Update for Tuesday, September 13. 2011. “A Lot Can Happen in a Week”

Let’s start with Owen, shall we? There’s been some speculation as to his true nature since he joined the street. Hot-headed? Certainly. Over-protective? Sure. But evil? Well…

After Gary Windass’s PTSD caused him to abuse the fruit machine in the Rovers, Owen identified a repair job what needed fixing. He promised to do the job for £5,000, money Steve really doesn’t have after the sale of Max was financed.

Side note – there has to be an essay to be written somewhere about how the show constantly put its characters is tight financial straights. If they ever make too much money, realistically, they’d sell up and leave the street. But the show always finds debts for them which keep them from getting ahead in life and therefore, still on the street. Hey, that’s just like real life!

So the builders set to work. And by “work” we mean they’re all having tea. Steve good-naturedly jokes about it but then he receives a call from Jim, who’s in hospital. Owen offers to drive, noting that Steve had a few pints for lunch and may not be in a fit state to drive.

When they get there, a battered and bruised Jim explains to Steve that he was jumped in another pub but also tells him that his attackers knew exactly who they were looking and tells Steve to be wary of Owen. When Owen gets him alone, he tells Jim, “So now you know which bars aren’t friendly. Add the Rovers to the list.”

Back at the Rovers, the builders are now having pints and Steve is getting annoyed. At the end of the “work” day, Chris tells Owen he’s heading over to the same pub where Jim was attacked. Owen hands him a wad of bills and says, “If you see the lads, tell them that’s for a job well done.”

Chris admits misgivings about this as his leaves. If the guy who abuses his wife thinks you’ve gone too far, you’ve gone too far.

I have to say I like that John and Charlotte have become this dark farce. In exchange for keeping quiet, John has agreed to be “Colin” when he’s with her so that means more lies to Fizz and afternoons off from a tolerant Peter.

We also learned that Charlotte threw away the coursework of an impertinent student, causing him to miss his chance to go to university. And she once dated a vegan who spent their dinner dates staring at her with pursed lips and resentment.

So Charlotte throws a surprise engagement party for her and “Colin” where he meets her parents. John manages to squirm out of Christmas dinner but not out of doing the dishes with Mr. Hoyle who won’t do with dishwashers (“They’re the Devil’s work!”).

After Leanne ditched Carla and her troubles for another fling with Nick, Carla went to the Rovers to drown her sorrows. There, Ken asked her if she had seen Peter. She told him he was…at the Joinery. And so for the second time in their lives, Ken walked in on Leanne and Nick having it off (the first time was over ten years ago when he was chasing Les Battersby through the rafters and fell through the ceiling and onto their bed – long story).

Ken, who can’t exactly take the high ground when it comes to infidelity, is now burdened with this information and faced with the dilemma of telling Peter. Leanne pleads for his silence and eventually, they agree that the affair is over and going forward, she will be faithful to Peter and this will never be spoken of again.

Later, Ken, Deirdre, Leanne, and Peter are all assembled in the Rovers. Lloyd, sitting next to Carla, notes that after all they’ve been through, they may actually make it to the wedding next week.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Carla says. “A lot can happen in a week.”

Also, Lloyd will be the DJ at the wedding. Peter has requested no gangsta rap because, you know, Lloyd “Northern Soul” Mullaney is totally into that. I wonder if he has any experience.

Molly’s not going to get pregnant with that second child if she keeps taking birth control. And her weird reaction to Christmas with the Websters has sent Tyrone on a stress-eating binge where he starts eating his way through the chocolate bars at the Kabin.

For her part, Rosie isn’t all that fussed about the Dobbs coming over, especially if Molly’s going to insist on whipping out the jubblies to feed Jack. Because that’s just inappropriate.

Anyway, Tyrone confronts Molly about her behaviour and she begins to cry, telling him that she can’t tell him what is wrong. He pushes it but baby Jack’s cry prevents it from going further.

Finally, judging by the sound effects, I want to live in Weatherfield where they appear to have a tram going by every five minutes. That’s just good public transit.