Jack and Vera.
Just hope she doesn't get the Alma deathbed treatment where half the street were present when she finally kicked the bucket!
They pathetically killed Fred off purely out of spite. The actor had said unfavourable (but true) things about the show and the producers didn't like it. Death for Vera is the only way but killing characters off isn't always the right way to write someone out. Most of the time it's just done for ratings and shows a lack of creativity on the writers part. Like Mike & Fred - neither had to die really. Mike's appallingly handled Alzheimer's storyline is proof Soaps shouldn't attempt to deal with hard issues. The writers & actors can't handle them.
Put that way, it almost sounds like an act of revenge on the actor when big names decide to move on. "Walk now and you're never coming back!"
Maybe so, but I don't think it at all in this case. As I understand it, it was an agreement between Steve Frost and Kieran Roberts with Liz Dawn's approval.
They pathetically killed Fred off purely out of spite. The actor had said unfavourable (but true) things about the show and the producers didn't like it. Death for Vera is the only way but killing characters off isn't always the right way to write someone out. Most of the time it's just done for ratings and shows a lack of creativity on the writers part. Like Mike & Fred - neither had to die really. Mike's appallingly handled Alzheimer's storyline is proof Soaps shouldn't attempt to deal with hard issues. The writers & actors can't handle them.
I agree. I really didn't like either of their exits. Mike's was just poorly done really and his final episode left a lot to be desired, but Fred's exit was probably even worse because like you say, he was killed off out of pure spite. The pathetic fall off-screen and the focus shifted on to Bev (of all people, Bev) rather than the character that had just died made the whole thing a farce. Neither really needed to be killed off.
I do think it's best for Vera though. And like Brekkie said, she's leaving somebody behind and it's going to be interesting to see how Jack handles it all. I'm a little more optimistic about this one.
And then there's the classic Roy Cropper "ghost" thing in the Rovers in the 1990s.