The Archers No. 94: Freddie’s doing porridge, Tom gets his oats, but will Home Farm be toast? We’ll have to wheat and see ... Serial production is in full swing in Ambridge

[witchmountain]

Thanks to LilG for the title, and DDD for starting the last thread and the tradition of the thread starter nominating the next thread starter

Lurkers are always welcome to unlurk and join in, including asking questions of the many very knowledgeable posters with a long Archers-listening history.

Don't post spoilers based on forthcoming plot synopses that you've read, there's another thread for that (and we'd love to see you over there). Once an episode has aired then it's fair game.

What happened with the treehouse? I don't remember that.

In 2006 David didn't have an affair with Sophie (who was really the old vicar) because of this Ruth nearly had sex with cowman Sam in the Travelodge on the OXford ring road. When David found out about this he took it out on a blameless tree house terrifying his children in the process.

Although I am not sure if Ben is actually his - just a feeling I have.

Goodness, Harrison clearly needs to look into a few more Ambridge deaths. David probably caused the floods leading to Freda's demise, and probably slipped something into Jack Woolley's tea at the Laurels.

Oh, thanks Theyprobablywill. I remember the non-affairs, although I though Ruth's was a bit closer to an actual affair than that. Still don't remember the treehouse though, I must have blanked that bit.

thought

There was some slurping in the cowshed, but it was never made clear what actually happened.

Ruth's was an affair imo they didn't shag but it was an affair.

Other deaths I lay at David's door. Greg; David has access to guns, remember the poor mummy badger he murdered,

Nic, Forces her to confess to attempting to murder Matt, David has never liked Mat, and what was his alibi?) then boobytraps a box so she dies.

“this is traditionally the time of year - like my own personal Stir-Up Sunday - that Bad Lynda appears and I start to hate her (at other times they let her appear softer and more vulnerable and I then revise my opinion - damn you, SWs!).

I just cannot stand her in Christmas Play Supremo mode. I'm sorry but I can't. I can't understand why nobody's told her to @*#% off before now, she's SO vile. And it will only get worse.”

EXACTLY THIS. I hate when they flip the switch on Lynda, in normal life she is kind, insightful, empathetic and highly emotionally intelligent. Then they turn her into a bossy swivel eyed lunatic every christmas (and for various random village events throughout the year such as fetes). This year is particularly jarring, because it’s a huge contrast with the scenes just a few weeks ago when she showed she has absolute ninja people skills in the way she went round the village cajoling everyone into agreeing to take part.

Altho on reflection i suppose it stops her being too saintly. Saintly characters are a total snooze. Hands up anyone who’s ever thought ‘oh cool another scene with alan saying things’ ? ME NEITHER

The actors disagree with you Theyprobablywill !

(Though your story would be rather jolly.)

What year was the treehouse incident? How old were the children? And what did he actually do?

He's a one-man crime wave. And, yes, Jill needs to take care - I predict a nasty, fatal, flapjack related 'accident' in the future.....

Actors? Pah! What do they know!

According to Lowfield, late 2006, so about 12 years ago. David smashed up the tree house then. quite possibly, used it to build a funeral pyre over Sam's still warm body. But I don't think they broadcast that bit.

And who could forget David's sinister threats to 'treat' Ruth to a new outfit. Everyone knows that adults buy their own clothes, so a 'new outfit' could only mean a wooden overcoat, or possibly some concrete shoes.

Ok - listening again - the reason David had to stay at the rehearsal is so we could be clear that he had no opportunity to have a look at the tele-thingummy yesterday.

My reading anyway ...

Now you're just being melodramatic probs. Everyone knows that spousal offering of 'a new outfit' in TA merely means years of imprisonment, rape and mental enslavement - right under the nose of your unwitting family.

But, why pick on the treehouse, I wonder? Was he perhaps up the tree when he spotted Ruth and Byreman Sam sneak out of the cowshed together looking furtive?

I think it was Sam who built it for the children.

(Lordy - I must have used up my entire month's worth of posts today. )

In that interview with the David and Ruth actresses, I wish they'd been asked what their view of the relationship with Saint Pip was.

I think Lee is wet because he's making a show of how good he is with kids - it doesn't seem natural - bit like Performance Parenting.

Argh, I meant actors, not actresses!

Alternatively, Less is just being good with kids because that's his job. I wouldn't assume that every male infant school teacher is wet.