Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Sally Webster & family

spoiler alert: this post makes reference to the October 19 episode on CBC

I've often thought that the hidden genius of Coronation Street was making unsympathetic characters sometimes seem sympathetic and vice versa. Sally Webster is a case in point. It wasn't long ago that she was shouting the odds at John Stape, trying to run him out of the neighbourhood and making Fiz's life miserable. Now, in the face of her fight with Cancer, she seems resolute, strong and wholly sympathetic.

Suddenly, it's the rest of the Webster clan who are under the spotlight. Kevin, the cheating husband, has had second thoughts about his dalliance with Molly -- and it now becomes clear that he has treated both Sally and Molly in a most shabby way. Even Bill Webster, no stranger himself to adulterous legovers, is appalled when he finds out. Will Kevin rise to the occasion now that his wife is fighting cancer? I don't know. I get the sinking feeling that he might somehow fall back into his cheating ways - changing him from a long suffering spouse and good guy into a totally unsympathetic louse.

And what about Sophie and Rosie? Just how will they react to news of their mom's illness? I'm not sure that Sophie's religious zeal will be of comfort to Sally (she's not that religious). Rosie, on the other hand, may be the surprise here. Perhaps, she will, for once, rise to the occasion and stop thinking about herself for a while. Perhaps she will be a hidden source of strength for her. I know, I know, it sounds like a stretch but, as I say, sometimes the most unsympathetic characters on the Street can surprise you. 

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In case you're interested, there's an interesting clip of the actor who plays Sally being interviewed on UK TV and you can find it on corrie canuck (one of Canada's stellar Corrie blogs). Cheers.

1 comment:

  1. I had no idea the actress was diagnosed at the same time. How ironic. I hope she has made a full recovery.

    Tony

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