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

As doors slam shut in Rob's face and behind SOC, a new door opens for the next Archers editor. Are we expecting some New Tricks, or just Archenders?

979 replies

PseudoBadger · 14/09/2016 15:37

Welcome one and all. No spoilers please!

OP posts:
TheAntiBoop · 18/09/2016 12:43

No it's not real - so it doesn't matter what the characters think - it matters what the listener (who it is written for) believe. The ed should not be obvious when you are listening.

Vango · 18/09/2016 12:44

Well I think I've learned (about myself) that, when it comes to dramatic events in The Archers, I'm a fan of the speeded up version and much less keen on the agonising, slow moving plot lines.

TheAntiBoop · 18/09/2016 12:48

The slow burns can be excellent when done properly - and the ea sl was going really well before stab night. Then it all went a bit off the boil

I'm hoping tiger returns and has a fight in the bull car park with Justin. In front of Miranda. Matt would clearly win using dirty tricks. Justin will then see a turn in his fortunes as Miranda dumps him for being embarrassing and takes him to the cleaners. and lil will be caught in the middle

Puremince · 18/09/2016 13:28

I wonder if Henry will expect Rob to re-appear in his life at some point. His mother disappeared suddenly and completely and now she has reappeared and his Daddy has vanished from his life.

redshoeblueshoe · 18/09/2016 13:49

I think if Henry wants to see Knob he will have to watch EE.

redshoeblueshoe · 18/09/2016 13:55

What has annoyed me this week is during the deliberations Brexit was mentioned several times, but when Oliver and Caroline are discussing moving it wasn't mentioned Confused

Vango · 18/09/2016 14:09

Eddie Grundy alluded to it redshoe (something about buying in Europe right now).

redshoeblueshoe · 18/09/2016 14:49

Thanks Vango, I must have missed that.

BertrandRussell · 18/09/2016 14:50

Joe said something about it not being a good time to buy in Europe........

EBearhug · 18/09/2016 16:09

I think Henry will be confused that Jack is allowed to see Rob, but he isn't.

I also agree that the EA storyline was very well done (in a far more realistic timescale than you'd ever get on EE or Coronation Street or similar), until stab night. Then it all got a bit incredible (in the sense of unbelievable, not amazing) and lacking in fact-checking. And all the happy endings this week, it's just been too convenient.

Still, I'm looking forward to Rex finding out about Toby and Pip, whether by coming across them in flagrante, and/or Josh letting it slip, as he did to deflect the issue of flogging his laptop.

mollie123 · 18/09/2016 16:25

I hope they will put this storyline (Hell and Robb) to bed and get back to the interesting and likeable characters. It really was done to death (if you will excuse the use of the word) and I know they were raising an 'issue' which is important but they really did not have to hit us over the head with the endless reiteration and angst.

IMO a better story line would have been Helen decides to leave Robb and takes Henry with her to her parents (she was not alone and friendless) and she should have done it much earlier not wait until the final showdown. That would have been a better treatment of how to deal with an abusive spouse (not with a knife or a tuna bake)
Turned it off this morning when I realised the omnibus would be over 2 hours (!) and I could not waste my life on the poor acting/anguished cries by Helen's family. More than enough now - can the archers get back to country/farming stories and likeable characters.
Feel much better for that rant. If they persist in constantly exploring 'issues' at this length I shall stop listening Angry

tomtherabbit · 18/09/2016 16:56

Does Henry even have to know that Jack is going to see Rob.

I'd be inclined to tell him that Granny is taking him out to allow him some time with Helen.

It will be years before Jack is old enough to say where he's been, by which time Rob will be fed up with supervised access and have done a runner.

TheAntiBoop · 18/09/2016 17:05

Maybe we will get a grandparents rights sl

ibrowze · 18/09/2016 17:17

But if the radical SL hadn't been written, I for one wld have not known about the new coercive control law or MBUs or separation of babies from mothers in prison.
I don't mind the odd issue and, after all, this was why TA was started in the first place - to educate through entertainment.

