Farewell Vera

[sallywebster]

OMG that was so sad. Poor Jack


PS thought this deserved its own thread, it really is the end of a Corrie legend.

[Nick]

yes it is Jez

Farewell Vera

[madison]

I was just coming on here to post about the same thing! Unbelievably sad but did her justice. Jack really did look like his heart wasbreaking. i thought it was handled really well.

She will be missed

Love Madison xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Peter]

I honestly thought the second episode was better than the first. Especially the realisation on Molly and Tyrone's face as they came back from the Rovers.

I think we would have all preffered Vera to go off and live happily in Blackpool, but I don't think they over-sensationalised it at all, I thought it was very well subtly under-played with the way they had Vera die.

[jessi]

I have only just stopped crying.

Sadest episode ever.

RIP Vera.

[RitaLittlewood]

I thought it was boring. And yes, I sat through both. The much-hyped ep barely featured the Duckies at all and the fact it was on the news proves it was a cynical ratings ploy. The end with Jack had the most diabolical writing and acting. So she slipped away in the chair like Alf - just like I'd said all along. Over-hyped nonsense full of cliches like the photo and suddenly all that "I've always loved yer" stuff. Bill Tarmey wasn't completely with it in those scenes so his response about always loving her and does she want her slippers wasn't delivered the way it would normally.

As for the second, yes it was better than the first (don't forget this actually was originally Sunday's) but the acting and writing was still dire. Molly's reaction being slower than Tyrone's when they saw her there was bad. It was like she'd only just noticed when she had when they walked through the door. I've always loved Vera. Her double-act with Ivy in the old factory was stuff of legend as much as her scenes with Jack. But it's been years since she was anything like that, long before they both cut their workload, and I felt nothing at her demise.

Yes it is the end of a Corrie legend - another one. And another end which could have been better. They've killed off Mike and Fred in the past two years and all have been rubbish.

Patsy

[Nick]

Mmm I must say i do agree with a few of those points Patsy

[RitaLittlewood]

A death scene, preferably better than Mike's laughable drivel by DL, would have had more impact. This was nothing.

"I'm going down the pub for a quick half."
"What'll you do in Blackpool? I'll be the only one you'll know."
"Don't remind me."

No she wouldn't. What about the Horton's? Bill Tarmey was never the greatest actor (or singer!) and his performance in both, especially the first, was half-hearted when he was with Vera and later in the pub. As for when he discovered her... Don't even get me started. Peter Whalley's dialogue was piss poor. Makes me glad he DIDN'T write Mike's now.

Patsy

[Deleted]

I'm afraid I agree with most of what you said too Patsy.

I thought it was boring, and sorry to say it, but I thought Bill Tarmey's acting was pretty dreadful.

I've only really become a Corrie fan in the last 15 years or so, so don't recall much of Jack and Vera's colorful past, and was never a huge fan of either of them ( too 'old-school' soap).

It also has to be said that they've been no more than parts of the furniture for some time now - and just because something was once great doesn't mean it will be for ever.

I still think it would have been better if they'd left for Blackpool together, and got mentioned in passing from time to time.

I actually thought Mollie's reaction was OK, and I thought all the youngsters (even Tyrone) acted it out far better than Bill/Jack.

As Patsy said - hugely over-hyped, and really very poor.

[CG Wendy]

Liz Dawn deserved a better departure, but I still spent 2 episodes bawling through `em - especially the second episode.
Bill Tarmey was magnificent and if he doesn`t get an award this year there is no justice in the world. His reaction was spot on as a grieving husband.
God Speed Vera. I may not have enjoyed all the scenes she`s been in over the years, and at time I even disliked her. But that`s what made her real - faults and all.

[sallywebster]

That was such a sad second episode, right down to Molly, Tyrone and Paul's reactions to the neighbours all wanting to know what was going on and Jack telling them the awful news. The closing credits with no announcer or ECP and the pigeon featured in them was a nice touch as well.

[CG Wendy]

Thinking back on it, I believe now that the writers did the correct thing in having Vera die in her own home. It gave the viewers time to grieve and remember Vera with fondness. Had Vera died in Blackpool then the viewers would have been robbed of that and the impact of Veras passing wouldn`t have been as believable.
I agree...the pigeon at the end was a nice touch.

[sootycat]

What a lovely gentle way to go.
I managed to hold back tears until the end, but that pigeon did it for me.

If Bill Tarmey doesn't get an award for last nights performance........there is no justice, he was wonderful.

[sallywebster]

I agree Sooty, Bill played Jack's reaction to Vera's death very well. First the shock and disbelief then the sadness.

[RitaLittlewood]

If you listened carefully, Jez, the sound dipped a little so there was clearly going to be an announcement.

After Mike and Fred's I was expecting better and didn't get it. Even when Jack went out to the neighbours everyone was poor.

