By 
THIS WEEK IN SPOILERS
Coronation Street: Todd is determined to expose Phelan as a scam artist. But Phelan’s partner Vinny makes it clear to Todd that his life would be at risk if he doesn’t forget what he knows. Phelan reminds Todd he can be part of it and make a fortune if he wants to.
While, Sean figures out it was Todd who tipped the bishop off about Todd staying at the rectory. Todd says he did to free Billy from a religion that would never accept him. Billy is furious and dumps Todd.
Later, Todd goes to Phelan and says he’s all in on the plan. But Todd struggles going through with taking advantage of his friends and family.
EastEnders: Ben worries that Paul’s killers will be released on bail. And is Phil drinking again, ruining his chances for Ben to act as a liver donor?
Emmerdale: Robert sabotages Chrissie’s adventure park, but when Victoria accidentally could become a victim of Robert’s scheme, he tries to undo what he’s done and winds up falling into his own trap.
With his life at risk, Robert calls Victoria for help. Victoria rescues Robert and demands to know why he would behave as he’s done. Robert explains about Chrissie setting Andy up. Victoria wants to confront Chrissie, but Robert insists they have to play it cool until they get the evidence they need.
Holby City: Dr. Myles Richardson shows up on the ward in need of a spleen operation. Issac is stunned to see him and is uneasy about the man. Issac tells Dom that Myles was his mentor and was really hard on him and that’s why being around Issac bothers him. But it isn’t long before Dom realizes that Issac and Myles were lovers — and that Myles in addition to being Dom’s boss was also a married man. The question is, does Issac still have feelings for his ex?
Hollyoaks: Ste is upset when the kids can’t come to the opening launch of his new spray tan business because they are having a family dinner at home with Ryan and Amy. Leah makes to clear to Ste that she likes the stability and comfort of a home with Ryan and Amy. Harry arranges for the kids to visit Ste following the dinner. Still, Leah is cool to Ste’s attempts to bond.
People of the Valley: Iolo is angry when he learns Tyler was the one who turned Mel over to the cops.
TEASERS FOR NEXT WEEK
Coronation Street: Todd delivers a warning.
Days of Our Lives: Sonny takes a big risk.
Neighbours: Aaron has his eye on the new guy in town.
People of the Valley: Tyler panics when Iolo disappears.
That’s it for this edition of Gays of Our Lives. Please share your comments on the thoughts and opinions expressed in this week’s column below. See you next week!
Oh, I agree. For once Todd could have been more than just “the bad guy”. It infuriates me that this brilliant character is reduced to just a boring soap baddie. It’s especially annoying considering how much he had improved over the last few months. He was getting less selfish and he actually cared about other people, like Billy, Sean, Eileen, Jason, even Tracy. It was nice seeing that softer side. I think viewers really warmed up to him. Making him go bad again is repetitive and boring. It’s like the progress he made was all for nothing. I don’t agree with this direction at all. I could have accepted him using his manipulative streak for good, but to have him actually call the bishop under a fake name to make a complaint? That is low, even for Todd. Actually I’d say it’s the worst Todd has even done because Jason and Eileen deserved what Todd did to them. Billy did nothing wrong, and is a victim in all of this.
Anthony, you’re wrong when you say “There was no reason to tell Billy about what Sean almost did.” He DID in fact cancel their hotel room. It was Eva who made him rebook it.
I was conflicted about Robert possibly getting caught. On one hand, it was at least his fourth attempt at murder since he came back. At some point, he needs to pay a price for those crimes. On the other hand, Chrissie has been so over the top in response to Andy cheating on her that for the first time I wouldn’t be sorry if one of Robert’s attempts succeeded.
With Ste’s track record, I’m surprised he made it to his own opening event. His last two first days involved getting sick because he was taking drugs and sending his boyfriend to fill in for him. I’m also annoyed about the talk of Leah having multiple parents. I don’t recall if they have said how long Amy and Ryan have been together, but Ste has had so many partners in the past few years that he shouldn’t be having his kids treat them like parents when they will probably be broken up a year from now based on his history.
None of Robert’s stories during Ryan’s time in the role have ever been his own. He’s always a plot device for other characters. For all the criticism his current material gets here, it’s the closest they’ve managed to come to any balance for him. Last year just became a bad joke and the abuse story made me queasy in how they romanticized him.
But the thing with “domesticated” Robert taking care of Liv is…he didn’t actually take care of Liv at all, unless you mean one scene where he asked her to do her homework? What else was there? He was busy plotting, with Adam and Chas doing the poor attempts to supervise her. I get confused when I hear that the relationship has led to too much of a tame Robert, because Robert is more involved in his usual dumb schemes now than he has been since last year, when he was so OTT that he couldn’t stay on the show unless they made real changes. Surely this is preferable to the icky treacly offensive writing during Aaron’s abuse story, where Robert gushed about “my everything” when he wasn’t doubting that Aaron had even been abused?
I get why people don’t like Liv, but in terms of what she is supposed to do to the “Robron” relationship, I don’t really see it. They are just an awkward couple because for the most part that’s all Emmerdale ever does with m/m relationships. The actors also seem unsure of how to play an affectionate Aaron and Robert. It’s gotten somewhat better recently, but I don’t think it’s ever going to be what it was during the affair. That disappoints me, but then when I think of how horribly written and dispiriting the m/m couples on Corrie and Hollyoaks and Eastenders are, I realize I don’t even care that much. Equality in kissing doesn’t really add up to anything when it always goes straight to the toilet.
Corrie seem determined to show us why we shouldn’t care about the Todd/Billy relationship and should only see Todd as a destructive loser. I’m reminded of why I so often avoid watching the show in recent years. Rinse and repeat.
I do think I read that Sabrina’s exit will mean not seeing Felix for awhile (if ever) again. No surprise.
I get the same impression about Marnie. I’m looking forward to Linda Gray joining the cast. So many times, British soaps add actors who are only well-known in the UK, but I’m American and don’t get to appreciate their work the same way.
I wouldn’t be shocked if Marnie knew about the abuse and looked the other way so she wouldn’t lose the man she’s obsessed with. It also might explain why James is her favorite, far more than her other children. She gives him more love and attention as she felt he needed it because of the abuse. I wonder if it’ll all come out when her mom (played by Dallas’ Linda Gray) comes for a visit?
It’s rare that I get to say this about a soap character, but I would have done exactly what Tyler did in that situation – except I would not have hidden the fact that I called the police. This story might be salvaged if the point is that Iolo’s OCD is manageable when it involves arranging the silverware in the drawer, but now he’s letting it put him in danger. Anyone who cares about him would want to stop him. Mel’s partner in crime is Tom, the guy that Iolo met on Volcano. Tyler could recognize him because he was checking out Tom’s profile before Iolo went out with him.
James is the most interesting character in any of these shows at the moment. I was relieved that the abuse story will be about physical abuse and not sexual abuse. Those stories tend to ruin characters, but this one has me interested in seeing more. Something tells me Marnie won’t come out of this smelling like roses. James and JP are a good match for each other and make a really handsome couple.
Robert is more interesting (Liv notwithstanding) when Aaron is away. It reminds us that he actually had a life and his own stories before Aaron’s abuse story changed his direction. I’m anxious to see what happens this week when he tries to sabotage Chrissie.
Meanwhile, on “General Hospital”, the hospital serial killer storyline is heating up and Julian’s trial has begun and Lucas and Brad…are nowhere to be seen! Ugh. And since his only on-screen reason to exist is dead, I assume Felix will mosey on out of town soon.