Gumpendorf · 18/09/2016 17:35

Thanks DadDadDad Cake

I'm grateful for knowing more about EA and realising I had been a victim in the past I've learned loads and the ££ raised on Twitter makes it a worthwhile SL. But it did crowd out everything else and unbalanced TA. I'm looking forward to more character driven stuff now. I might go back to listening on a Sunday Grin

ErrolTheDragon · 18/09/2016 18:00

The Archers would be nothing like its old self (and incredibly dull) if it was restricted to only the likeable characters! There would be Kirsty and Robert Snell and Johnny and .... Er... Well, I suppose some of the others are likeable some of the time.Grin

enochroot · 18/09/2016 18:01

Assuming Timothy Watson stays in the cast then I think Rob will be popping up at every village event Henry is likely to go to. That could cause a real problem unless Helen gets an injunction. If he doesn't encounter Rob everywhere then I should expect him to enjoy being surrounded by doting adults and having friends round to play. He'll generally feel better for not being repressed.
Rob's going to find three hours with a a baby which is either hungry or sleeping is pretty unsatisfactory especially being closely watched by a member of the hated Archer family. He'll hate being in a situation he cannot control.

TopazRocks · 18/09/2016 18:10

Well, on the whole, i've enjoyed TA this year or so. Definitely a few frustrating bits, silly SLs, bad acting, corny bits. But also some very good acting, some clever/funny lines, tension (where would we be without dramatic tension?), etc. But I am glad the CC SL has finished and the conclusion (so far) is satisfactory. As I was here alone for most of the morning, I did hear most of the 2 hr film. As it was a one-off I could do that, but other Sundays I'll probably go back to R3 at that time. And each time I listen again, I understand another point - though I've now forgotten this AM's moment of enlightenment.

I am interested in hearing how Helen and family fare in the coming months. I hope it will be a realistic portrayal of a woman recovering form a traumatic experience. But the story isn't over as Rob needs to be found guilty of something and there's a fair choice of offences so far.I hope we'll hear Ian and Adam, esp Ian. I want both men to be furious with JD for tittle tattling to Knob.In fact maybe she should give up booze if she can't control herself.Grin I hope there'll be as little as possible on the Grundys, esp Joe and Eddie who do my 'ead in. And I can't stand the current Clarrie. I can remember my mum moaning about that Clarrie last time round - and Mum has been dead since 1999. The only Grundys I want to hear are the young ones. Even Will is okay these days. I hope Oliver will do all the talking in his marriage.

The Brookfielders don't annoy me like they do some of you. But a little goes a long way, i find. Esp Peep and the Fairbrethren. Shula needs to sort herself out. As do Doc Dic and the Widow Pargetter.

TopazRocks · 18/09/2016 18:15

YY, enochroot, and I was thinking if he wants to take the baby out (you know wanting to be seen with Myson), then PatnTone will need to accompany - and there'll be scope for an argument over where they go, who drives, and for Knob to do a lot of aggressive driving with a baby on board.
I still think the SWs will need some help from us. Grin

enochroot · 18/09/2016 18:26

I think it would be a horrible situation for Pat. Rob's going to try to impose his will on the arrangement and perhaps try for sympathy. If I were Pat I couldn't bear to be in the same room with him let alone watch him fondling the baby.

TopazRocks · 18/09/2016 18:34

I agree, enochroot. But at least they've now got the measure of him. Maybe Pat will always take Tony or Tom or Johnny along. Though that would eb quite a labour intensive business. I hope Kirsty is okay. Will tonight be the morning after?

summerholsdreamin · 18/09/2016 18:36

Can't help but feel Helen now needs to start standing on her own 2 feet. There's always someone to 'look after' her (be it psycho husband or over involved parents).
After listening today it became very clear that while yes, she's had a shit time, she's actually a grown woman with 2 children.

I hope to see a new independent Helen, taking control and not so reliant on everyone else.

TopazRocks · 18/09/2016 18:37

I imagine Pat could ask for SocW help with chaperoning? Even a student or an assistant SW helper type. No idea of the proper terminology.

I think I'd like it of we heard more of Anna in the village. But not sure about her and Helen. It would upset Knob no end though.Smile

TopazRocks · 18/09/2016 18:47

Well, when Tom and Kirsty build a house on Bridge Farm land and then Kirsty calls it all off at last minute, there'll be a house all ready for Helen and the boys to move in. Helen does need to be nearby due to the shop and other bits of the business. What I am sure a counsellor would suggest is that she has a plan, to maybe go it alone in a few months. She'll need to consider security issues if Barsteward Ex is still stoating about in the vicinity. A panic alarm or such could be useful and sensible.

I suspect her ma and everyone else will be happy for her to be at BF for a while yet. They've only just got her and the boys back. But space must be an issue, the AmbridgeRoomFairy notwithstanding. I've never had that close mother-daughter thing myself, but I accept some people actually like being in each other's pockets. It can work for some.

Shallishanti · 18/09/2016 19:09

Caroline is being a snotty cow at Joe's birthday