Coronation Street fans are bracing for another storm on the cobbles as Gary Windass, once known as one of Weatherfield’s most dangerous men, appears to be slipping back into the shadows of his past. After a brutal assault left him in a coma, Gary’s recovery has done little to heal the wounds that go deeper than the skin. In fact, recent episodes hint that Evil Gary might just be making a terrifying comeback.

Gary’s latest storyline began with a shocking twist—he had been attacked during a blackmail plot by Lou Malis, a woman who not only assaulted him but also created a web of lies about both her and Gary’s identities. The deceit was part of a desperate plan to cover her tracks, and the fallout has been explosive. When Gary finally woke from his coma, viewers witnessed a man unraveling emotionally, one whose sense of identity and control had been shaken to the core.

Maria Connor, Gary’s wife, was finally able to track him down and bring him home. But their reunion was far from joyful. In a tense and emotional scene, Gary opened up about how the attack had affected him. He confessed to feeling like a pushover, admitting that people had been taking advantage of him for too long. Maria, seemingly dismissive, questioned who he was talking about, which only served to agitate Gary further. The moment ended with him storming off—frustrated, unheard, and clearly harboring deeper turmoil.

This scene may have been short, but it was packed with implication. Gary’s demeanor was eerily reminiscent of the man he used to be: the one who murdered loan shark Rick Neelan and hid the body, the same man who had ties to the tragic collapse that killed Rana Habeeb and was indirectly responsible for the 2019 factory siege. While Gary has tried to reform in recent years, living a quieter life with Maria and stepping away from criminal activities, his buried demons appear to be clawing their way back to the surface.

The fan reaction has been immediate and intense. Social media is buzzing with speculation, with comments ranging from “Psycho Gary is on his way back” to “Please, not Evil Gary again!” Clearly, the audience is both dreading and anticipating the return of one of the soap’s most complex anti-heroes. Many believe the current plot is setting up a return to Gary’s violent ways, especially as he struggles to reconcile his past with the man he’s trying to be now.

But is it as simple as Gary going bad again? Or could this be something deeper?

Several fans have pointed out that Gary’s storyline might actually be steering into a mental health arc. The trauma from his assault, coupled with unresolved guilt from his violent past, could be manifesting as a relapse into PTSD. This wouldn’t be the first time Coronation Street tackled difficult issues—Gary’s previous struggles with post-traumatic stress following his time in the army have been well documented. Could the show be gearing up to explore the long-term effects of trauma and masculinity in crisis?

If so, the writing is already laying strong groundwork. Gary’s tension, his inability to open up, his desire to feel “tough” again—all point toward a man at war with himself. His outburst with Maria wasn’t just anger; it was a cry for help that went unanswered. And with the stress building, fans are wondering just how long it’ll be before he explodes in a far more dangerous way.

Meanwhile, another thread is unraveling elsewhere on the Street. Audi Alahan has just pulled off a staged robbery of the family shop in an attempt to claim insurance money, dragging his friend Brody into the scam. With Bernie now aware of the truth and Dev Alahan making an unexpected return, this subplot is sure to collide with Gary’s arc in unpredictable ways. Could Gary get dragged into their mess as he seeks control or a way to “fix” his life again?

As Coronation Street continues to weave together these tense and character-driven plots, one thing is certain—Gary Windass is at a crossroads. Whether he becomes a cautionary tale of unresolved trauma or slips fully back into his violent persona remains to be seen.

One thing is for sure: viewers should brace themselves. Evil Gary might be back—and this time, he could be even more dangerous.