The Wedding Episode - Corrie Best Gay Storyline Since Skins
So every now and then my tv comes up with a surprise - a nice gay surprise. It did it in series three of Skins which, until episode 6 (Naomi), I had only been semi-enjoying.
And now it's done it with Coronation Street. I mean, I was already surprised with just how good - and how gay - Corrie's Sophie and Sian storyline was. But last night's double whammy really exceeded my wildest expectations. It was hilarious, and sad, and touching and angsty all at once. They were loved up and adorable and then terrified and tortured.
In short it was epic. My heart swelled and then broke and then repeated the process about three times.
You don't expect this quality from soaps. TV dramas maybe, they have more time to write and hone and craft an episode. More editing options to play with and, arguably, better actors.
As someone commented over at sophiesian the whole thing was about homophobia and prejudice. Well, and love. How it can be enough to triumph over these things (as Roy finally gets to marry his longterm transgendered partner Hayley) and how it might not be enough - I'm loooking at you Sian. You better not break Sophie's heart.
Actually, I think Sian got a bit of unwarranted flack from viewers in this episode. I know she wasn't being quite as kickass brave as Sophie in the face of being outed to a trainload of her neighbours. But the girl's 16 and clearly terrified of what her dad might do, bearing in mind he nearly beat up her boyfriend and packed her off to live with her mum the last time he found out who she was dating. So yeah, it's ok Sian, I still love you.
But, even more than that I love how Corrie actually pitched this episode just right, drawing parellels between Roy and Hayley's union in the face of prejudice while showing the irony of how those same people there to witness their moment could still threaten to tear apart the relationship between two teenage girls. There was so much angst and yet moments of sheer hilarity too, and overall it was very touching.
All gifs are courtesy of wowsugarpuss
My best bits:
1. Sophie and Sian cuddled up on the couch, the calm before the storm. Sian cracks up and Sophie looks horrified as Sally and Kev sing the telletubbies theme tune back at them.
2. Rosie's one-liners. Rosie is pretty much a one-liner machine, but it works.
"Sophie and Sian are like, total Christians. It's against their code or whatever. To maim children".
"No Sian either. Maybe they've eloped."
"Anyway, I love lesbians. The more the better. The less the competition."
3. The sight of a pregnant Fizz and Becky with a fag hanging out her mouth as they rush Hayley to the wedding on the Pump Wagon. Comedy Gold.
4. The reaction on the train as Claire screeches, "they were snogging the face off each other." Oh noes!
5. Sally to Sian "Don't worry about Claire! Everyone knows she gets mentally ill!"
5. Sophie spending most of the episode trying to reassure Sian like the good girlfriend she is. Even if Sian is freaking out.
6. Sophie basically getting it from all sides the entire episode. Her mum's practically announcing she's a homophobe, her girlfriend's ready to run out on her, her neighbour outing her to the entire congregeation and then doing a reverse guilt trip on her just because she has the mother from hell. Then she has to come in and sing Lean on Me and pretend everything's fine. Her Dad being supportive but ultimately clueless. Her sister taking the piss out of the whole thing. My heart Sophie, you had it this ep. Even your grating piledriver of an accent had disappeared into a soft miserable husk that only exacebated my tearducts further.
6. Sean and Julie. Sean telling Sophie he saw her doppelganger at Pride which Brooke herself had attended with Sasha(ooh Corrie goes meta!) Julie tries to reassure Sian that it doesn't matter if she was caught snogging Sophie but Sian's all, It's lies, all lies damn you! Julie telling Sally that "she can think of worse things to be called" than gay. Yeah, Sally! Julie to Sean about the girls "I think it's romantic, teen love against the odds. Juliet and Juliet" at which they both break into a rendition of Teenager in Love.
7. Norris telling Emily to keep the sweets to herself "or else they'll all want one." So true Norris, so true.
Norris saying "Sophie, a lesbian? I mean, really, just look at her"- cue Sophie wobbling down the platform in heels as she tries to catch up with Sian.
8. Roy's totally touching speech at the reception that actually had me on the edge of tears.
"It is 11 years since we last registered to be married, and we were informed that we could not.We have remained still, and the world has turned to meet us. My message to you, Hayley, is this. The world can change its rules, its laws, and its opinions, as frequently as it chooses. But I will remain standing beside you. That will not change."
Accompanied by that the amazing little angsty looks Sian and Sophie were giving as they listened to him.
They just want to be like everyone else, damnit soap society!
And then Hayley gives her little speech, which starts off: "I got so hung up on how it would prove that we were.. I don't know, like anybody else. Just.. normal, I suppose."
And Sian's all
9. That hug and the whispered "I love you" at th end. OMG, if I hadn't been welling up beforehand then this was the nail in my emotional coffin. The way Sally was encouraging them to hug and then all "No one here thinks you're not normal" and how it's almost like a Judas kiss because Sian has to sort of laugh it off but really they're totally hugging in a painful I'm scared and musn't now look like I'm into this even kind of way. Sally has tainted every bit of their relationship. Boo Sally! And the little whisper from Sophie and you can see Sian sort of is into it but can barely look her in the eye and...it's just too much. it's too much for 16 year olds to have to contend with, on top of the whole child abuse allegation stuff, and yet it's exactly what every closeted gay teenager has to contend with and I guess that's why it broke my heart a little.
10. And finally, the little Kevin Sophie convo at the end. The way she's crying and actually apologising to him and begging him not to hate her and he has no idea what she's talking about but you can see he really wants to know and wants to be there for her, right up until the big reveal. I have to say, I'm not always the biggest fan of Brooke's acting. I think Sasha is far more consistent, which isn't really surprising given she's got the impressive portfolio of work she had before this job. But anyway, the one thing Brooke always really delivers on is the crying. That sort of quietly tortured but desperately hopeful vibe she throws off. For me this scene matches the one where she went to Sian's house after their first kiss, all humble and sad but ultimately unapologetic and wanting something more. Sophie as a character is really amazing. She's brave and kind and overall a very good person. And that's rare in soaps, let alone soap teens.
What happens next? We kind of know, but not much. I only hope they continue with this quality, but I'm getting increasingly optimistic as they haven't really put a foot wrong since April. I've got to say, out of all the lesbian storylines I've ever seen, from Brookside to Eastenders, Emmerdale to Family Affairs, Hollyoaks (which just always sucks) to Home and Away, this one is really by far the best.
And now... on with the glorious picspam.
