🎭 Archers thread 125: Ambridge Mysteries! The Case Of The Missing Pandemic. Where Is Pat? What Is Lynda Snell's Kompromat? Follow the clues and discuss The Archers here.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Thank you, @PseudoBadger, for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads.

All views on The Archers welcome here! New blood welcomed. We don't all agree on all points and most of us are posting tongue in cheek a lot of the time, so don't worry about revealing that you’d love to be in the Mysteries, or other unusual views.

Spoilers: not on this thread, please. We don't wait for the omnibus to discuss the weeknight episodes, but we do try our best to avoid cross-contamination from //www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3853783--The-Archers-spoilers-thread-5-Cant-wait-for-7-02pm-Join-us-here, where spoilers are positively welcomed!

For newer listeners, lurkers or those who just have no idea what we're talking about, @DadDadDad has created this useful thread: //www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3557323-For-Archers-fans-a-guide-to-acronyms-on-the-long-running-discussion-threads-and-any-other-meta-thread-questions-you-may-have - BOOP point for him! (See thread for explanation.)

Thanks for thread title ideas to @Roysnewshirt and @Witchwife. Apologies if I’ve forgotten anyone else.

Do we think the Mysteries replace the usual fun storylines around giving things up for Lent? Light relief while we wait to see if the SWs go for realism and tragedy when Alice’s baby is born, or bottle out (as it were) and go for everything being fine? Will Jazzer and Tracy get back together again? (No bookie in the land would take money for that, of course they will.)

Over to you!

[DadDadDad]

Thanks again, @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g . As I've said before, during lockdown I've been a bit detached from TA and these threads (no commute with the radio), but I managed to catch a bit of the omnibus this week.

I found Gavin's speech to Kirsty quite moving. I know he's been an accomplice to slavery, but there did seem to be some remorse there, and it did bring alive the terrible situation of those who are the victims of modern slavery.

My other thought - and I expect you've covered it in previous threads - are they really ignoring the pandemic to the extent of having family events happening on the green etc?

[ILoveShula]

Thanks Gasp. I still like Shula but I can't stand Pip.

[Chemenger]

I can't stand Shula or Pip or Ruth (at the moment) and I hate the Mystery Play and all its ramifications. I may have to change my name to something with weevils in it if things get worse. Where is Brian? He may be the only character I like.

[DeusEx]

Checking in to new thread :)

[DeusEx]

And great title!

[MadameButterface]

Thanks Gaspode, good title n all

[MollyButton]

Great title.
Will Ruth and Pip realise there are two other people who are involved in inheriting Brookfield. I hope they go with Josh and Ben becoming more vocal. I'm also hoping for something juicy from the Home Farm partnership meeting with Ruairi

[WitchWife]

Damnit, ram-ifications would be good for a title re: the David/Ruth sheep fight. I've been on these threads literally years and never contributed to a title before! (Although I was the first to suggest The Bull-as-emoji)

I was just thinking how bemused I am by the lack of Ambridge lesbians and had a terrible thought. Are they going to make Mia the GenZ everyperson? so nonbinary etc, because obviously that's inseparable from being vegan and against the patriarchy... (in the minds of some scriptwriters)

[Roysnewshirt]

Thanks for the new thread and namecheck re thread title @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g but I don’t deserve it! I still haven’t got the hang of title-writing...

[Taswama]

Thanks for the new thread @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g .
The barrister defending Helen was lesbian, but obviously not from the first family.

[PursuingProxemicExactitude]

Fabulous, Gasp0! Thank you.

I rarely find (radio) reason to laugh between 6.30 and 7.00pm - but Marian Keyes and her Pistol boots; oh my!

Mention of Fondant Fancies! The Ambridge end is nigh ...

[EBearhug]

Good to hear some mention of vaccines.

[UntamedWisteria]

The scenes between Kirsty and Philip just underscored how desperately dire all the other plot lines are at the moment.

And I seem to have missed Jazzer hooking up with a new mate. What happened to Tracy?

[CaptainMyCaptain]

Jazzer went off in a huff after a tiff with Tracey and copped off with Jade.

[TheSilveryPussycat]

I found that episode somewhat excruciating.

I bet Tracey can do the pasta thing - they could have a competition, may the best laddette win.

I was shouting (in my head) at Kirsty for not walking out. Several times.

[BoreOfWhabylon]

Thanks as always Gasp0de.

[MadameButterface]

@WitchWife Alastair’s sister (Fiona?) came out to him and Jim last year i think, when it was Jim’s big birthday party/abuse storyline.

[AskingQuestionsAllTheTime]

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g, thanks for the new thread.

[WitchWife]

[quote MadameButterface]@WitchWife Alastair’s sister (Fiona?) came out to him and Jim last year i think, when it was Jim’s big birthday party/abuse storyline.[/quote]
Oh good point, she was nice but it’s never a permanent character - wasn’t the lawyer thingummy’s daughter as well?

[Roysnewshirt]

Jade is a horror! And she sounds about the same age as Joelene - certainly not a younger woman.

[AskingQuestionsAllTheTime]

Well, she is played by someone who was born in May 1981, so younger than Jolene but definitely a bit on the old side for Johnny. Definitely not (as they kept on saying) "too young for Jazzer".

[JanFebAnyMonth]

I wasn't sure where the Kirsty Phillip conversation left us really. Well apart from showing how very selfish he is.

[PursuingProxemicExactitude]

I must say, the Jade actor - Ayesha Antoine - doesn't look like someone who would use the word 'buddy' to anyone over two years old. Certainly not repeatedly to a grown man.

I assume the SW knew who had been cast for the part?

[Nith]

The scenes between Kirsty and Philip just underscored how desperately dire all the other plot lines are at the moment.

I thought those scenes in the last episode were very good. It was fascinating to hear the extraordinary levels of self-deception Philip is indulging in, to say nothing of the self-pity. But even better to hear Kirsty falling for absolutely none of it.

But I disagree about the other plot lines. I really don't want TA to go down the TV soap path of having loads of dramas going on the whole time. I'm very happy to have Lynda bullying people into the mystery plays, Tony being happy with his trains, Jim helping Johnny with his car etc. Admittedly I could do with less of Jazzer's love life, but I'll forgive that, sadly the SWs aren't writing just for me

[Prestissimo]

I was interested that they bothered casting Jade when we all know she’ll only be around long enough for Jazzer and Tracey to realise they’re in love. Maybe it was important to the SWs to demonstrate just how wrong Jade is...

I enjoyed the scenes with Kirsty and Philip - great that she was having none of it but fascinating to hear him vacillating between almost admitting that maybe he overstepped the mark and then realising that he really didn’t want to be in prison so he’d better not. I felt like he was more of a coward than in outright denial. Horrible man.