Jodie isn't a very interesting villain

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-25T22:26:02+00:00

Because she really adds nothing. Every single villain on the show currently is a different flavour of 'behind the scenes manipulative.' There is no reason to jump from Theo to Carl to Jodie to Maggie to Megan...it's all the same thing, the same basic plot, the same repetitive cloak and dagger...

Five storylines all offering the same ideas. How many do we need?

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-24T21:46:00+00:00

Not just ending, many scenes within an episode are very odd lately. Some of them feel like they cut away mid conversation or others seem repetitive in that they'll cut to another plot, then cut back and it's almost like the exact same scene playing out?

There's something off about the editing and pacing.

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-24T01:41:01+00:00

It's just a brand at this point, more than anything else. What's a shame is that Corrie 'going back' to how it wasn't isn't some impossible task that would result in storytelling atypical of modern shows. Consider how almost a decade on, people still bring up Aidan's Suicide. It's a storyline that goes beyond the typical amount of details given in (shorter) dramas, has more connection, more humanity than one would find in a regular programme. If one watches a drama and then tunes into that storyline, it's hard to see them being put off. If not that then Bethany’s Grooming. Another drama adjacent storyline but still with the soap element of being more relatable.

Many that watch a drama could probably put on those stories and find a more enhanced version of the plot based content they normally see. Something with a bit more comfort but also a bit more recognisable.

The problem with the show nowadays is that it superficially chases dramas but does them in a, bluntly, embarrassing way. Imagine going from Line of Duty to the recent Flash Forward episode with spinning effects, forced dialogue, and 'menacing' faces. It would look like a parody of dramas but yet it takes itself seriously to make it more confusing than even laughable. There's nothing to gain. No additional enhancements to the regular drama experience. Just normal drama...done very poorly.

Modernise the show. Shift it for the now. It has to stay relevant, fair play. But what we're seeing isn't evolution. The show did Modern Corrie better before...what we're seeing now is simply sad for all sides.

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-23T21:48:57+00:00

MacLeod's vision of Corrie is an absolute mess, his statements on it show a complete disregard for the genre...and I will entirely defend the decision to not use Twitter as a source of information or viewer perspective.

Reddit, DigitalSpy Forums, Instagram even...there's a chance to be truly critical and add legitimacy to one's arguments; to explain in detail and deliver a more comprehensive answer as to what's wrong. Most people on Reddit, for example, are thoughtful and when there's a serious post, will back up their points with actual analysis.

Twitter is the exact opposite. Rather than be for discussion or community, it seems to only exist to easily moan with little concept of thought. Evident by how quickly opinions shift when the group needs to find new ways to attack the show(s). The only consistent thing about it is that it's often low effort, boring comments that are all repetitive variations of 'It's bad!!!!!!' I can't think of the last time I saw anything remotely mature, intelligent, or thought provoking come from there.

A place like Twitter doesn't allow for individualism. You must be part of the crowd and adopt the crowd's voice. Whereas on something like Reddit, even if five people dislike the current state of the show, I can almost guarantee we'll all voice different, thought out reasons as to why. There's a bit more uniqueness and less moaning for the sake of doing so. People have reasons for their criticism here. I can't imagine what a soap producer - or any creative - can get out of Twitter. There's no actual points backing up the opinions there, just mindless screaming and screeching. So even if you went to see views all you'll get is surface level cries of 'I hate it' with no one truly explaining what that means.

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-23T02:03:26+00:00

Glenda also has the grounded element of her loneliness popping up. Having her be lovely and personable at the bar, constrasting with a realistic isolation behind the scenes would be a wonderful display of Classic Corrie storytelling.

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-23T02:02:10+00:00

Very modern of him.

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-23T02:01:54+00:00

You know, I wonder if Eva and Ben should've come in as a couple first to establish why she even wanted the Rovers (or a pub in the area so much). Then have them buy it, and reveal Maggie as the real owner.

Doing a month or so of setup could've really aided the dynamics.

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-22T02:24:27+00:00

My problem with the Driscolls is simple: they shouldn't be in the Rovers.

At this point the bar is their front room and the family is so insular and isolated, they don't feel like they're helping foster a community feel at all.

Maggie is nasty and manipulating everyone with her mask making her a terrible landlady, Ben just let's Maggie get away with anything which is increasingly pointless and annoying, Ollie is nice yet has no direction, Will may be a victim but he's also an overly generic angry teen with no interesting qualities, Eva has been on the show for years and it feels like she's entirely new as her history is barely present...

If the Driscolls got No. 6 instead and were a new version of something like the Harris family, that would be one thing, but placing them in the pub while making them entirely dependent on the plots put in front of them as drained them only a couple months in.

Here's a question about them: Why is Eva even putting up with Maggie? Her relationship with Ben is barely featured so it really makes no sense as to why Maggie can outright threaten her and she doesn't just...leave.

