Gays Of Our Lives: Big Gay Easter in "Coronation Street"

Welcome to the April edition of Gays Of Our Lives. We’ve got plenty of clips & commentary in GOOL THEATER, plus in SCOOPS & SPOILERS find out what's ahead on your favorite shows, and GOOL NEWSBEAT covers what's going on behind the scenes. We've got a lot to cover, so let's get started!

GOOL THEATER

Good Times, Bad Times

Apparently the folks of GTBT can never have enough embarrassing family gatherings, because this week Lucas was invited to dine with Edwin and his family. Naturally, it didn’t go well. Anton was still having issues with Edwin being gay, which led to a rather ugly family quarrel and no one got to even eat! Following that, Bianca decided she’d had enough and told Anton she wanted a divorce.

I actually found this past week rather compelling, and I was really interested in what was going to happen next. It’s just too bad that it wasn’t the gay storyline that had my attention. The revelation that Ludo was behind Noud’s accident was the most interesting drama. Though I don’t buy for one minute that Janine would lie and place the blame on Anton, especially after she wailed and cried for weeks and weeks that they had to tell the truth. Even if things were done to create more faux drama and drag things out, those scenes where Nina confronted her parents and later moved out were great.

As for the gay storyline this week, it was done in by the show’s usual failings: poor characterization and plot points that simply make no sense. For example, why exactly did Lucas have to be at the dinner with Anton’s old friend? Yes, I know, the plot required it, but realistically, that would be the last place for them to work out their family issues after everything that has happened.

I just had to shake my head at the family dinner scene. Edwin introducing Lucas as ‘the guy I’m doing’ was bad enough, but Sjeord attacking his father just strained credulity. Yes, I realize Sjeord was upset about his girlfriend, but going after his father (who actually really didn’t do anything in this particular scene, Edwin created the drama) seemed a bit much.

Then everything else moved so fast that I got the sense the show is ready to wrap up this plot thread and will waste no time in doing it. Bianca’s sudden decision to divorce her husband, Anton going to Edwin to ask his help in saving his family and marriage, and Edwin moving back home (again) just seemed like too much too soon and had little emotional impact. I think all this should have played out a little longer.

The best thing about it was Anton’s admission that accepting Edwin being gay is a struggle and he is ashamed and upset with himself over how he feels, but he really is determined to try. We get so little of this kind of genuine, raw, emotional honesty from this show so it’s a treat when it happens. And the actor was quite effective in those scenes. Still, as compelling as it may be, I think it’s a shame that this story became less about Edwin and Lucas’ romance and more about Anton and his issues.

*THANKS TO GTSTfanMark for the clips!

Emmerdale

Even though I had some major reservations, I enjoyed this week’s clips, mostly because I love seeing the interaction with Aaron and Jackson and other village citizens. Character interaction is something this show has always excelled at, and they’ve really fallen down on it as of late so it’s good when they get back to it. I especially loved Paddy getting totally drunk at the party, then the scene between him and Aaron the next morning. That might have been the best moment of the whole week.

And speaking of moments, exactly what were we to make of the scene where Paddy finally told Aaron that Rhona’s baby had Down syndrome? I know that it was supposed to be touching, but I just kept wondering if Aaron, who isn’t the brightest bulb, actually knew what Down syndrome was?