🐷 Archers thread #127: Discuss the boars and sows of Ambridge here - or should that be bores and soused? You decide.

[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’d love to live opposite Joy, 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/4197199--The-Archers-spoilers-thread-6-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.)

These threads normally last around a month. When I started the last one, we were bracing ourselves for the Mystery Play, but that storyline, which had never exactly set the airwaves on fire, fizzled out and has (I hope) gone away, never to return.

@LillianGish proposed a new thread title which I'll use instead as a scene-setter for this thread. What a carry on - Nurse (Ben), Sergeant (Harrison), Camping (Kate), Jack (either one of them), Regardless (all of us for continuing to tune tune in)

What a carry on, indeed! Other storylines sputtering away:

• Alice, Chris, Martha - Have they split up, and if so where is Alice living? Will there be a christening and who will be godparents? When will the Aldridges and Carters find out about Alice's drinking? Too much to hope that Alice will get blind drunk at the christening party in full view of the entire village, I suppose. I'm still clinging to my hope that she lamps Alan after a suggestion that they pray together.

• Will Rex find a new home for his pigs? If Elizabeth weakens, will the pigs escape and disrupt the Lower Loxley life drawing event on Monday? Might they stampede, knock Ross out and devour him?

• Will Jazzer go to work for Neil? (This isn't exactly a cliffhanger. Of course he will.)

• Will Justin bury Lilian under the patio? Not a jury in the land would convict him, I feel, if they were played a recording of that appalling cackle and her gloating about the daffodil photograph.

• Will the life drawing event on Monday be a brilliantly amusing interlude, exemplifying how to write character-driven drama, with both comic and more serious moments? Answer: No, obviously. I may have to listen from behind a cushion.

There are more. I find myself struggling to care.

Oh, and one final mention - I've proposed a webchat with the Archers editor. @MayIDestroyYou's idea. You'll find it here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/site_stuff/4231475-Webchat-idea-The-Editor-of-The-Archers-Or-another-Archers-production-team-representative

Over to you!

Maximum shock value to have Alice drinking BEFORE the ceremony! I thought she would make it through to the after-party at least...Surprisingly sharp of Chris to check the handbag for miniatures!

Hugely enjoyable, while being absolutely heartbreaking. Had a touch of the EastEnders about it but was none the worse for that...

Rex and Pip scene had a touch of Henry VIII/brother Arthur/Catherine of Aragon about it - and we all know how that ended!

As long as it's Philippa Gone I don't mind.

Oh, I did enjoy that!

Oh so did I

I like Emma putting Pip and Rex in their place too.

I was also expecting her to wait until after the ceremony to get drunk. I assume JD heard what was going on but she wouldn't have understood the full extent of it.

Well done Chris!

I think we were all waiting for the after party, this was better and I thought showing her being strong over the champagne yet giving in later was a good reflection on the minute by minute struggle.

Yup that was well done

Had a touch of the EastEnders about it

very much so, in part because they nearly uttered the fateful words
'this is going to be 'The Best Christening Ever' '- which in EE talk means the pub is going to burn down and/or someone will be murdered

I thought it was well done, her avoiding the champagne bottle, but having "a miniature or two for courage" was ok. I'm assuming she's going to go on a bender now for the foreseeable future? Any crystal balls about?

I thought that was really well done -showing the daily struggle - I guess Jenny will be so shocked when she ultimately learns Peggy knew

I think it will go one of three ways -
Either the we've done that now & it will be pushed aside and fade away (bit like Bethany Tucker storyline) or something dramatic like Alice drink driving and crashing or Kate understanding and sorting /suppprting Alice through it all

The 🔮 says it is still shielding. They tried to vaccinate it but the needle couldn't penetrate its crystal carapace.

It muttered about custody battles.

@BoreOfWhabylon

Who is going to be the one to spill the beans about Alish?

Place your bets...

11:05ILoveShula

Alice, she'll be drunk

Spot on!

Will Peggy be in the doghouse now (again)?

Yes! Congratulations @ILoveShula

Why thank you, kind fellow TA posters. It wasn't too difficult to predict though was it.

I didn't think it would be before the Christening.

I'll put in another prediction. A dispute about the paternity.

Just a guess.

Hi everyone, loving the thread as usual (and also cross about the 4 vs 6 episodes but anyway)... it was an entertaining episode but, I have to say, I thought Emmuuuur and Chris were a bit cruel and over-the-top. (Yes, I know it’s a soap...) I do think if I discovered I was married to an alcoholic I would do some more research and understand that one stint in rehab was not going to “cure” them. I do also think Chris would have been offered some help and support for himself, or sought it out? Although, the pressure he’s been under, and the representation of the shame he feels / male belief that he’s got to fix it all on his own, that is a really realistic and interesting storyline to follow. Hope they do. And, I hope someone helps and supports Alice now!!

@LexysMidnightRunners I think the fact that she had nearly dropped Martha because she wasn't functioning properly due to her drinking. Chris' first priority is the safety of his child and I think he hasn't wanted to face the truth until now.

its crystal carapace
🔮 : Carapace? Wot carapace? I'm not a feckin' snow globe! Crystal to the core and doncha ferget it.

Chris' first priority is the safety of his child
Which he wanted sooooo much and now the incubator-come-support unit is malfunctioning will have to palm off onto some other female human while he gets all the praise and sympathy going for? Well, for what? Being completely fucking oblivious to reality, for a start.

@theThreeofWeevils

its crystal carapace 🔮 : Carapace? Wot carapace? I'm not a feckin' snow globe! Crystal to the core and doncha ferget it.

@ILoveShula

I'll put in another prediction. A dispute about the paternity.

Say what now?!?

Can't do with uppity prophesisers wot talk back, eh?

Why a paternity suit?

Alice is going to need massive support. She’ll go very far down and then probably start coming up, that’s when we’ll all be educated about AA and the sort of support the family should have been getting much earlier.
What’ll happen long term will depend on the Ambridge addiction fairy (cf Jazzer, Alistair, anyone else?)

Very evident that it's now "my child" not "our child"

Wouldn't you just go through with the christening, with godparent under firm instructions to prevent Alish attempting to snatch baby from father's arms? OK, it'll be the christening no-one ever forgets, but it'll be that anyway. Depends, I suppose, how much the religious bit means to Chris.

🔮 Is not a budgerigar.

Brian was absolutely out of order on the way he talked to Fallon. Yes, it's annoying if someone agrees to be a godparent and then backs out, but it's a voluntary position. You accept their decision with grace, then mutter within the confines of your own family.