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Discuss your favourite podcast, radio show or The Archers episode.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Is that a CHICKEN roasting in the oven Rob, or are you just pleased to see me? Oh and Hayley, LTB. Discuss The Archers here.

978 replies

PseudoBadger · 14/09/2014 14:39

How about we immortalise Schrodinger's Baby in the opening paragraph?

How long will this thread last DadDadDad?

OP posts:
PetulaGordino · 01/10/2014 09:12

oh yes forgot about jazzer. that a nice insight into the character

AllMimsyWereTheBorogoves · 01/10/2014 09:18

Completely agree with all those points, Zero, Petula and Pseudo. I didn't find it boring either.

Caroline, where do I send the bill for compensation for my emotional distress at your post? Envy [that's green for vomiting, by the way, not envy]

PetulaGordino · 01/10/2014 09:21

we also got pat talking with enthusiasm about johnny and john to helen, with helen successfully steering the conversation back to herself with a yawn

PetulaGordino · 01/10/2014 09:22

actually, i'm not entirely sure whether that happened. i listened whist drifting off to sleep so may not have caught everything!

BuildYourOwnSnowman · 01/10/2014 10:10

Helen seems remarkably disinterested in her nephew.

I'm not convinced rob is after her inheritance - especially if he gets stick with a kid!

I think he just likes to be in total control. Bad people are not 100% bad otherwise they would be easier to spot! I know a guy who is a total arsehole at work but is the soppiest most doting husband and father. It's really weird!

unitarian · 01/10/2014 10:23

Helen has never been able to deal with Henry on her own though, has she? I remember she freaked out rather badly about the way he was behaving on the day she moved their stuff to Rob's.

Rob was being an excellent DSD last night, perhaps in contrast, so it crossed my mind that we're heading for a scenario where her mental capacity is doubted - though we have doubted it for years! - what with her 'losing' the one and only invoice she has dealt with for months.

What he was really doing was underlining how much she needs him. Mr Perfection. OTOH she might be able to deal with Henry a little better if Rob wasn't undermining her with him by letting him do things when she has said no. (Last time they went to The Bull).

He also knows that H will extoll his virtues as perfect dad to anyone she ever has contact with, a dwindling number of people, and so he won't look so bad when he rejects the child Jess is having. Unless he's going to attempt to get custody of that baby because he's such a perfect dad.

Mind you, having one wife who he claims is deranged is bad enough but having another woman who is also losing her marbles is a massive red flag.

He's such a sinister character that it's impossible not to look for ulterior motives in all he does.

ppeatfruit · 01/10/2014 10:25

Sorry bluestocking This is such a busy thread and I'm watching a much bigger screen in the evenings Thanks for filling her in Unitarian Grin

trevortrevorslattery · 01/10/2014 11:21

BYOS I am laughing at the idea of Jazzer doing all his pig duties in full scottish national dress!

nauticant · 01/10/2014 11:37

And I agree with AllMimsy, Zero, Petula and Pseudo. The Archers works best when it mainly ambles along with developing the background (like the Knob and Henry scene being open to two very different interpretations) and there being occasional BIG EVENTS.

One thing that I don't want to see is it being turned it into a cascade of dramatic events. I was thinking the other week that there seems to be developing a cycle of big Friday event followed by Sunday unconvincing fall-out.

LillianGish · 01/10/2014 11:40

I agree BYOS with a regard to bad people not being 100 percent bad. That's what makes Rob such an interesting and believable character. He's not a caricature - otherwise why would Helen have fallen for him in the first place. She does have doubts (after the phone call from his mum, when his mum and dad failed to turn up, when Jess turned up pregnant) but he manages to bury them by behaving like the model partner in the following days. it's not entirely clear where this story is heading - he seems to be getting Jess written off as mad (in spite if the fact that numerous people in the village met her and liked her when she was living with him. Funny how men who leave their wives often try to do this (I've noticed this in RL too). I can't work out his interest in Henry since he seems to have no interest in the baby which is almost certainly his biological child. Great storyline and I loved last night's episode for all the reasons listed by previous posters.

