The Archers: The Crook, the Vet, His Wife & Her Lodger - discussion #80

[DadDadDad]

In full acknowledgement of PseudoBadger's great achievement in providing the previous 79 threads over the past 4 years (and credit to R4 for this thread's title)...

Discuss TA (The Archers). New posters encouraged - it's not (too) cliquey here and plenty of regulars are happy to answer questions.

One rule: no spoilers (ie no mentioning future plot teasers from Radio Times listings etc) - there's a separate thread for that.

So, is Phoebe pregnant? will Anisha dob in (dobbin - geddit?) Alistair?

PS I don't presume to take on PB's role permanently - hopefully the job of starting new threads will rotate among regulars until she returns

That was just stupid!

That was a dreadful episode. Aren't all those character in their 30s now or at least v late 20s. And who the hell has a big party on a Thursday when they have work the next day. Is Alice about to get fired today for turning up pissed forcing her to get more involved in the farm and reducing her and Chris' disposable income.

Actually EEbearhug I think that Jenny's situation is a nice example of how people cannot and should not just expect grandchildren to come along as a matter of course. Each child has pretty legitimate reasons for not having children- Debbie didn't meet the right person before she was too old (this hap happened to so many of my friends) Adam is gay and has rejected surrogacy, Alice is career-focussed (when she's not being an idiot).

I do feel for Jenny being so far away from Nolly and Sophomore and effectively estranged from them while their other GP are more or less raising them. No wonder she indulges Phoebe.

Sipho not sophomore!

Haven't heard last night yet but it would be disastrous - with regards to drama - if Alice and Chris were to split up without having produced a child. The Horrobin (via Carter) /Aldridge (meaning Archer) family connection is just so grandly poetic. And fundamental to the intertwining of village characters 'going forward'. (Awful phrase but exactly right.)

I personally don't care much about, for instance, Emma's desire for a home of her own - but I care tremendously about her being sister-in-law to an Aldridge/Archer. That is mega-something.

It's the same with Phoebe. And Mungo ... Such brilliant tying together of the least likely elements.

I hope they don't split up (still haven't listened). Not least because I couldn't bear Emma's gloating if Chris was forced to rent!

Just listened to last night's episode and have to say (as usual) I completely agree with Gruach. For the sake of the drama they have to have a child - though it really felt last night that they were flagging up problems on this front for Chris. Emma wants a house, he wants a child - neither is destined to get what they want (or able to appreciate what they have). Slightly contrived all round I thought - as pp said, who has a party on a Thursday night when they have to go to work the following day?

And who climbs a tree as an example of 'being really wild' .

Continuity announcer "Just in case you blinked and missed it, Emma was cheerful, for a minute at least" (or something like that).

No wonder the RAF didn't choose Alice for sponsorship/officer material, despite her private school/ "county" background, spotting she was the type to jump out of trees or damage expensive kit whilst drunk.

Reminds me of those ghastly hooray types who throw themselves off minstrels' galleries and paralyse people (I'm team Emma in this instance).

Still what with Nigel plummeting to his death and David inadvertently killing Clarrie's Dad by lopping a tree, there have been enough deaths by falling objects.

Perhaps it's Friday night in Ambridge Land.

I had visions of Alice falling out of the tree and becoming wheel chair bound. It would have been a good story line to address disability and the challenges she would face.

Instead we got some meaningless clap trap. However, I suspect a storyline of young love with misaligned goals could be interesting if written well.

a storyline of young love with misaligned goals could be interesting

I'm sure it's probably ages ago but the memory of Tom and Brenda is fresh in my mind!

Well isn't Alice turning into an unprofessional brat.

And Lillian will be kissing goodbye to the dower house

I don't understand why Alice & Chris would host a party on a weekday & why she has gone off her career. The new Chris's voice is such a shock, it seems more jarring than some of the other replacements. I thought the Lilian & Matt scene was very good & how lazy of Adam (cheat) to assume the worst of his aunt.

I imagine the party is flagging something with Alice - drinking problem? Chris seemed to know the drill a bit too well.

I don't understand why they had the party on a weekday and I also don't understand why the meeting was rescheduled for Bank Holiday Monday.
I hope that that isn't the end of Matt. His "goodbye, pusscat" was an echo of his surprise greeting - "hello, pusscat" - when he first came back; neat symmetrical bookends. I presume that he is playing mind games of the 'you don't know what you've got til it's gone' variety.

Was that Justin at the very end of the episode? Does he somehow know that Lilian was with Matt?

It was Adam .

"I thought the Lilian & Matt scene was very good & how lazy of Adam (cheat) to assume the worst of his aunt."

Champagne sent to the suite? Last minute cancellation? And you wouldn't "assume the worst"?

Oooooh ok that makes more sense, thanks

Is Adam the sort to stir or gossip?

why was Adam meeting Lillian in a bar anyway?

Maybe Adam will tell Lillian to follow her heart (Matt) knowing that he's never had the courage/recklessness to do so himself when he's cheated. Or will he tell her to buckle down and follow the "correct" option, just like he has? Either way, he's hardly in a position to judge.