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Last week was a big one for fans of Carla Connor and Lisa Swain, with the pair finally sleeping together after months of dancing around each other, but it ended on a sour note.
As we say goodbye to another Swarla-heavy week, with particular emphasis on heavy, here’s a summary of everything that happened between Weatherfield’s top cop and factory owner in the last few days.
Monday: Awkward encounters
Monday’s (25th November) episode opened with Lisa and Betsy running into Carla and Ryan in the street, with Betsy helpfully prolonging the conversation to check she still had a job after crushing every hope Carla had with her mum.
Later, Carla got a call from Lisa asking to talk things over, so the two women met in the Rovers under the watchful eye of Ryan. To Carla’s dismay, Lisa told her that, although she had enjoyed what had happened between them, she wasn’t ready for anything else.
Monday: Carla was attacked
When Carla arrived back at the factory, she found it ransacked, after Betsy had let in Mason’s brothers using the spare key. As she went to call the police, Logan hit her over the head and she fell to the floor. We next saw her being interviewed by PC Tinker and, in the stubborn nature of hers that we love so much, she refused to go to hospital. Famous last words and all that.
After turning away Roy and Ryan, who were both concerned about her wellbeing, she locked herself in the factory, only to not make it back to her desk for those all-important calls. She fell to the ground, taking a rack of clothes with her.
Betsy entered the factory hoping to sneakily return the spare key, only to find her boss out cold. She called an ambulance, then made her way to the police station to inform Lisa. The Swains headed to the hospital and were told by Ryan that Carla had a bleed on the brain and was in surgery.
Wednesday: Carla woke up
Wednesday’s (27th November) episode opened with a dishevelled Lisa at Carla’s bedside, willing her to wake up, before her phone rang and she had to rush off. A while later, Carla woke up and we learned that the only real damage done was that bandage that she’d have to wear for the length of the episode.
When Roy pried about why Lisa had been there all night, Carla opened up and told him she thought there might be something between them. Ever the loving father figure she’s always needed, he told her he just wants her to be happy.
Lisa then arrived with the excuse of updating Carla on the case, though Carla saw through her professional visage. “What else can’t you say?” may have stung, but it was what we were all thinking.
Wednesday: Developments about Becky
At the police station, Matty was let go because of a lack of evidence but, before leaving, he made jibe to Lisa about Becky’s murder. This sent the detective spiralling, meanwhile Carla figured out that Betsy was behind her attack, heartbroken that it was only fuelled by the teenager’s complicated feelings about her mum dating again.
Later, Lisa came to confide in Carla about Becky, just as she had almost six months prior. Carla had the intention of spilling the beans about Betsy’s involvement to her, but felt too bad after the detective broke down in tears about her late wife to land her daughter in it too.
Friday: Words of wisdom
In Friday’s (29th November) episode, Carla was disappointed when Lisa didn’t come with Roy and Ryan to take her home from hospital, but Lisa was on her own mission, following Mason’s brothers to the point where they cried harassment.
When Roy saw Lisa in the cafe, he wasted no time in gently confronting her about Carla. Once again, she used the excuse that she was doing what was best for Betsy, but Roy shut her down, telling her in no uncertain terms that her daughter wouldn’t be reliant on her in the same way for much longer and she’d end up alone. Way to get to the point.
Friday: Swarla reunited
What Roy said was the push Lisa needed, and she visited a still-recovering Carla. Whilst she looked to be expecting yet another rejection, she was stunned into silence when the detective admitted her feelings for her, wanting to see where the relationship could go.
Carla left her hanging which, by Lisa’s own admission, she absolutely deserved, given how much she’d let her guard down and been hurt over the last few weeks. She couldn’t keep up the hard act for long, however, and smiled before Lisa kissed her gently.
The next thing we knew, the pair were telling Betsy that they were giving the relationship a go. The teenager responded far better to this news than her mum expected but, as Lisa left to pick up food to celebrate, her and Carla came head to head.
Betsy had been worried that Carla would tell all about her involvement in the attack, but Carla promised that she wouldn’t say anything about this particular incident, warning however that the next time, Betsy wouldn’t be so lucky.
Upcoming: Swarla go public
Whilst we have a much-needed, in my opinion, break from the Swain-Connors and their exploits for the next couple of weeks, their Christmas won’t be a quiet one. Their neighbours are set to find out about their relationship in the run up to festivities, with the couple “really committing to each other” close to the big day, according to producer Kate Brooks.
Whilst Carla hasn't had any qualms about her sexuality as yet, we know she’s anxious about the gossip from other people. With this and the secret her and Betsy are keeping from Lisa, how long will the honeymoon phase last before things start to go wrong?
