Will it be porridge or curtains for Knob? Await a sensible and sensitive ending to That Storyline on The Archers thread.

[PseudoBadger]

Threads are moving so fast! Will this thread be here to welcome SOK?

I've just finally caught up with The Night Manager. Anybody else notice Jolene moonlighting as a member of British Intelligence? She was the older woman in the Istanbul hotel in last night's episode.

It hardly qualifies as a party. IIRC, the only people attending are Ursula, Helen, Henry and Pat. All the menfolk will be working.

Was she?? Didn't know that! Did you spot J Le Carre with his cameo role as the affronted customer in the restaurant last week?

That was Jolene? omg. Illusions = shattered.

She was just not buxom enough to be J'lene...by a country mile. Pardon the shite pun.

OMG - was that really Jolene???

Thought I recognised her from somewhere.

The Night Manager is trying my patience somewhat. Poor Jed is never, ever allowed a full set of clothes. And she has to do a five year old's version of "acting"; big startled eyes and sad, downturned mouth. I'm actually quite surprised that any female actor would agree to play such a role.

(Forgotten what I was going to say about TA )

thankyou for the new thread! Now off to catch up ...

Gruach . I Did think last night that even in the desert there was Jed in a grey silk nightie, wafting around. She and Pine freak me out a little with their blonde, pale eye mirror image thing.

Blatant place mark as I've only just found the new thread and now have ten pages to get through before 7.03.

So, what do we think will happen in this evening's episode? I reckon that as Thursday's episode will cover the tea party and Friday's the tea party fall out we could be due a few Titchener free episodes earlier in the week.

I've noticed though, that recently the Rob and Helen free episodes have often included remarks by other characters about them. Someone said they hadn't seen Helen for ages (Jenny?) Someone else asked Pat how Helen was I think?

I quite like this as I think that it's realistic that the other characters would occasionally discuss Helen and Rob and of course it piles on the dramatic irony that no one realises what is going on right under their noses. I'm a bit surprised that Susan's gossip radar hasn't picked up that something is amiss. I can't imagine that Emma is a big fan of Rob.

Thanks, Gypsy, I'd missed that! Shouldn't have done, I'm a big, big fan of John Le Carré. I watched episodes 1-3 yesterday and 4-5 today (day off) and am now wondering how I can cope waiting six days till the finale!

Ahem. Back to The Archers now. Yes, I don't think Emma would be a Rob fan. She used to be very pally with Helen and Rob has put a stop to that, ostensibly because the Grundys/Carters are not good enough to mix with Titcheners - which Helen never made any real effort to challenge, did she?

Susan used to like Rob (or did I imagine that?) but I don't expect she does now, after he tore her off a stip after the sparkler incident last Bonfire Night.

Off to find photos of Jolene not dressed to toe in double denim & checked shirts

As a last non archers comment I didn't know it was him Gasp0de it was pointed out on another thread.

I wondered who she was too - but never imagined she's Jolene!

As for Jed, I do think it odd that she wafts around in evening dress all day long, even in a desert army camp.

Back to TA - yes they are more comments about Hellin by characters with no recent contact with her. Hopefully it will all lead to Pat bot coming out of her trance at Thursday's tea party.

I had hoped that Usha would get involved at some point, but she's obviously working very hard at the moment. I can't remember when we last heard from her??

I think we last heard from Usha when she was lending a supportive ear to Ruth after her return from NZ. So probably around January?

The Archers Facebook page suggests that tonight's episode might be Rob free. No mention of him appearing anyway.

Although, does anyone else find themselves still worrying about Helen even when the episode is nothing to do with her? I picture her sitting at home, alone, bored and confused. Jumping nervously when the post is delivered in case it's Rob come back to check on her. Wondering if it would be okay to go out to buy some milk or if Rob would tell her off for over exerting herself?

elementary yes we did, I'd forgotten that.

I was hoping Usha might be consulted about Hellin's plight, but I can't remember if she does criminal law or not?

maybe Kirsty will take some action tonight - talk to Tom perhaps? Ian perhaps?

I agree we're due a knob-less episode tonight. Grundys turn I think. Hopefully Lilian.

Usha seems to be firmly pigeonholed as Ruth's best friend, only to be wheeled out when Ruth has some kind of emotional crisis. Even Alan doesn't really seem to see her much! He hangs out almost entirely with Jill and Shula.

I think Usha does any kind of law that the storyline might require. Her knowledge of the law is encyclopaedic, I don't know why she hasn't been snapped up by one of the mega firms, given her multiple specialisations.

Yes Emily I do! On her own presumably with no phone, no internet access ( at least that's what I assume) jumping at every noise😩

Usha is now a plot device and not a character

That's what soc does!

Just re the Night Manager and the requirement for women in Le Carré to not do much: it is partly characterization but partly a language problem I think

www.lrb.co.uk/v29/n02/christopher-tayler/belgravia-cockney

i am reminded of CP Snow's women - somewhat mean little snapshots taken by someone who would've been happier if they hadn't infiltrated his world didn't really have the semantic skills to capture what they were on about

Well didn't recognise Rex then

Eggmobile or caravan?