On DS there's a theory that Aiden will commit suicide, from the spoilers in a few weeks time and the whole kidney storyline it seems viable :(

 

That would be awful (as in heartbreaking, not like "don't do it"), it would be something that would be a memorable and impactful exit which they keep promising. And it would mean something for Eva too, so that both their exits are memorable as both actors seem to keep promising.

 

Also the spoilers that he starts giving stuff away (letting Summer go shopping with his credit card and giving Liam his watch) backs that theory up as well, that's the sort of behaviour you can see before suicide.

 

That'd be even more complaints then :rofl:

Aiden’s Suicide has been confirmed.

I'm actually really looking forward to seeing how they tackle it, it's been a long while since I can remember a soap tackling suicide in such a way. There's been assisted suicides and stuff like villains killing themselves (which I guess is to avoid prison or they're totally unhinged sort of thing), but I can't remember there ever being something like this in a soap with suicide, it's more topical rather than a senstionalist end of a plot like the latter example. I don't know how to say it without sounding like I am trivialising "other" suicides, of course it's important to cover no matter what but suicide in soaps tends to be stuff like that, and I think it's so important to show that sometimes it isn't because you're some unhinged villain or you're dying anyway and want to take control, it can be something that just can't be seen or stopped, something you struggle with in silence.

 

The last time Corrie did this I think was Katy Harris, but that was still becasue she'd killed her dad and couldn't live with the guilt. Of course as I said that's still important and still tragic, but this is such an important point to make at present about mental health aside from just being a tragic or sad storyline, especially with a male character. It's 2018 but still there's that awful discourse in society that men have to just put up with it and suffer in silence because they're meant to be strong and solider on, and this shows what happens when people have that mindset drilled into them.

I've not been watching Corrie so can't comment first hand, but it seems people have a problem with this development because there's been no build up. Viewers have not seen Aidan's battle with mental health; there's no heart or truth involved, it's just plot-driven and another box ticked for issue-led 'stories'. I assume Corrie is trying to show that suicide is out of the blue and will show the effects it has to the community; yes suicide is out of the blue, but not to the person who does it. That person struggles every day and it appears viewers have not been shown any of that with Aidan. No doubt it will be a ratings success and people will comment on how brave Corrie is for tackling such an issue, but is it really brave to completely dismiss any struggle that the person in question has experienced? I'm not surprised that people are disgusted with this story and how Corrie has dealt with other stories recently.

I've not been watching Corrie so can't comment first hand, but it seems people have a problem with this development because there's been no build up. Viewers have not seen Aidan's battle with mental health; there's no heart or truth involved, it's just plot-driven and another box ticked for issue-led 'stories'. I assume Corrie is trying to show that suicide is out of the blue and will show the effects it has to the community; yes suicide is out of the blue, but not to the person who does it. That person struggles every day and it appears viewers have not been shown any of that with Aidan. No doubt it will be a ratings success and people will comment on how brave Corrie is for tackling such an issue, but is it really brave to completely dismiss any struggle that the person in question has experienced? I'm not surprised that people are disgusted with this story and how Corrie has dealt with other stories recently.

I find it hard to take Kate Oates seriously tbh. She likes to chase ratings with constant sensationalism and nothing feels sincere. The show is just a constant misery fest from the spoilers and when I do watch and all the endless issue based storylines end ridiculously.

I find it hard to take Kate Oates seriously tbh. She likes to chase ratings with constant sensationalism and nothing feels sincere. The show is just a constant misery fest from the spoilers and when I do watch and all the endless issue based storylines end ridiculously.

Yeah, the constant churning out of issue storyline after issue storyline like a conveyor belt is really overwhelming and doesn't allow the storylines to develop and breathe. Don't get me wrong, I think it's fab that Corrie is willing to put these things out there, but the execution is all wrong and it ends up not giving the subject matter the care, attention, heart and truth it deserves.

 

Apparently Kate Oates is on Lorraine in the morning to defend the storyline - this isn't the first time she's done this and surely you have to question how well you are portraying storylines if you can't let them do the talking.

There’s also rumours that

one of Michelle’s sons (with Ryan returning) will kill each other as Kate Oates made reference to Cain and Abel talking about them together, or at least like Ross and Pete a few years ago in Emmerdale.

For goodness sake :lol:

Yeah, the constant churning out of issue storyline after issue storyline like a conveyor belt is really overwhelming and doesn't allow the storylines to develop and breathe. Don't get me wrong, I think it's fab that Corrie is willing to put these things out there, but the execution is all wrong and it ends up not giving the subject matter the care, attention, heart and truth it deserves.

 

Apparently Kate Oates is on Lorraine in the morning to defend the storyline - this isn't the first time she's done this and surely you have to question how well you are portraying storylines if you can't let them do the talking.

