We’ve had the shock return, now comes the fallout: grief, justice, and powerhouse performances.
Well, Corrie has gone and done it again. Just when I thought we were safe for a little while, sipping our cuppas and living in relative peace on the cobbles after the beautiful proposal, in strolls (or rather, breaks in) Becky Swain. And after three episodes of her being front and centre of the storyline, my emotions are basically a weather map: storm clouds, sudden sunshine, the odd tornado for good measure.
Let’s start with the obvious: Becky is not just popping back for a pint in the Rovers. She’s woven into a huge storyline, the depth of which we still don’t know. How deep does the connection to Costello go? Is she still involved with the gang? Has she been corrupt from the start? While that all means maximum drama and juicy screen time for Swarla (which is what we all want, right?), it also comes with a hefty side order of angst. And honestly? I’m still torn on it, the grief side anyway, and that’s okay. Part of me thinks, “Oof, are we really going there?” but another part of me sees the potential for something really meaningful.
Because here’s the silver lining: this could finally be Lisa and Betsy’s chance to properly let Becky go, and for Lisa to move on with her life as a future Connor-Swain with a clear conscience. Lisa has been carrying around immense guilt, never mind other feelings, over Becky’s death for nearly four years, and Becky’s presence now forces all of those feelings into the open. It’s raw, it’s painful, but it’s also necessary. And for Betsy, who’s been living with fragments and shadows of who Becky was, this could be the moment she truly understands both Becky’s flaws and Carla’s strength. It’s a powerful way for her to realise that Becky wasn’t the mum she put on a pedestal, and that Carla isn’t just a stand-in, she’s the mum Betsy was meant to have. And if you don’t get misty-eyed at the thought of Carla being called Lisa’s soulmate (hi Vicky, thanks for reminding us repeatedly!), then honestly, you might be made of stone.
Now, speculation corner (aka my favourite place to live): Could Lisa and Kit, with a helping hand from honorary DI Carla Connor herself, dig out the truth about Becky and Costello? Imagine them finally sending those two off to rot in prison – justice served with a pint of Newton & Ridley. It would be the perfect excuse to shift Lisa into a DI position, less opportunity to put herself in harms way, but still very much in the thick of the job that is such a huge part of who she is as a person. Plus, imagine the dynamic if Carla, who has always been the emotional glue, got to be the one cheering Lisa on in a more grounded role, rather than worrying every time she steps out the door.
On the flip side, there’s the darker road: what if Becky shows her true colours and goes after Lisa, Carla or Betsy? If Betsy were to finally see Becky for who she really is – a corrupt, maybe even narcissistic woman – she wouldn’t be mourning her mother’s physical absence, but her emotional one. She’d have to face the painful truth that the person she thought gave her life was never really the person she believed in at all.
What if Becky really does end up dead this time? Grim, yes, but it would open the door for Coronation Street to run with a proper grief arc. Last time around, we parachuted in at the tail end of Lisa’s mourning, as she was starting to heal with Carla. This time, though, Carla would be there from the very beginning. A shoulder to cry on, and the steady hand to guide both Lisa and Betsy through the heartbreak. We’d see her not just as Lisa’s rock, but as Betsy’s anchor too, keeping them both afloat when the weight of grief threatens to pull them under. And imagine how much richer that would feel: instead of seeing Lisa try to carry it all alone, we’d watch her lean on Carla from the start, showing us just how unshakable their bond really is. Painful to watch, sure, but also prime ground for the kind of powerhouse acting this cast is known for.
And speaking of acting… let’s just take a moment. Vicky, Sydney, Ali, and the newly introduced Amy Cudden – they are knocking it out of the park. We’re only three episodes deep in this storyline and already I’m floored by how layered, how real, and how emotionally wrecking their performances have been. These are the kind of episodes you rewatch not because they’re easy, but because the acting deserves a slow clap every time. Sydney especially has this uncanny way of making Betsy’s emotions feel like they’re sitting right there in your own chest, while Ali and Vicky’s chemistry is still pure magic, even if the scenes are full of angst. And Amy Cudden? Already proving why Becky was never going to return quietly.
Of course, the big question is: how long is Becky sticking around? A few weeks? A few months? Long enough to set fire to everyone’s emotions and then vanish again? Corrie loves to keep us guessing, and I suspect this is no different. But here’s what I am sure of: whatever happens, however many tears we’re forced to cry, Lisa and Carla will be okay in the end. They’re solid. They’ve weathered storms before, and this one, as heartbreaking and confusing as it may be, is just another chapter in their love story.
So buckle up, stock up on tissues, and maybe keep a strong drink handy (emergency lagers anyone?). Becky Swain is back, and whether you love her, hate her, or just don’t trust her one bit, she’s going to make her mark. And if this storyline gives Lisa and Betsy the chance to truly let go, while showing us the strength of Carla’s love and the depth of this family? Then that will make the nights we stay up past 3am after spoilers, and all the 7am spiralling, absolutely worth it.
What could happen next?
Here’s my thoughts on a few different directions we could see this storyline going.
Becky and Costello exposed
Lisa and Kit piece together the truth, bringing Becky and Costello’s shady dealings crashing down. Prison bars clang shut, justice is served, and Lisa steps up into a DI role where she can use her skills without constantly being in mortal danger. Cue Carla standing proudly by her side.
Becky’s real death
If Corrie goes for heartbreak, Becky might meet her end for real this time. Brutal? Yes. But it would allow us to see grief from the start – Lisa and Betsy shattered, with Carla right there as their anchor. A devastating story, but one that could be a career-defining showcase for Vicky, Sydney, and Ali.
A redemption arc (with a twist)
What if Becky isn’t all bad? Maybe she tries, in her messy, chaotic way, to do right by Betsy before she disappears again. Imagine the bittersweet heartbreak of Betsy getting a glimpse of “the real Becky” before losing her for good, but finally being able to let go without unanswered questions.
The chaos option
Because this is Corrie, we can’t rule out a curveball. Maybe Becky fakes her death (again), maybe she cuts a deal and vanishes, or maybe she drags Lisa and Carla into one last dangerous showdown before bowing out. Unlikely? Maybe. Entertaining? Absolutely.
Whatever road the writers choose, one thing feels certain: Lisa, Betsy, and Carla will come out the other side together. And really, isn’t that what we’re all rooting for?