Quelle surprise! Rob hasn't FOTTFSOF and is in fact hiding in the bushes at Henwee's school. Discuss the latest unlikely Archers events here.

[PseudoBadger]

What do we want?
Realistic storylines!
When do we want them?
As soon as the writers see this!

I thought it was really well done. He sounded a beaten man. I didn't really want a four car pile up. There was no horrendous scene, Helen just took control from him. Huge canoe is doing really well I think.

I'm just very relieved that the whole kidnap storyline only lasted one episode. I thought it was going to go on and on again.

Oh I didn't hear her say that at the end. Prob too busy yelling call the police!!

I 100% disagree that it was an anticlimax or a damp squib. I thought it was brilliant how they got us all geared up for a dramatic climax which, let's face it, could only have been a pretty tedious mishmash of shouts, screams and crashes, and then went totally the other way. And it was incredibly satisfying that it ended with Rob totally defeated and humiliated by the person he tried to destroy.

My only caveat is that the only witnesses were members of the family plus Kirsty. It leaves the likes of Arsula still able to claim that the whole thing is an evil Archer family fiction.

Listened avidly while shooing the children away, but I still thing Helen is not, could not be, over this. She must have been in a form of shock "Call them if you like. I don't care" For her, as long as she has both her boys and Rob isn't there, that's all she can deal with. I think whatever happens to Rob (and you can bet he'll turn up in 18 years...) she'll be having flashbacks, PTSD, inability to have another relationship, problems with Jack when he grows up to look/act like Rob in future....

Oh and on the whole Lilian/Justin thing, quite apart from the fact that no-one's bothered that he's just happily cheating on his wife, is Lilian also not bothered that he blatantly bribed Stefan to go away rather than risk Demara's reputation? If I was Lilian I think I might be a tad concerned that the bloke I was shagging was a seriously shifty operator.....

Loving it though. Also these threads!

I think it's a damp squib if we end up with a long line of knob turning up and trying to kidnap/murder

Maybe we will end up with police involvement and a court case though. Not sure I can face it!

I thought it was good. Crashes and trauma would have been the eastenders way. I loved that the three women rob has had nothing but contempt for were united to defeat him on a blasted Heath. Very Macbeth. Helen may have finished him but she was on the floor when they arrived. It was pat's ferocious mother tiger that helped Helen roar.

Isnt he going to drive away angrily towards the tree blocking the road.....?

Right. Which one of you is Hugh?

Cos he's definitely been reading here.

Cooeeeee hello Hugh.

PS I enjoyed that.

I suppose they could have him arrested and charged still, without us needing to hear a blow by blow account. Even the trial could be a few sentences in the Echo, though i'd hope for a bit more coverage. I'd definitely be disappointed if tonight's showdown was the end of it all (he'll be looking for his next victim soon enough, for one thing). It was good though and I'll be listening to the film on Sunday.

Don't you think Huw will have staff to read this thread for him?

That was definitely... Interesting. Am glad no one died but frustrated police wasn't called straightaway. I suspect it's for dramatic expediency, otherwise that SL would have to go on while not really having anywhere to go as such.

I wonder if Rob's stammering when Helen confronted him about the culvert thing etc suggests a part of him is starting to see he might just be a teensy weeny bit in the wrong.

He might drive of a cliff then Helen has to deal with another partner committing suicide. This can only get more complex and darker.

I doubt they'll kill him off, he's just too good a character to get rid of completely.

He'll come back one day, when we're least expecting him!

I must say that I actually thought the episode was handled really well tonight - it would have been awful to have wrapped it up in some sort of disastrous conclusion. I loved Helen's assertiveness and show of real strength devoid of fear once she had the backup of those who mean the most to her. Rob snivelling in the rain as his formerly terrified wife tore strips off him was extremely gratifying and a satisfactory message of defiance and victory that this protracted storyline demanded.
But unless it is reported to the police, Helen is still in a very precarious position. She may have landed in a prison cell the last time they were called, but she had just stabbed her husband. This time he has broken a court order and abducted her baby - even in her emotional state she must see that he is getting away with it again unless she takes proper punitive measures to stop him, especially as the threat is now centred around her children, rather than her.

and big awww at henry. for actually speaking telling his mum what went on.

But they did ring the police didn't they. I need to listen again but that was the way I understood it.

I thought it was ridiculous, as if the man who had threatened all and sundry would give in so easily was completely unbelieveable. Add that to Lilian in the farce the other night, Toby in the stupid explanation for Brighton and I just wonder why I keep on listening.

Of course, I will keep listening because I just keep hoping it will improve, but having heard today's episode I am beginning to think it is doomed.

I think it's being steadily and methodically un-doomed. De-doomed?

I agree with Grumpy. Helen totally owned it (with a bit of backup from her mum and Kirsty).

Rob didn't 'give in easily' - he's been on the slide since the trial, with all the village turning against him, culminating with the stefan thing - and like many bullies, he's a coward who can't deal with someone stronger than him which now, Helen in defence of her children is. Calling the police at the point Jack was in the car might have just given him time to gain the upper hand again or get into a full-on hostage situation. Helen not being bothered about calling them after the event was irrational but I can hardly blame her for that, Tom has so it will all be reported, there will probably be car track evidence in addition to 3 adults and Henry.

Funny the different reactions- I thought that was way better than any of the scenarios we'd speculated about.

Just listening now.

Could Henry be any more monotone?

Still better than pip though

Was there an awkward five minutes where they strapped Jack in and had to turn their cars around?

'He's out of my life forever' sounds ominous to me

I think we are due for some crappy tying up of loose ends to get them out of the way. I can forgive huge canoe that if he keeps up with his other good work (although the Lillian bit is trite shite)

Further to my earlier observations on "Things that are unlikely to happen in a small village", rain or not there's no way a branch worthy of chainsaw work to remove would not be swarming with log burner owning residents in a heartbeat.
In other news, I'm slightly wrong footed by tonight's episode having expected explosions, self flagellation and death. Did enjoy it though

I kind of like the idea (with a view to future plots) that Rob has gone but might return sometime in the future. He'll know that this incident will be all round the village, and that Helen may well let everyone know about the culvert too - he's a marked man.

I still would like him to be tried and convicted (and maybe that will happen) as a matter of justice rather than drama, but failing that, this was better than a violent denouement. I reckon they might have gone with suicide if it hadn't been for Greg.

I love Lillian though darling, everything Pip will never be in so many ways! If they could just ditch Tobes and Rex all would be good - well and Pip and Henwee