I have to admit that my heart sank when I looked at the previews and saw that the main story was going to be Boring Stu, Annoying Eliza and Poundshop John Simm, Dom. It feels that there are too many traumatic storylines at the moment: as well as this tug-of-love one, there's Cassie and her drugs and also Lauren being a homeless ex-Nazi. But tonight these stories do move along a bit and are written with some levity rather than kitchen sink angst. Also, we know the healing power of the street will either bring these people into the fold or they'll leave, so we have that to look forward to. 

 

 

So, first up Eliza is still sulking about Stu not letting her meet up with her dad (i..e he was two hours late and didn't reply to texts) and so storms out of the car without looking and is struck by a hit and run driver. She's off to Kate Oates Memorial Children's Hospital to be treated for a broken arm. In the meantime, Dom turns up with some excuse and then tries to talk Stu into paying him off - for £10K he'll disappear. Stu should offer him £100 to get rid. Anyway, Stu refuses and takes Eliza home. Even a "look lady"-style talking to from Alya (Rita in training) doesn't have any effect on Eliza, as with a suspiciously healed arm, she lifts her bags and prepares to run away.

 

Next up: Ty/Cassie/Evelyn/Roy/Lauren. Roy, with the wisdom of Solomon, solves the Dobbs/Plummer conundrum - Evelyn doesn't like the flat as it's cold (I guess the September heatwave hasn't hit Weatherfield; it's going to be funny in November when it's 30°C), but Cassie can't be there on her own. Lauren has nowhere to go but Nina sensibly doesn't want her staying with her and Roy. Thus: Cassie stays at number 9, Lauren moves into the precinct flat, Evelyn moves in with Roy (comedy gold approaching!) and poor Nina has to go live at number 7. Nobody asks Asha about this, not to mention Dev. Of course what this means is that Lauren is now neighbours with Gav and Sabrina and presumably their parents. I guess they're getting their money's worth out of the new set! Talking of sets though, I am confused as to why David is now working in Audrey's - has Trim Up North been demolished? Whither Vin Weasel?

And Ty has a catch up with Fiz via Zoom. No-one's really mentioned the Northampton office in the factory, have they? You'd have thought they'd be in daily contact. Although I did see Fiz on House of Games, so I guess she's shirking her new duties.

In Alahan world, the Freshco deal is completed and Darren suggests a celebratory dinner with him and Ms Scouse McBoobs, Aadi and Amy, and Dev and Bernie. I think this might be fun! Even though the deal is going to go further south than the EdRon housing one.

 

I do wonder which will-they-won't-they couple is going to get together first - Mary and Brian, Aadi and Amy, Roy and Evelyn, or:

Finally, Deedee has a date with new character Joel, except she doesn't know it's a date because Joel wants her to explain US law to him.  I'm not sure you could cover 7 years of law school in a 2 hour (non) date, to be honest.

Rachel Stevenson - on twitter