CG don't forget, according to DL Ena is still in Lytham, Elsie is still in Portugal. There have been many off-camera deaths in the past which had more impact than this. But who said she had to die in Blackpool anyway? So many who left have no connections with anyone in the street now. As Molly and Tyrone won't be there forever, there wouldn't be any need to mention of Vera or Jack's deaths.

Patsy

[sallywebster]

But nothing was said. I was impressed as normally they start promoting someone else the second the credits come on.

This was far better and more moving than Mike and Fred's deaths. Despite what you think Patsy I think it was very sad, especially seeing Jack so shocked and then upset, not to mention Tyrone, Molly, Paul Rita, Emily, Betty etc.

[sallywebster]

From Digital Spy

A tribute to Vera
Saturday, January 19 2008, 09:12 GMT

By Kris Green, Soaps Editor

Coronation Street fans will be pleased to hear that ITV are planning to air a special tribute programme to Vera Duckworth called Farewell Vera.

The programme will look back on the past 33 years of Liz Dawn's beloved character and profile her greatest highs and all-time lows.

Although transmission details have yet to be confirmed, I'm told it will air on Sunday, February 3 on ITV1 at around 6pm.

[CG Wendy]

Awww that`s lovely. Thanks Jez.
I can`t get onto DS today for some reason. It always comes up with page not displayed.

[RitaLittlewood]

I didn't say there was. I said there was about to be.

It was rubbish and so were they. They were all half-hearted in the pub before it even happened except Betty and Dev. Reet and Emily were sat there having a flat conversation with Jack who was flatly talking back. It wasn't moving. Maybe if it had come as a surprise it would have been. Not the "We've filmed a squillion endings but are keeping it under wraps" and plugging it over the news giving a taster of the final scenes.

Mike's was a total joke. So much so it was knicker-wetting hilarious! That's DL's appalling writing and Bill Roache's dreaful acting for you. Fred's was a waste of time seeing as Bev was a rubbish character. Vera's could have been better. More of her in the first episode for a start and less of the dreadful Connors. They used to do death well. They don't any more because it's become a ratings gimmick.

Patsy

[eithne]

I was disappointed by the first episode, but the second did improve. There was too much of the Connor's storyline in the first episode, as well as other stories. IMO they should have had nearly all Vera (although I know that they probably couldn't film a lot of scenes with her ill health). I also didn't like the idea of her dying by herself while Jack was down the pub. Maybe he should

The second episode was much improved though. Again none of the other stories should have been featured as this was the end of a (V)era!!! A lot of long shots should have been used also, just to emphasise the fact that this was a very important and upsetting end. I didn't like Bill Tarmey's song, but everything else he did was brilliant I thought. Rita annoyed me a bit in her "I need a drink" bit, and news should have filtered around the Street quickly I felt - with everyone reflecting on their memories of Vera rather than carrying on as usual.

Better than Mike and Fred's deaths by a long shot, but still not anywhere near brilliant or excellent. Good I'd say, but nothing past that.

PS: Patsy, how you you have written the episode, or at least laid it out, if you had been the writer?

[RitaLittlewood]

I see it got 12.5 million. Isn't that what Mike's got? I bet that was the peak because these things always happen at the end.

If I'd written the episode I'd have had more Jack and Vera and none of the clichés. I'd have had her find out about Paul (I presume she still doesn't), tell him he's a disgrace, she's ashamed of him and she never wanted to see him again. Then she and Jack would sit down and ponder where everything went wrong when he was so nice and nothing like his father then she'd have died from the stress.

Patsy

[sallywebster]

ritalittlewood said:

I didn't say there was. I said there was about to be.

It was rubbish and so were they. They were all half-hearted in the pub before it even happened except Betty and Dev. Reet and Emily were sat there having a flat conversation with Jack who was flatly talking back. It wasn't moving. Maybe if it had come as a surprise it would have been. Not the "We've filmed a squillion endings but are keeping it under wraps" and plugging it over the news giving a taster of the final scenes.

Patsy

But they didnt so whats your point?

In your opinion it was rubbish. A lot of people would disagree with you reading the comments on teletext and several other internet forums.

They just cant win with some people - if she had been murdered or died in some freak accident people would complain it was too sensational. Slipping off quietly in her sleep and people say its boring. Just what do you want them to do?

[RitaLittlewood]

How about give them a rousing send off to Blackpool instead of hyping up another death of a long-term character which fell flat?

Patsy

[sallywebster]

But people keep complaining no matter how hard Corrie try.

[RitaLittlewood]

That's because things could be better. Maybe if they cut the eps things would improve and the criticism would be less warranted. Look at the amount Emmerdale's had lately. It doesn't help they claimed multiple endings meaning what should have been tonight's would have had multiple Duckie scenes too. It's all crap. They hyped it to get ratings. The people who watched won't stay. They never do. Look at the EE Christmas Day. Where's those 14 million viewers now?

Patsy