BuildYourOwnSnowman · 01/10/2014 11:48

Maybe it is a double bluff and its not his child an rob turns out to be the secret millionaire and he's really lovely...

The problem isn't the boring episodes but the overly dramatic storylines. Life isn't a series of boring, boring, boring, boring, crazy explosive stuff, back to boring but that feels like the way they are rolling

An episode like last nights could have been livened up by a brief appearance by one of the more interesting characters.

Loved jazzer 'there's only room for one pig man on this farm!' Anyone who has worked for a family business will totally understand te frustration of seeing the new young buck arrive!

ZeroSomeGameThingy · 01/10/2014 11:54

Mmm... Rob arrived bemoaning the fact that his wife wasn't ready to have children and he's made it clear he's not number one favourite son... So I guess at the very least the closer he sticks to Henry the tighter his hold on any Archer inheritance. I imagine (if he can keep Jess out of the way) his next move will be to adopt Helen's poor fatherless child....

But it isn't clear cut. He can't be trying to alienate Henry from his DM while at the same time coaxing her to give up work - surely?

BuildYourOwnSnowman · 01/10/2014 12:01

But if she goes up work it will be I see to his needs. Henry will be starting school next year won't he?

Maybe he will suggest she buys a book on being a mindful wife. I think it's that he's after rather than money which may be a long time coming.

BuildYourOwnSnowman · 01/10/2014 12:03

Re lily now communicating through art

I foresee a large mural on the side of the village hall.....

ppeatfruit · 01/10/2014 12:06

Jazzer came across as a lazy pigman though ;leaving the poor pigs in squalid wet sties and complaining because Jonny actually left clean straw for them . That's horrible!

BuildYourOwnSnowman · 01/10/2014 12:06

Sorry - phones fault!

Wasn't rob going on about wanting kids etc more about seducing Helen than actually being based in reality?

I would have thought a childless woman would be more interesting if going after an inheritance. They also need to get married pdq in case Peggy dies!

PetulaGordino · 01/10/2014 12:23

depending on how things play out, if rob demonstrates how good he is with henry, and he successfully portrays jess as unfit to take care of a child, and her baby does turn out to be his, would it strengthen a case for him to have residency of the child?

TeenyfTroon · 01/10/2014 12:39

BYOS, your suggestion yesterday of imagining the background scene has added a whole new dimension to my listening. As have these threads!

Caroline, NO NO NO. It's no good apologising - the damage is done.

mummytime · 01/10/2014 12:41

I think trying to successfully portray a social worker as "deranged" would be quite hard, unless they really were. After all they have lots of professional witnesses to say "how wonderful" they are.

AllMimsyWereTheBorogoves · 01/10/2014 13:29

PS Caroline, I'm listening to Cabin Pressure on and off today as I plod through a particularly tedious job and I'm bound to say that your namesake would never, ever have said sorry. I adore her. Just listened to Helsinki earlier (the one with the obnoxious sister and nephew) and felt so sorry for her.

Abra1d · 01/10/2014 13:39

I. Love. Cabin Pressure. Is there a series on at the moment?

AllMimsyWereTheBorogoves · 01/10/2014 13:42

Sadly, no. There is only one episode left. The BBC recorded it in February and the selfish, ratings-obsessed bastards are hanging onto it till Christmas. I think it will be Zurich.

PetulaGordino · 01/10/2014 13:55

i was thinking about the final episode this morning. we've got the cliffhanger will-he-won't-he of martin joining swiss air which would doom MJN air, the princess, herc etc

i love it, i can't wait

PetulaGordino · 01/10/2014 13:56

the one where they get one over on caroline's exh is very satisfying

ZeroSomeGameThingy · 01/10/2014 14:33

we've got the cliffhanger will-he-won't-he of martin joining swiss air..etc

Oh! So I haven't missed the end? I've been vaguely worrying for a while that I never did find out what happened. Relief!