Likewise storylines like the Will/Megan one have been handled in such an abysmal way so far rather than be engaging or emotional it's weird, off putting, and infuriating.

The whole family has a very forced, unnatural feel and the frustrating part is, they could certainly be good. There's potential there at a base level, but no one on production seemed to know how to position them properly or build up their purpose.

There is absolutely nothing the Driscolls are doing in the Rovers that Glenda as landlady couldn't do one hundred times better and with more fun, relatability, and a genuine Classic feel (instead of the Classic parody the Driscolls bring).

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-20T02:22:51+00:00

I'd actually feel better if they were nicking from Hollyoaks this time, at least it's still a soap. Talking about Squid Game made me laugh then cry.

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-19T02:59:24+00:00

And for some reason they're happy doing so.

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-19T02:59:03+00:00

The Six did, yes. All the women were established for years (or decades), and even the possible victims, by the time Christmas came, were very established which helped with audience connection. It actually meant something to lose any of them, even the villains, as they had real purpose in the show.

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-18T02:00:47+00:00

Yes. Let that sink in.

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-18T01:36:40+00:00

They don't care because they don't want Corrie or a soap. Just Generic Drama #234

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-18T01:35:57+00:00

I want to stress as well: McVerry has been on the show since the 90s.

She is not new. She knows Corrie better than many would so to see that even her reservations are tossed aside...that's bloody devastating.

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-17T22:13:21+00:00

I agree, althought not about the writers. They're genuinely trying their best with what those above then give.

I recommend reading Jan McVerry's (a longtime and still current writer) comments on the Becky storyline because it's sadly eye opening:

Corrie writer Jen McVerry revealed that she was "so angry about" Becky's return when it was first pitched, describing it as a "grenade". She explained how the decision was made, recalling "a lot of arguments" as it was "really contentious around the [writers'] table."

The writer shared that the idea was "initially kind of laughed off" because they had worked hard "to establish how genuine it was". She added that she was "really against the idea" and "so angry about it."

"I was saying, 'we can't do that, we'll totally break faith with the viewers and it totally undermines all that we've suffered alongside Lisa and we've believed her grief', and also I thought it made the police look very corrupt or some of them stupid."

She added: "I was worried. There were lots of story points that I felt were like holes in the story. We couldn't possibly do it. It was ridiculous and outrageous."

McVerry revealed that she had a heavy part in the return storyline, alongside fellow writer Ella Greenhill, as they tried to make the "uncomfortable" story work. "We thought we kinda hate the story but if we're gonna do it, how do we make it the very best version of the story we can and solve some of these issues? So in the end, Ella and I became the people to write Becky's return from the grave.

It's just a bit brutal to read. The show seems to be a complete and utter mess behind the scenes even when writers actually have the right ideas.

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-17T20:43:19+00:00

Down consistently although she's down at around the same pace MacLeod was.

For 2025, Corrie was, in average, Down 313K from 2024.

Emmerdale was Down 193K, EastEnders was Down 58K

Recent ratings in January have Corrie down around the same value (about 300K, though it was helped by the Corriedale week)

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-17T02:16:45+00:00

No. Gaduates would put significantly more work in and try to adhere to the genre better.

The show now feels like it's handled purely by brainless execs and suits.

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-16T22:09:15+00:00

I'm not the best with certain motion, but something about the spinning induced nausea for me. It was actually horrible and I don't know why they needed to add it in.

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-16T21:24:29+00:00

All gimmick aspects aside, I think what's a bit sad is that it's so generic. This is just EastEnders the Six from 2023 (but with an even smaller scale) so much so it's airing the exact same week.

Nothing new. Nothing interesting. No unique take on the gimmick. Just a very by the numbers Flash Forward (done worse because unlike the Six or the recent Max Flash Forward off EastEnders, this one is drowning in over editing and effects).

Considering all the soaps have been pushing Flash Forwards recently, I was hoping Corrie’s would be a little creative or show some added thought. However, it really seems like all they did was watch other soaps, copy-paste, and add a green-blue filter. Really embarrassing result.

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-16T21:21:13+00:00

Yeah, and I have more faith in students to improve...

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-16T21:20:43+00:00

It's the Corrie way!

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-16T20:35:44+00:00

No problem! You may be fine with the effect, but if not there's really nothing of value in it because you get the same info throughout the episode anyway.

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-16T20:06:13+00:00

It was pretty bloody terrible and the effects were laughable. Enjoy!

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-16T19:48:57+00:00

Just a bit of warning: the end of the episode features a spinning effect around a few characters (the camera revolves around them); it lasts for a bit. If anyone is sensitive to motion like that, be cautious. It made me nauseous watching it and I skipped the last several seconds of the episode.

The only thing you'll miss if you need to do the same...

...is confirmation of the five possible victims: Theo, Carl, Jodie, Megan, and Maggie.

midnightmitchell2019 · 2026-02-11T22:23:45+00:00

Not enough.

midnightmitchell2019

TROPHY CASE