News

Langford's Picks And Pans

Coronation Street

My favorite moment of this week came when Eileen, after the truth about Maria and Marcus had been revealed, told them that they were selfish idiots who had hurt a lot of people with their deception. She spoke the truth when she predicted this would end in a lot of tears because Marcus would be unable to change who he is, a gay man. I’ve said that from the beginning of this storyline and if that was a foreshadowing moment, I have to say I agree.

As much as I find Maria and Marcus sweet together, I do think that Marcus seems to have ‘adjusted’ to his new life awfully quickly. Yes, he had a brief moment of ‘confusion’, but he got over that fast. And is it just me, or does it seem that now that Marcus is sleeping with Maria, we...

Langford’S Picks And Pans

River City

I’ve had my doubts about Will and Robbie’s relationship since the very beginning. They always seemed ill-suited for one another and I never felt they had much spark. And well, there are the incidents of domestic violence between the couple that put me against any future between them.

But this past week, with Will and Robbie getting married, I decided to put my doubts and previous impressions aside, at least for this episode and try and enjoy the story as presented in this particular episode. I found that it was a well-crafted piece of drama, well done in both writing and acting, though I do have a few issues.

I thought it was ridiculous that rather than tell Will about Edwards’ attempts to bribe him, Robbie gets stinking drunk. Clearly this only made the situation worse. Will had no idea what...

Langford’S Picks And Pans

Hollyoaks

I liked the idea of the guys getting together for Riley's memorial service, even if Doug and Riley’s friendship was very contrived and never really utilized that often. If I recall correctly, Riley was close friends with Ethan and Noah and Doug was the drug dealing lowlife who moved into Noah’s apartment. Doug and Riley's close bond was an off camera creation of the writer, so their supposed friendship never rang true to me. Still I enjoyed the scenes, even if they were bad manipulations of the plot at best.

But even more contrived was Ally being invited to the memorial. Ally and Riley were not friends and I don’t think they ever had much to do with each other. There was no reason for him to be there other than to stir things up with Ste, when there were other ways to accomplish that.

Langford's Picks And Pans

Coronation Street

Every time I watch this show, I wonder if I’m just a "bad gay." There’s a lot of people who don’t like this storyline, saying it’s bad and offensive and sends the wrong message to viewers, that it’s a woman’s fantasy in that if she waits long enough she can turn that gay guy that she’s had her eye on. I suppose those are valid points and yet, I don’t see it that way at all. At least not right now.

I just think there’s lots of story left to be played out so it’s a bit too soon to see if this is a drama about a gay guy going straight (which the show says it isn’t). Now if at the end of this romance, Marcus starts sleeping his way through the...

Langford's Picks And Pans

Hollyoaks

So... Brendan’s back. Can’t say I really missed him, especially with the way the character has been written these days. I know we’re supposed to feel sorry for Brendan, and that he suffers so, the writing is certainly slanted that way. But having watched the show since Brendan arrived some two years ago and seen all the horrible and horrific things he’s done, sympathy is the last thing he gets from me. I guess I still have those visions of Brendan murdering his grandmother still in my head (not to mention dismembering a body!). I keep asking myself how the show and fans of this character reconcile that murder, but it seems that they all simply pretend it never happened.

As for Cheryl’s anger towards Brendan, she has every reason to be. She did witness him cutting up a body after all.