Most of these storylines are pretty good at the beginning but just go to sensationalism near the end, like Bethany’s grooming having Mel kidnapping her, Rana’s family trying to kidnap her, Toyah trying for a baby with that ridiculous cover up and more. Nothing has substance.

 

Oates was much better on Emmerdale but I saw this coming in the last year of her stint there

There has been signs, but they've been quite subtle. For example he's being quite generous which can happen when people commit suicide, and he didn't seem to really be affected positively by getting the factory for example which seemed to be all he ever wanted. But admittedly I didn't pick those up really until Andrew posted above about it and I thought actually yeah that makes sense. I think they might be going for an angle of how hard it is to spot the signs until it's too late, so even if you notice subtle things then make sure you check on people and do all you can, but when it's something that hasn't been tackled really I think it would be better to properly show some of the signs and educate and raise awareness of those a bit more. People can't be educated on knowing the signs of when someone might be feeling that down and low without it being tackled on screen, and for me I think that's the most important part of tackling something like this. Perhaps in the aftermath, they'll allude to some of that in talking about how he was and feeling guilty that they didn't pick up on it, we'll see.We haven't seen this week also, that may elucidate that side of things a bit more... I know a week is hardly enough to build up that picture, but still. It's something I'm passionate about and it really needs to be tackled and talked about as it's the biggest killer of males under 45, I'm going to wait to see how they actually handle the process and see the proper episodes. With something like this it's hard to tackle it in a way that isn't too gruesome and shocking, and hard to tackle in a way that pleases everybody, but I am looking forward to seeing it play out.

Yeah, I have heard about those subtle signs you mentioned, but as you say, for a topic that's not been explored enough on TV, it's not really enough to educate and raise awareness. Corrie could definitely have both shown Aidan's struggle over the course of several months and have shown the effects of the suicide that it has on the community and how some may think back on the signs they didn't take notice of etc. That's how I thought Eastenders would be portraying depression and suicide with Lee in Eastenders during those initial few months of SOC's reign, but we all know how that ended up.

 

As things stand, it almost feels like Aidan's suicide isn't even about him which is really wrong. I have no doubt the episodes next week will be done sensitively, as double bill of David's rape was, but to dismiss the struggle that Aidan would have gone through really doesn't sit right with me and, as Andrew said, Kate Oates has a tendency to take things to the sensational, so we may not get a respectful aftermath beyond a small handful of episodes.

it’s going to be one of the most memorable and important moments of coronation street’s history

it’s one of the last few taboos and it’ll do an incredible amount of good to focus on it

Suicide is one of those taboos that is so hard to get right I think, I suppose there's a reason that it isn't tackled. It can either feel like it's not about the victim as this might be or if they actually showed more of it, it could be a bit *too* harrowing (13 Reasons Why got that criticism, for example). I don't think it's something we can really judge or pass off until we see it and how its done, because there are different angles to go about it. Like I said, if they do one route, you'll think hmm they could have done the other, so it's a difficult thing to do perfectly but when it's such a prominent issue it is ridiculous there's such a media silence. I know it's not a nice topic to cover, but it is so important as I keep stressing so I'll stop now :P

 

Personally I don't find all the gritty storylines too much or whatever, I see why some people might but when Kate is on it she's on it for me, I find the endless affair and secrecy plots awful but Bethany's abuse and David's rape have been done perfectly, so I have faith in this mostly, especially as it seems like Aiden's plot ties into David's and pushes that along. Jake also reminded me it gives Alison King something proper to work with which is always welcome, she's possibly the best actress in the show when given something proper to get into.

 

EDIT: Reading this I understand the approach a bit more - Shayne has put it across better than Kate Oates in her similar interview so I have more faith. It might be a bit subtle in its build up but I think in the effects it potentially has on so many characters, this is going to be heartbreaking and potentially amazing.

I've picked up on Aidan's strange behaviour a couple of times so they've definitely been sewing the seeds. I guess they're purposely trying to make it quite shocking by not showing much of it from Aidan's POV, so we'll understand it from the perspective of Johnny, Kate, Carla, etc. I think it's more than box-ticking another issue or chasing ratings. Soaps have skirted around the issue of suicide for a long time and I think this could be a brilliant step.

no pressure but this could be the best week of soap this year if it’s done correct

Tonight's episode was very emotional and thought-provoking. It was also totally needed to raise awareness of male mental health issues. I almost think it could have been either Aiden or David who committed suicide tonight.

That was incredible, it was heartbreaking to know Aiden was saying goodbye to everyone without actually saying it. I agree it was done so cleverly with David's stuff as well that if we hadn't known, it almost could have been the last episode for either (but that totally makes sense with how the two are intertwined in the coming weeks). I think this is going to be unmissable TV for the next few episodes!

The next two episodes are going to be powerful but will be well done.