🐴 Archers thread 124: And they're off! Pip on a high horse, Kirsty champing at the bit to find the lost ‘horses’, Alice on the wagon (or is she riding for a fall?). Discuss The Archers here.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Thank you, @PseudoBadger, for kicking off this long, long series of Archers threads.

All views on The Archers welcome here! New blood welcomed. We don't all agree on all points and most of us are posting tongue in cheek a lot of the time, so don't worry about revealing that you think Shula would make a brilliant vicar, or other unusual views.

Spoilers: not on this thread, please. We don't wait for the omnibus to discuss the weeknight episodes, but we do try our best to avoid cross-contamination from www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3853783--The-Archers-spoilers-thread-5-Cant-wait-for-7-02pm-Join-us-here, where spoilers are positively welcomed!

For newer listeners, lurkers or those who just have no idea what we're talking about, @DadDadDad has created this useful thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/radio_addicts/3557323-For-Archers-fans-a-guide-to-acronyms-on-the-long-running-discussion-threads-and-any-other-meta-thread-questions-you-may-have - BOOP point for him! (See thread for explanation.)

Thanks to @PoulePouletteEternellement for the equine theme to the new thread title. I wanted to work in Rex being a dark horse and lots of others too, but (you may feel fortunately) there's a character limit for the title.

I wonder if this thread will see us through to the end of February. The last one filled up in under a month, which was like old times. All depends on what delights are in store for us in the coming weeks, I suppose. I'm hoping that Gavin has spilled the beans on Victoria, she's also arrested, and the lads are found. Having said that, I'm not confident that in the real world they would get the support and care they need to turn their lives around and get proper jobs. It was good to hear on the last thread from @Trickyboy, who has professional experience of investigating this vile crime. Any comments on how things turn out in the long run for those rescued?

what do you think was the significance of have the Magic Flute warbling away loudly in the background throughout their encounter?

Maybe Stephanie's the Queen of the Night, but I think the vengeful rage aria was in honour of Stephanie's terrible fist of a brummie accent.

Given that TA is made in Birmingham (or was; not sure about now) they could have gone out in the street for volunteers.

Vince and Stephanie at Lower Loxley? Oh dear.

Maybe Vince is looking at Lizzie, the proprietress of Lower Loxley and seeing £ signs and a social leg-up, whilst Stephanie is looking at Freddie, the heir of Lower Loxley, and seeing herself the future chatelaine!

A question if I may about Rex and Pip’s conversation. Pip said they could renegotiate the rent on Oakie Bank (?) once it became profit making - how can rewilding be profit making? Or did I misunderstand?

Justin is on 75% of the profit, I think. Some ridiculously large amount, anyway. That was what was in the contract that the Three Stooges signed without apparently having read it, to get the land they needed from Borchester Land.

So he must be expecting there to be profit too.

The SWs must be having so much fun with the Moss dominoes ...

Justin v Borchester Land

Rex v Archers (= Fairbrother v Fairbrother)

Kirsty v Helen

Elizabeth v Shula

(Probably Natasha v Tom when he's found out ...)

Small BOOP.

You've cheered up since this morning! Was it hearing Lizzie lay into Shula that did it?

Is Bridezilla having a starter marriage?

I listen in the mornings, but would be open to a spoiler regarding Elizabeth going for Shula...

Elizabeth was her usual self and went off on one about "how dare Shula speak to someone who might have killed Freddie?"

It is clearly a direct personal insult to Elizabeth that Shula followed her conscience rather than thinking first how Elizabeth would feel.

It was a first class Lizzy-fit. Which is a hissy-fit with added venom.

Elizabeth was well out of order. However naive Shula was, she is trying to live a Christian life and you don't get a day from being a moral person. If Elizabeth can't receive the nature of how Christianity works, she can't have been paying attention all her life, never mind to her friend.

never mind to her friend
What was that about 'not paying attention ', @echt? The saintly one is the permanent victim's sister.

