Hard Times come to Ambridge; will Pip or the Ambridge Fairy save the day? Discuss The Archers here.

[PseudoBadger]

Enjoy!

Matthew was a waste though in reality because he wasn't needed.

As for the way they treat the kids - has anyone checked if Ben is on the stately homes thread?

I don't think you can call it 'positive parenting' if you have a clear fave. Very crap parenting in my book. Or at least that's how I like to view it as a mother of 4 adults who all require a fair amount of support just now!

I don't think it so much positive parenting, but the fact they are still parenting her at all. At her age Ruth had long since left home, been away to agricultural college in a complete break from her dad's toilet roll empire, and was working on a farm miles away making her own way in the world. Pip went to agricultural college locally and apart from a brief stint in Leeds has worked and lived on her parents farm. She's never had to support herself or make her own in job where she wasn't related to everyone else in the business or find somewhere to live and pay for it. Everything has been handed to her on a plate and as the eldest she has always had first dibs on everything. Pip's problem is she doesn't know she's born and there's never been anyone to knock the rough edges off her. I don't actually think anyone's parents can do that for them - it's what happens when you fly the nest and learn to fend for yourself. I think it's actually your parents job in the normal scheme of things to think you're great and love you whatever, but that's kind of assuming you've gone off and made a life for yourself which in Pip's case is never going to happen.

She was awful talking to lily. So self centred and self pitying

And what is going on with lily? Isn't she supposed to be 17?

Lily is horrendous. I'd rather get relationship advice from Jazzer.

Lilian agreed. Pip is exactly like the 'doggedly independent' Helen in that respect.

Compare and contrast with Kirsty, who lives nowhere near her family of origin, makes her own way in the world, seems resourceful and independent and has met significant challenges with courage and determination. She just seems to get on with it, and I admire her for that (although I still don't get why on earth she came back to Ambridge).

It's interesting that they've had a lot more success with new young male actors - Freddie and Johnny are both decent for example.

Are they though? Or do we think that because they are acted better?

The cricket sl could be good.

And what was that airhead rap she was going on about? Are they trying to make her out to be that character from legally blonde?

It makes me wonder what do he Greek emergency services by way of on-air alphabet. My brother who was a firefighter told of some very innovative versions used by colleagues. I wish I could remember them now!

Oh Matt ...

So cunnning.

He'll win.

Ooh - what happened tonight?

Tonight was a lovely, Pip-free zone with Harrison, Jenny, Brine, Lilian, a silent Kate, Jim, Lynda, Robert, a silent Neil, the Greek alphabet, Juliet Bravo, a whitethroat, Sabrina with a man who wasn't her husband and teaching goldfish to juggle.

I know I'm probably reading far too much into this, but I did wonder if Matt had embedded some sort of spyware in those shepherdesses. HE seemed very keen for her to take them and very sure she would.

what is going?! on these past couple of episodes i can't keep my brain focused to listening to lily.. feels as though they're flailing around trying to work out which demographic to appeal to.
give me bert over lily any day!

I know I'm probably reading far too much into this, but I did wonder if Matt had embedded some sort of spyware in those shepherdesses. HE seemed very keen for her to take them and very sure she would

Agreed. It was very suspicious.

I enjoyed JD telling Brine to stop being a twat about the speed camera training.

Dunno about spyware - though it's a neat idea. For me it's enough that he's busy implanting precious bits of their shared past in Lilian's home and brain. He'll be reconstructing Pusscat & Tiger while poor Lil' watches Justin trying to strip Miranda of everything meaningful to her.

I'm still thinking money laundering. He has bought them with dirty money and wants rid of them.

They were already hers and he was returning them though? Which suggests to me he took all the stuff out of revenge for the affair rather than because he needed the money for them

I find it difficult to believe that Matt suddenly wanted revenge for the affair so long after it was over and done with, and it would be a bit of a coincidence if his desire for revenge happened to become insurmountable at the point when he needed to do a runner with all her money.

I can see why Matt looks suspicious. But is an alternative that he actually still has feelings for Lillian, but is not able to admit them (even to himself). He seemed to have gone to great lengths to find these figurines and was talking with great fondness about how Lillian was so pleased when she had them before.

Surely, the other sign that this is what the SW are trying to portray is that after Lil shut the door he referred to her as "pusscat".