Coronation Street's beloved couple Carla Connor and Lisa Swain, affectionately known as 'Swarla' by their devoted fanbase, finally reunited during Friday night's episode of the world's longest-running soap opera. However, the long-awaited moment was met with significant criticism from viewers who felt the scenes were underwhelming and failed to address the dramatic events that had torn the pair apart.
The Tumultuous Journey to Reconciliation
The factory boss Carla, portrayed by Alison King since 2006, first struck up a relationship with police officer Lisa Swain, played by Vicky Myers, in November 2024. Their romance progressed to an engagement last September, but was instantly thrown into chaos when Lisa's wife Becky, also a police officer, returned from the dead. Becky's supposed death in the line of duty was revealed to be part of a corrupt cover-up, and upon her return to Weatherfield, she became determined to reunite with Lisa and their teenage daughter Betsy.
Becky, portrayed by Amy Cudden, went to extreme lengths to remove Carla from the picture, including locking her in a wardrobe and later a shipping container. Although Carla was eventually rescued by DC Kit Green, the situation culminated in a dramatic crash on a dark country road during the soap's crossover event with Emmerdale. Becky was arrested and sent to prison, but Carla ultimately ended her relationship with Lisa after discovering that Lisa had slept with Becky while Carla was being held hostage.
A Reunion That Divided Fans
The path to reconciliation began earlier in the week when Lisa, after getting drunk, attempted to profess her love for Carla and wrote her a letter explaining her feelings. On Friday's episode, Carla arrived at number six with a bacon sandwich as a hangover cure for Lisa. After confirming their mutual love, the pair shared a kiss and headed upstairs.
Despite initially planning to "take it slow," Carla quickly changed her mind. When they visited the Rovers Return later that day, she enthusiastically announced to her Underworld employees that she and Lisa were back together, ordering two bottles of champagne to celebrate the reunion.
While many fans had been eagerly anticipating Swarla's reunion, numerous viewers expressed disappointment that the pivotal moment played out in what they described as "lacklustre" scenes. A significant point of contention was the complete absence of discussion about the traumatic ordeal Carla endured at the hands of Lisa's wife, including being kidnapped and held against her will.
Viewer Reactions and Criticisms
One disappointed fan commented: "That was underwhelming. One of my favourite things about Swarla has always been the way they communicate with each other. To not even have a conversation about anything that’s happened is weird. Carla led the whole reunion with no emotion from Lisa whatsoever!"
Another viewer expressed similar sentiments: "It was cute to see Carla happy again, but I also would've liked more focus on Lisa (like Carla expressing she understood Lisa was manipulated for 20 years) and Betsy (seeing Lauren's joy at #Swarla reunion was cute, but I'm more invested in Betsy seeing her parents back together)."
A third fan offered this critique: "That reunion felt a bit lacklustre for me. It seemed like they missed a chance to dive deep into their feelings and how they've both handled things. With all the buildup, I expected more raw emotion or clarity, not just surface-level dialogue!"
A fourth viewer raised concerns about the relationship's foundation: "I think it was really important they should’ve had a heart-to-heart first. Carla knows Lisa loves her but she also knows she slept with and was leaving with Becky. She could still think the only reason Lisa’s with her is because Becky’s no longer around."
Support Amidst the Criticism
Despite the vocal criticism, some fans were simply delighted to see their favourite soap couple reunited. One supporter reasoned: "Some people r never satisfied, I'm happy they r back together, it was a bit rushed! There will be more scenes between them and they're gonna talk about what happened. They'll come out of it stronger!"
Another enthusiastic fan declared: "Even though there was a lot going on in today's #corrie episode but #swarla getting back together was so brilliant!!!!"
Coronation Street continues to air weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with fans now watching closely to see how the relationship between Carla and Lisa develops following their controversial reunion.
