Coronation Street - Current Episode Discussion - IV

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by parkerman

My wife, who was a mental health nurse and then a consultant psychotherapist, is of the opinion that they are portraying his descent into full blown depression very well and very realistically. As you say, Perdy, not everyone experiences illnesses - especially mental illnesses - in the same way. So even people who have suffered from depression might have had different symptoms and don't see themselves in Steve, but that doesn't mean it's not right for some people. His obsession with the car is a classic symptom of just trying to escape from the reality of life. The attitude of his mother and Michelle are just driving him further into a feeling of worthlessness. It will be interesting to see how it pans out and I think it is very commendable of Corrie to take on this story.

---

I agree a lot of illnesses- mental & physical can
display very varied symptoms.
Each person who has experienced a particular
illness themselves or in their family will remember
how tbey felt and will think that typical and it is
personally to them.
Im all for awareness but wonder what impression
those without experience are left with after Soaps
dabble- without considering all options fully. But
then soaps arent medical lectures!

I wont mention the Hayle Cancer storyline apart
from saying it was an opportunity to publicise
a less well known cancer. Which got sidetracked
in a various ways and tho many fans upset-
not much real knowledge gained.
The producer has said Steves story will
reach a conclusion/acceptance/ next stage
after New Year.So quite a while to go and
is hindered in some peoples perception by
Michelle being such an unpopular character.

I do hope the story does have a believeable
conclusion - as it is increasingly a very
important issue in present times.

Just a light- hearted(I hope) thought on the serious
subject of Steves depression.
I has been mentioned on this thread(Snagglepuss) and
elsewhere that after Fred Elliotts death:Steve started
using Freds mannerisms and speech patterns!
In view of the hauntings rumoured soon to take place?
Wouldnt it be great if one of the current characters
was inhabited.by the "ghost" and started coming out
with some pithy one- liners like they did.
Any suggestions for the inhabitee?

Hes not gavin oh no

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by swmc66

Hes not gavin oh no

---

so who is he, a con artist mate of real gavin

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by swmc66

Hes not gavin oh no

---

so who is he, a con artist mate of real gavin

I think your right, maybe desperate mate of Gavin staying in his flat while is away as he is down on his luck. Maybe he knows the real Gavin would never want to be in touch with his dad and he took his chances. Until he found out he could have some heriditory illness. How old is Michael? He has reached about 50 without having any health issues up to now, so he must not make his so called son think like his death is imminent.

the plats gonna be conned by lewis II in gavin

Now it makes sense.....he cannot make cocktails where as the real Gavin can. Maybe he won't rip them off as he refused the £100 when he knew Michael was ill. Felt quilty.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lizann

so who is he, a con artist mate of real gavin

---

I think.in.order to avoid spoilers-Ive been
too mysterious.!
Norris is going to think he has seen the spirit of
Blanche - who was famous for one liners.

So I wondered who the spirit might take over
and they might start sounding like Blanche
and coming out with similar caustic comments.
Perhaps Norris or Emily ( perhaps not because
of her religious beliefs )- funniest for me
would be Ken!
Sorry for confusion!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lizann

so who is he, a con artist mate of real gavin

---

I think.in.order to avoid spoilers-Ive been
too mysterious.!
Norris is going to think he has seen the spirit of
Blanche - who was famous for one liners.

So I wondered who the spirit might take over
and they might start sounding like Blanche
and coming out with similar caustic comments.
Perhaps Norris or Emily ( perhaps not because
of her religious beliefs )- funniest for me
would be Ken!
Sorry for confusion!

felt sorry for mary, but dev was good with her

She will soon have a partner which is great

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by swmc66

She will soon have a partner which is great

---

do tell please who?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by swmc66

She will soon have a partner which is great

---

do tell please who?

I dont know who but Stuart Blackburn informed us that she would have a partner soon

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by swmc66

I dont know who but Stuart Blackburn informed us that she would have a partner soon

---

i hope it is a new character and not roy or norris

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by swmc66

I dont know who but Stuart Blackburn informed us that she would have a partner soon

---

i hope it is a new character and not roy or norris

stuart said of a new romance for Mary...it will happen but not how you imagine it to happen. I think it would he a bit silly to pair her off with one of the current cast.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lizann

i hope it is a new character and not roy or norris

---

So do I and not an old duffer like Norris.
Roy is ok.as a friend and she was ok with
Dev.
But someone new would be much better.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lizann

i hope it is a new character and not roy or norris

---

So do I and not an old duffer like Norris.
Roy is ok.as a friend and she was ok with
Dev.
But someone new would be much better.

That was a shocker of a twist about Gavin not being Michael's son. It didn't start to dawn on me until Gavin left the first message. Very well done Corrie! :clap: It's a shame as the actor playing "Gavin" really started to grow on me last night. :(

I thoroughly enjoyed these latest episodes. There were lots of nice character moments and funny lines. Excellent writing! Even some of my least favourite characters were bearable (Michelle, Tracey and Michael). It just goes to show that the actors are so much better when their performances are toned down. I'm guessing that was down to these episodes' director.

Mary and Dev's final scene was quite the tearjerker!

Mary's story about her mother being hit by the falling bolt of a helicopter had me in stitches! The fact that the actress was struggling to keep a straight face just compounded the hilarity for me :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Perdita

Not sure there is an explanation why he has changed from bad boy to the way he is now ... like to think he has grown up. And the depression storyline is quite accurate when I think about me a few years ago .. bits of pieces of it hit home very well .. we don't all experience any illness quite the same ..would probably be a lot easier to find a resolution if we did .....

---

You're probably right about Steve growing up, although it is a BIG character change. Sorry to hear you've suffered too, Perdy. It seems depression is quite the epidemic nowadays.:(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by parkerman

My wife, who was a mental health nurse and then a consultant psychotherapist, is of the opinion that they are portraying his descent into full blown depression very well and very realistically.

