🐴 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?

@Chemenger

The headline in the Echo should be Local Farmer Shocked by Discovery of Husband’s Spine. It’s time someone introduced Ruth and Pip to the word “no”. They’re pretty good at using it but not so great at hearing it.

Or within the title of the next thread maybe.

I remembered why I generally don’t like podcasts- most of them come across like pub bores and could do with a proper editor.

That's exactly it, HaveringWavering! Even when I'm interested in the topic, they still tend to sound like pub bores rambling on (although I now have only a faint memory of what it would be like to be in a pub.

Thanks for the Lucy Freeman suggestion, MollyButton. I will give that a try.

Delighted to find other people who don't like The Listening Project. It's being going on for so long and is a bit precious.

Lynda provokes and amuses me in equal measure. Just when I think she is unbearable, she does something very kind, like when she spoke to Kirsty the other week.

I even felt a bit sorry for David yesterday. Of course Brookfield needs lambs. Lambing and shearing, plus an odd bit of blue tongue are a vital part of listening.

I may be alone in this but I think this Mystery Play thing is going to be a total bore. I hope everybody snubs Kirsty by refusing to take part and that becomes the story. I suspect the SWs have some idea that we need something uplifting for Easter, so they have, of course, chosen something dismal. We've lived through the whole "who will take part in my pantomime" drama every year, why introduce a twice a year torture?

What I dislike about TLP is the sanctimonious business about how it's all going to be preserved in the archives of the British Museum (or some such august institution) for the benefit of future generations.

They will think we were the most boring generation ever ...

I may be alone in this but I think this Mystery Play thing is going to be a total bore

You are not alone at all. I tend to skip episodes which are related to amateur dramatics. Not only do they tend to be Snell-heavy which makes they tedious in the extreme but I also think such SLs do not represent life as know it in the 21st century in any shape or form.

Having said that, I am not too worried about Ambridge being a COVID-free zone. Neither do I mind suspending reality when I watch pre-pandemic box sets...

I don’t know if anyone watches Heartland, set on an equine ranch in Canada. It’s total trash but I love the horses and the mountains in it and I was thrilled when the vet diagnosed kissing spines on one of the horses that was playing up...

No one here at the academic archers this weekend?

I thought Ruth was rather rude to Kirsty. And agreed that Ruth and David bickering was unrealistic.

BOOP for Johnny proving he is wise beyond his years once again.

Ruth should be grabbing every chance to get randomers on to the farm since they finished the work on their wedding barn (in a location stuffed to the gills with nicer and more established venues) just as the wedding and events industry was grinding to a dramatic halt (even if it did cost tuppence hapenny due to being built by slaves)

I also think such SLs do not represent life as know it in the 21st century in any shape or form.
Are you saying that AmDram no longer exists? It certainly does.

BOOP for Johnny proving he is wise beyond his years once again.
But did he have to labour the point quite so much. What with him banging on & on and the Dopeys arguing, the episode was not a very pleasant listening experience.

I was at AA, yes.

(With cake.)

...just writing some scenes where people talk through options, make a decision in a calm, consensual way and then get on with the minutiae of planning and implementing.

I wish the SWs would do this more, instead of having to have Dramatic Conflict.

There was a reasoned discussion recently, related to farming - Eddie and Mia talking about veganism raising cows.

I am another person who reaches for the off-switch when TLP comes on. But by a strange coincidence my friend was on it last week. She is talking about being a Mental Health Advocate with another advocate from another part of the country.

It is really worth a listen. It's the first conversation on i-player, the Archers bit is another segment.

oops - veganism and raising cows.

The trouble with Archers' AmDram, at least as depicted when they broadcast it on the radio, is that it's a standard of acting you very rarely get in AmDram in RL, particularly when the participants aren't regular AmDrammers but have to be press-ganged into it every year.

@Taswama

I thought Ruth was rather rude to Kirsty. And agreed that Ruth and David bickering was unrealistic.

BOOP for Johnny proving he is wise beyond his years once again.

Ruth is rather a rude little person altogether.

How is trying to interfere in someone else's sex-life wise?

Are you saying that AmDram no longer exists? It certainly does

Definitely not saying it doesn’t exist, @R4, but I would humbly suggest it is relevant to approximately 0.1% of the population...

• grabs tin hat and ducks for cover

I believe it is usual to start casting for an amateur Christmas panto a little earlier than late October, though.

Jazzer is turning into a real creep.

Who spots Rob on the distant horizon (evil laugh)

I’m pleased for Helen. Lee isn’t my cup of tea but she seemed genuinely happy tonight. Please don’t let @JanFebAnyMonth be right...

If you were a SW, wouldn't you be plotting it gleefully?

I did wonder about paving the way for a Knob reappearance when Henwee disappeared.

Anyone else slightly nauseated at the thought of the Sex Caravan?

Anyone else slightly nauseated at the thought of the Sex Caravan?

More than slightly. And Ben's over-investment in Ruairi's sex life puts Jazzer's ancient creepiness in the shade.

What is the matter with the SWs at the moment? Does sex always have to be portrayed like this? It was interesting to hear that Ben and Evie (?) are now an item - just a shame they couldn't have left it at that.

Anyone else slightly nauseated at the thought of the Sex Caravan?

Yes but I also cringe at the thought of teens/young adults having "guests" in the parental home!