Coronation Street may have inadvertently revealed Joel Deering's connection to Lauren Bolton in a cryptic scene that aired eight months prior to her murder.
Joel was unveiled as Lauren's killer on Thursday night, with a flashback revealing the moment he violently attacked her with a wooden chair leg. Hope Stape might have uncovered his secret when she discovered Lauren's missing necklace in Joel's car while cleaning it.
A chilling scene showed Joel looking visibly distressed over this discovery, before the flashback of his attack on Lauren in her flat in February was shown. Since then, Lauren has been missing, and Roy Cropper was charged with her murder.
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As Roy was released and Nathan Curtis became the prime suspect, viewers finally learned that Joel was the real culprit. However, some observant fans remembered a scene from eight months ago that might have foreshadowed the grim events, reports the Mirror.
Moreover, it revealed a link between the characters that had likely been overlooked. Although we haven't seen Joel and Lauren together, and only minor hints suggested he was the mystery man tormenting her earlier this year, a scene from last September could have been a significant clue, reports the Mirror.
A creepy remark made by Joel to Lauren at the time might also have hinted at her eventual fate. In the scene, Lauren was being questioned at the police station for criminal damage, marking Joel's first appearance.
Lauren's charge was reduced to a caution, and she nervously accompanied Joel into the station's reception, where Roy and Dee-Dee Bailey were waiting. Dee-Dee would later become Joel's partner.
Introduced as an attorney, Joel offered some parting words to Lauren, advising, "Look after yourself, Lauren." It's suggested that around this time, or perhaps shortly afterwards, he began grooming her.
Merely five months after this interaction, Lauren went missing. Fast forward three more months, and Joel was exposed as Lauren's murderer, although no one is aware of their previously established connection.
The shocking reveal of Joel reassuring Lauren mere months before supposedly taking her life, coupled with their significant connection, has floored audience members. Some believe this early scene hinted towards Lauren's untimely death at the hands of Joel.
A fan brought attention to this scene from September the prior year, sharing online: "Thanks to the kind souls who reminded me of Joel's introductory scene from September last year. Here it is. Ooooo the foreshadowing! ! " Echoing the sentiment, another fan noted: "It was right there and we all missed it."