The more they milk the 'Moss is a Very Bad Man and keeping slaves is Very Wrong and good people get Upset' angle, the more I hope he gets off on a technicality.

What, not going to go out and start a business founded on the slave trade, Weevils? You disappoint me.

Well that was odd, I’d forgotten about Freddie at GG. He didn’t nearly die at all, the hospital let him out after a quick once-over. Of all the reasons to disapprove of Shula meeting Philip, that wouldn’t have been my first thought. But then I’m not a completely self-obsessed Archer.

Did anyone else groan aloud at Shula telling poor Alistair “I feel terrible”? The possibility that she might have an opportunity to wail about her agonies and self-flagellate is the only reason Shula gets up in the morning.

C8H10N4O2 I'm guessing you meant Phoebe, not Alice? (But my head's clearly mashed, so I could be talking nonsense.)

You are entirely right - that's what I get for posting whilst trying to sound interested on early calls

Of all the reasons to disapprove of Shula meeting Philip, that wouldn’t have been my first thought. But then I’m not a completely self-obsessed Archer

Freddie wasn't in the kitchen but was pretty close by - close enough to know Linda was in there and didn't they have to go through the kitchen t escape in the end, taking Linda on the way?

If one of mine had been that closely involved in an explosion/fire caused entirely by the greed of a slaver masquerading as everyone's friend then I might not have reacted too well to a sibling going off to provide succour to said slaver. At least not at that moment.

Shula must have realised that going to see him would upset people locally. Its one thing to say "I feel I have to do this" and then go, its a bit unfortunate to present the fait accomplis framed as "it was so awful for MEEE" .

I was so pleased to hear Natasha back on air. We heard very briefly from her during lockdown so it’s a welcome relief they have expanded the cast list a bit. I like her because I still don’t quite know what I make of her. She’s clearly a manipulative bitch with a spending habit and an apparently excellent business brain on the one hand but then she also seems almost vulnerable and actually in love (or fond at least of) the dreadful Tom. I do hope we hear more of her this year. May be the credit card SL will be developed - that has huge potential!

@Lardycake4me

Maybe Vince is looking at Lizzie, the proprietress of Lower Loxley and seeing £ signs and a social leg-up, whilst Stephanie is looking at Freddie, the heir of Lower Loxley, and seeing herself the future chatelaine!

Not sure Vince would be seeing £ signs- social leg up yes, but he's ok himself re £ signs and probably intelligent enough to work out stately pile does not necessarily equal tons of cash.

he has a heart of gold

That heart of gold lets him be a serial adulterer and he has plenty of sharp practice behind him - Brian, Jason and Vince are little different in that respect. The "gold" tends to be reserved for his own kin rather than general philanthropy.

However he is one on the few three dimensional characters in a sea of cardboard so if his new role means more episodes with Brian that is a definite plus point.

Ambridge is more in need of weeding out the cardboard than hearts of gold right now.

Who correctly predicted Shula would do lots of angsting about going to see Philip and then angst to anyone in earshot after she'd gone?

Maybe Lizzie is looking at Vince and seeing £££ to prop up her stately home?

I know Freddie pulled Lynda out but he wasn’t injured. I get Robert wanting to thump Philip but Lizzie making it all about her/her precious son is a bit silly, although entirely in character. I just hadn’t seen that exchange coming.

I love Brian. My MN name is a Brianism.

@BeardieWeirdie

Maybe Lizzie is looking at Vince and seeing £££ to prop up her stately home?

I know Freddie pulled Lynda out but he wasn’t injured. I get Robert wanting to thump Philip but Lizzie making it all about her/her precious son is a bit silly, although entirely in character. I just hadn’t seen that exchange coming.

I think that's far more plausible. She can be the lady of the manor without the hard work.

he wasn’t injured
His ickle paws were a bit burnt and hurty.
Why be annoyed with Philip for slightly blowing up Freddie when one can thoroughly loathe him and his gormless minions for failing to atomise the menace that is the Snell woman?

Whether justified or not I'm afraid I very much enjoyed hearing Lizzie lay into Shula.