“You don’t need to try your luck,” Kevin snapped at Carl in Coronation Street (8 September), but fans know luck is the only thing keeping Carl afloat. Once again, the Weatherfield bad boy has woven himself into every thread of chaos, from his dangerous affair with Abi to pulling the strings behind Brody and Dylan’s car thefts. Now, with the law closing in and his cover slipping, viewers are asking the same question: how long before Carl’s empire crumbles?

Carl cornered at the garage

The drama kicked off at Webster’s garage when Kevin caught Carl working and demanded answers. Carl tried to bluff his way through, claiming he was “just trying to make amends,” even managing a smile as he wished Jack a happy birthday. But Kevin wasn’t having it, firing back that Carl wasn’t welcome and should stop “testing his luck.” For all his smooth words, Carl’s desperation was showing, and Abi’s quiet support only added fuel to suspicions.

Affair with Abi reaches breaking point

Later, Abi slipped into Carl’s hotel room under the cover of night. What started with hushed confessions of missing each other turned into a full-blown sex scene that left viewers reeling. The intimacy between them is undeniable, but so too is the danger. When Kevin called mid-encounter, Carl deliberately stopped Abi from answering, a chilling reminder of how far he will go to control their secret. This is no simple fling; it’s a ticking time bomb.

Brody and Dylan under Carl’s thumb

Meanwhile, Carl’s influence stretched beyond the bedroom. In a café, he discreetly signalled to Brody and Dylan about an upcoming job, only to quickly order a coffee when Kit appeared, narrowly dodging exposure. Brody’s loyalty is obvious, but Dylan’s nerves are beginning to show. If the pair are caught, it’s only a matter of time before Carl’s name surfaces, and fans are already predicting betrayal from within his own ranks.

Lisa and Betsy drawn into danger

The fallout from Tyrone’s accident pulled Lisa and Carl to the scene, where Betsy was thankfully unharmed but visibly shaken. Betsy’s account of what happened tied Carl even closer to the chaos surrounding the younger generation. With Lisa already uneasy about Betsy’s entanglements, Carl’s presence at her side looked more like menace than support. The net around him is tightening, and every interaction seems to drag another innocent into his orbit.

Fans fear Carl is too dangerous to stop

Social media exploded as the episode aired, with many dubbing Carl the most dangerous man on the cobbles right now. Some are convinced Brody and Dylan will flip on him the moment they’re caught, while others believe Abi’s guilt could see her expose the affair. But a vocal group of fans argue Carl is too clever, too slippery, and will twist the Street around his finger until he chooses to bring it down himself.

Endgame approaches for Weatherfield’s villain

Carl’s story has become the beating heart of Weatherfield’s darkest plotline. He is a lover, a liar, and a puppet master, all at once. But with Kevin suspicious, Abi conflicted, and the boys on the brink of disaster, his downfall feels inevitable. The only question is whether Carl goes quietly or drags the Street into ruin with him. One thing is certain: this is just the beginning of his most dangerous chapter yet.