It seemed like Todd Grimshaw had escaped the clutches of his abuser Theo Silverton, but Coronation Street left viewers in shock as the dangerous man once again crept back into Todd’s life with carefully calculated lies.

After the incident earlier this week, where Theo went on a rampage, hurled insults and even forced Todd to eat kebabs in a haunting manner, Todd decided to stand up and ignore all of his messages.

This was a moment that made many fans breathe a sigh of relief, as this character who had suffered a lot finally showed the necessary strength. But life is not that simple.

When Billy Mayhew – a kind but sometimes too trusting pastor – advised Todd to listen to Theo’s explanation, the door was accidentally opened again for this manipulator.

In the latest episode, Theo continued his “campaign of affection” by bringing Todd sweets that had been crushed on the way. This pathetic and comical act is not enough to sway Todd, and he resolutely walks away, leaving Theo in disgrace. However, the turning point comes at the coffee shop, when Theo runs into Billy and confesses that he is going to see a therapist – but tells Billy to keep it a secret from Todd. This detail makes the audience wonder: does he really want to change?

In fact, as usual, Theo is only good at embellishing. Instead of going to the therapy room, he turns to the pub with Gary Windass. On impulse, he justifies that telling everything to a stranger would be like reopening a deep wound, especially when it comes to Noah – a secret he is determined to bury. It is here that the audience witnesses the real face: Theo has never intended to change, but is cleverly exploiting the gullibility of others.

The drama is pushed to a climax when Theo accidentally runs into Todd and Billy at the Rovers. To Todd’s disbelief, he cleverly turned the situation around, fabricating a story about having completed the therapy session. When Todd expressed his pride, his sparkling eyes became proof that the lie had worked. Taking advantage of that moment, Theo increased the dose of “sweet poison”: he affirmed that he had sacrificed everything, including his family, to be with Todd, and now he was brave enough to go to therapy for their love.

Sadly, Todd – who was craving a little faith and comfort – easily fell into the trap. He even admitted his own guilt, claiming that he had also contributed to the previous abuse. The scene of the two hugging and kissing in the apartment made many viewers choke up: not because of happiness, but because they clearly saw the tragedy of a victim being psychologically manipulated.

When George Shuttleworth returned and saw the couple hugging, he happily thought that everything was “back to normal”. But the audience knows that behind that kiss is not love, but a dangerous lie. Todd may think he has found stability, but in fact, he is stepping deeper into the web that Theo has spun.

Coronation Street once again proves why this show has kept audiences hooked for decades: not just because of its romantic and warm family relationships, but also because of its gritty stories about abuse, manipulation and the fragility of trust. This time, viewers can only hope that Todd is wise enough to see the truth – before it’s too late.