---

Thanks Norman, it's good to hear the opinion of a professional. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by maidmarian

I wont mention the Hayle Cancer storyline apart
from saying it was an opportunity to publicise
a less well known cancer. Which got sidetracked
in a various ways and tho many fans upset-
not much real knowledge gained.
The producer has said Steves story will
reach a conclusion/acceptance/ next stage
after New Year.So quite a while to go and
is hindered in some peoples perception by
Michelle being such an unpopular character.

I do hope the story does have a believeable
conclusion - as it is increasingly a very
important issue in present times.

---

I agree that Hayley's cancer plot had some unneeded sensationalism, which did annoy me at the time. I think I've wiped them from my memory now as my lasting impression is that it was a decent storyline on the whole.

I do worry that Steve's plot will end up following a sensationalist path too. Also the continuing martyrdom of Michelle and the bullying by Steve's family is hard to swallow. :thumbsdow

Friends and family might find it difficult at times to accept that one of them has mental health issues ... again speaking from experience .. I wondered at times whether they thought they could catch it from me ... :o
I hope that Steve's doctor will eventually get through to him and also those close to him that he takes advice and medication as needed to get better again.

Friends and family might find it difficult at times to accept that one of them has mental health issues ... again speaking from experience .. I wondered at times whether they thought they could catch it from me ... :o
I hope that Steve's doctor will eventually get through to him and also those close to him that he takes advice and medication as needed to get better again.

I think its more they dont know what to do and scared of doing the wrong thing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Perdita

Friends and family might find it difficult at times to accept that one of them has mental health issues ... again speaking from experience .. I wondered at times whether they thought they could catch it from me ... :o

---

Yes, I've also experienced negativity from those close to me, though fortunately not very much of it, so I think that aspect is sadly realistic.

The harassment that Steve's experiencing just seems grossly over-exaggerated to me though, given that there's obviously something wrong and that Liz and Michelle are supposed to be decent people. I'm sure that in real life some poor souls experience even worse though. :(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by swmc66

I think its more they dont know what to do and scared of doing the wrong thing.

---

I suppose that's a possibility, but I find I can't view them that sympathetically at the moment. They make me really angry! :angry:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dazzle

I suppose that's a possibility, but I find I can't view them that sympathetically at the moment. They make me really angry! :angry:

---

I agree - I think with most people it is the
fear of the unknown( relative with a mental
rather than physical illness).and how it will
affect them and the family- financial as well
as emotionally and practically.

People usually have some knowledge of
physical illnesses from friends work
colleagues etc-even if they havent had the
illness themselves. Public figures now
speak about depression which should help.
I think once they know families do try to
understand and help.Sometimes those presumed
to be least likely can be most supportive.

Not sure Steves family will do that. Probably
belong to the "You need to Snap out of it "
brigade. Which there are still some(hopefully
few).around.
Hope the story continues to prompt discussion.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dazzle

I suppose that's a possibility, but I find I can't view them that sympathetically at the moment. They make me really angry! :angry:

---

I agree - I think with most people it is the
fear of the unknown( relative with a mental
rather than physical illness).and how it will
affect them and the family- financial as well
as emotionally and practically.

People usually have some knowledge of
physical illnesses from friends work
colleagues etc-even if they havent had the
illness themselves. Public figures now
speak about depression which should help.
I think once they know families do try to
understand and help.Sometimes those presumed
to be least likely can be most supportive.

Not sure Steves family will do that. Probably
belong to the "You need to Snap out of it "
brigade. Which there are still some(hopefully
few).around.
Hope the story continues to prompt discussion.

The storyline has certainly got people talking honestly about depression, which can only be a good thing.

I think that Liz and Michelle really have not considered the fact there might be something seriously wrong with him, he is just acting out of sorts, maybe he is having a midlife crisis - easier to ignore and hope it goes away before long ...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Perdita

I think that Liz and Michelle really have not considered the fact there might be something seriously wrong with him, he is just acting out of sorts, maybe he is having a midlife crisis - easier to ignore and hope it goes away before long ...

---

everyone seems to think steve has a new bird and is having an affair

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Perdita

I think that Liz and Michelle really have not considered the fact there might be something seriously wrong with him, he is just acting out of sorts, maybe he is having a midlife crisis - easier to ignore and hope it goes away before long ...

---

everyone seems to think steve has a new bird and is having an affair

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Perdita

I think that Liz and Michelle really have not considered the fact there might be something seriously wrong with him, he is just acting out of sorts, maybe he is having a midlife crisis - easier to ignore and hope it goes away before long ...

---

I agree with this, and that's part of what I find so outrageous - that none of his close circle has noticed that there's something seriously wrong (excepting Andrea but only because she saw him at the doctor's). Lloyd does seem to be just beginning to twig, thank goodness.

Still, I need to take my own advice and not take a soap storyline so seriously. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dazzle

The storyline has certainly got people talking honestly about depression, which can only be a good thing.

---

I do think the writing isn't great though but as you said if it gets people talking that is good

I like Dev and Julie as a pairing and hope they last, Dev and Mary scene was sad and sweet and I hope she does finally get a boyfriend for herself soon

I enjoyed Nick's little one liners quite funny just like David's are

The Gavin twist was good

This way Julie will have children in her life too. So a good move by writers.

Sally was very funny last night, lording over Alya in the factory and getting frustrated with Tim during the reading lesson. I bet everyone's experienced lessons with loved ones turning into bickering. :D

Especially driving lessons!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by swmc66

Especially driving lessons!

---

Yes, I've been there! :D

Guitar lessons for me ... did not last long :lol:

sally loves her couch (mick jagger lips :p) now