The Archers - We Listen So You Don't Have To

[PseudoBadger]

Happy(?!) Sunday everyone

What will this week have in store for us I wonder?

I think Helen will go down for murder/attempted murder. Kirsty & Tom reunite and help Pat & Tony fight a bitter custody battle against Rob (if alive) or Brusula for Henwee and Knobspawn.

Later, new evidence comes to light from Miles/Jess/mysterious Canadian source/the undead from the Ambridge flood/Scruff that proves Rob is/was a calculating psychopath. This doesn't exonerate Helin as she still stabbed him but it leads to a pardon or a review of the evidence in her case at
appeal. This happens in the nick of time to prevent the Knobspawn being taken away from her in prison.

Or Ursula is going to find something at BHC that is proof of Rob's behaviour towards Helin. She will conceal it at first but then is provoked by Bruce being such a total arse and/or benign grandmotherly love of the Knobspawn into revealing it.

But what could Pat say to Henry? Mummy is in jail? Gone away?

I can't imagine how they are going to explain this to him if rob
dies.

Legal people: can / could Helen theoretically ask the police to charge Rob with coercive control?

shiny - I like your last prediction - Ursula finds something revealing about Rob, but what would that be? And I wonder if it's more likely that she'll get friendly with Peggy and finally confess to her that she fears Rob was controlling towards Helen?

GeoIII What do you think happened?
I think that Rob went for Henry, Helen tried to stop Rob but accidentally cut him. She then stabbed him twice more : not sure if this was because (1) once she saw blood she lost it or (2) Rob reacted and she was now in self-defence mode.

finally confess to her that she fears Rob was controlling towards Helen?

Ahem, are you forgetting that Ursula was playing little mind games too.

I thought she initially hurt rob by mistake (the wrist?) but then went for him in fear of what would happen next.

R4 - you're right, I was getting swept up in the idea of Ursula finding something and there being a moment of revelation for her. But then, I still can't think what kind of "thing" would give that revelation: a diary written by Rob keeping detailed track of Helen?

We've only heard, not seen, Rob and Helen's confrontation. We haven't heard Rob or Henry's account of it and only bits from Helen so there could still be revelations to come (maybe from Henry) about what actually happened. I'm hoping that one stab wound was accidental and in defence of Henry, one (the wrist one) was either a defensive wound or maybe received as Rob tried to grab the knife and the final one was in self defence as Rob came towards or grabbed Helen. Maybe he put his hands round her throat. (Clutches at straws.)

I am finally delurking (having found this thread when Matt went to Russia). I have refrained during the whole Hellrob episode. But I can refrain no longer with the issue that has occupied my mind for many weeks now. Does anyone else think that Justin is using Lilian as a very elaborate cover for an affair with Annabel Scrivener?? I find her sudden removal from the BL board and his sudden flaunting of Lilian, just a little suspicious. I feel sure this is going to end badly for her, which seems unfair after the (crowbar plot move) of Matt's exile to South America. Thanks for listening. (Off back to lurk )

Checking in. Bloody love Clarrie

I think like Imbroglio that Hellin, after initially wounding Knob by accident, was then in the awful position of not being able to risk him recovering and hurting Henwee or her more seriously. I have been imagining, very unwillingly, what might be the best thing to do in such a terrifying situation. And I really don't know.
Any advice?

Completely missed the last thread, it went a bit too quickly for me!

I think we'll be hearing from Jess soon. She's probably got a Google alert set for Knob.

Would she be able to give evidence for Helen or is it heresay?
I suppose she'd get torn apart on cross examination though.

I know nothing about these things, but would Pat and Tony not have been given advice about what to say to Henry and how this sort of trauma might manifest in a 5 year old? It seems he has only been of interest as a witness, not a victim.

Btw, where has Bruce gone??

Welcome Sara - interesting theory, but I fear Abigail has gone back to being a silent character, there's only so many strong female characters we can cope with.
I think the first wound was probably an accident but she would have been mad to give him the knife when he asked for it.

I reckon like Emily that there will be revelations that clarify the struggle to the extent that things look much less bad for Helen. I don't think she would have mounted a frenzied attack on him, she just wouldn't have. But in her abused mindset, of course she said sorry, said 'I killed him' etc. I think it will end up being a freak accident, or perhaps one mainly dictated by the actions of Rob rather than Hellin. I remain optimistic!

I am still listening but to the film only. I'm really pissed off with the stabbing and wish they had gone down the escape and exposure route. I am also very interested to hear how they cover the Stoma issue, if indeed it comes up again. I have one, it saved my life and that's all you think about when it happens, not "oh dear, pooing in a bag"!

I have been imagining, very unwillingly, what might be the best thing to do in such a terrifying situation.

Easy. Don't put yourself in the position in the first place. She was an idiot to want to 'talk it through'. She should have escaped while he was at work and then have the talk in a public place, if she really had to.

Hello Sara. I love your random Lillian/Annabel thought. I have no sympathy for Lillian: this is the second time she has nabbed someone else's husband.

Why is Ursula at Blossom Hill cottage instead of back at her own home with her husband (Bruce). What's that all about?

I presume she wants to stay close to Rob, which is a pretty natural reaction I think.

Ursula said that she wanted to stay close by as the hospital had told her Rob was critically ill and might not pull through. Although I really dislike Ursula I completely understand her wanting to stay nearby so that she can visit Rob every day and get to the hospital quickly if his condition deteriorates. It makes sense for her to stay at BH which is otherwise empty.

I guess that Bruce has either gone back to look after the farm, doesn't care about Rob that much, or thinks it's alright as long as one of Rob's parents is around.

I'm a bit surprised that Rob's brother Miles hasn't visited yet, even if they aren't close Rob has come close to dying and might yet. You would think he'd come, if only to support Ursula.

So how close is BHC to the hospital? Wouldn't she be in a Travelodge in town.

Oh I love Lilian. I don't begrudge her a bit of fun with Justin. Or indeed anyone else