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Weekly Reviews > Episodes 2777-2781 by Billy

Originally broadcast in 1997. UK Gold: Monday 30th June - Friday 4th July 2003
Writers: Marieke Hardy, Louise Le Nay, Jeff Truman, Kit Oldfield. Directors: Chris Adshead, Tony Osicka.

A new flatmate for the girls in Number 30, and Phil Martin and daughter Debbie are at loggerheads over The Coffee Shop...

The major storyline this week concerned Phil and Debbie. Debbie felt she was ready to take on the challenging task of running The Coffee Shop. Phil was reluctant to hear her out until she put together a proper proposal. Debbie did so, and when Phil still showed no sign of supporting her, saying she was inexperienced and that the business venture as a whole was too risky, she was devastated. She turned to Helen for support, and Helen offered to put in her money as an investor so Debbie could get the business off the floor. When Phil heard of this, he erupted and couldn't believe Debbie would take her Gran's savings. He made sure that Helen pulled out, which only make Debbie more angry with Phil.

The scenes between Phil and Debbie were fantastic - you really could cut the atmosphere with a knife at times! The deterioration of their usually strong father/daughter relationship was acted out well by all, and Helen being the meat in the sandwich also provided some great scenes. What Debbie failed to see was that Phil was only trying to look out for his daughter, and I think Marnie Reece Wilmore (Debbie) portrayed Debbie's hurt well, in that she thought her father was deliberately out to get her.

Other troubles were brewing over the road with Lance Wilkinson. Lance felt Susan was out to get him when she suggested that he is kept back a year due to his poor grades in his last school. This was the last thing Lance wanted, and convinced Susan was some ogre out to get him, he swore his revenge on her. So when Libby saw some graffiti on the school saying "Susan Is A ----", Lance was the chief suspect. Luckily they soon all realised he wasn't responsible, and when it was suggested that Toadie tutor Lance so he can catch up, he eventually came round to the idea and co-operated.

I'm loving how everyone has already spotted Andrew Bibby's (Lance) acting talent - with the storyline involving the illegal goings-on at the nursery, and now this, he has really been given heaps of chances to shine, and shine he has. He portrayed his anger at Susan really well, and you did genuinally feel sorry for the guy. I'm looking forward to watching his character develop again.

Susan and Ruth were also good during this storyline, as their friendship was tested and strengthened by what had happened. I felt the characters needed something like this so that they could become stronger friends. It seems to have worked well.

Elsewhere, Libby decided she would help Darren for a day doing labouring work for him. Darren teased her saying she wouldn't be able to handle it, and after he had gone, she enlisted the help of Phil and others to help her shift the bricks after her wheelbarrow broke. She tricked Darren into believing she had done all the work, and when he found out she treated his job like a joke, he stormed off in a huff - but the joke was on Libby, as he was only pretending to be mad at her.

The usual 'filler' storyline for the week, nothing special. To sum up, this week was great mainly because of Debbie and Phil's arguements over The Coffee Shop, and Lance's misunderstanding with Susan - fine acting from the four and a nice set up for the week ahead.