🧱 Archers thread #128: Alice lobs a brick, Emma hurls brickbats, Neil is a brick. Cement your relationship with 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 collect superhero figures, or other unusual things.

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.)

Apologies for not using any of the suggestions offered for this thread's title. I'll paste them in here instead to get us started.

I like the leeway pun here from @ThePawtriarchy: Bacon, Bores and Booze. Elizabeth needs convincing, Helen needs some leeway and Alice is in crisis.

@nettie434 gets to the nub of what's been happening recently: Beechwood, Batman and Booze: Rex's pigs and Helen and Lee have new homes but will Lee's collection of action figures plant the apple of discord in their sylvan idyll? Alice's alcohol problems continue to cause friction between the Aldridges and Carters. Has anyone warned Borsetshire Children's Services what awaits them?

Great one liner from @PseudoBadger - ‘Nobody puts Captain America in the corner’.

And a timely bit of advice from @JanFebAnyMonth: If this evening’s episode has raised any issues for you, please call the BBC Helpline post on this MN thread for details of organisations which might help you.

So, off we go again! We may get back to five episodes a week before the next thread. Here's hoping that it's Friday we get back, not Sunday.

Ah, happy memories of the bunny-binning.

Oh my goodness re the PR! But then why have we not heard Helen lamenting it, worrying about it, cursing herself for giving him it, and seeking to get it rescinded?! Or if not her, Pat or Tony?

Now I’m even more worried about who’s going to turn up at the blue and red love nest in a matter of months....

Boop to whoever called it on here re Helen expecting anger over the figures....

Peggy’s memories put one in mind of the recent Call the Midwife episode about ”curing” a homosexual, sounded very similar

BOOP for June Spencer. ILovePeggy!

And boop to Lee not just for not being angry but not being offended by Helen's assumption that he would be angry.

@TeenMinusTests

Lee is a nice guy who works hard and is good with the boys.

Loads of men have collections of stuff, I don't as such see an issue with it, it is relatively harmless. Whether it is action figures or beermats it doesn't make much of a difference, except physical size. I worked with a nice chap who was really into lego. (To be fair I worked in computing/tech so maybe there was more likelihood of collecting tendencies there?)

I'm pretty certain the PR for Henry never happened.

Grown-ups are allowed to have harmless interests and hobbies which other grown-ups don't understand or have no interest in.

I have zero interest in competitive sport- the attraction of rugby or volleyball or netball escapes me completely.

Some people collect porcelain figures or first editions of books. Lee's collecting habit isn't any more "odd" - both of those are items which are solely look but don't touch. I have quite a large collection of Victorian jewellery- which even circulating wear still means most of it is locked up in box most of the time.

I think what is really shocking is that Helen has apparently made no effort at all to teach her children that it is wrong to take other people's things without permission.

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime

I think what is really shocking is that Helen has apparently made no effort at all to teach her children that it is wrong to take other people's things without permission.

Her reaction on the phone to Joy was telling - “oh no [to taking the toys off them], I don’t want to upset them.” Same as she seems to think them playing the drums at all hours is just something happening that’s entirely out of her control. God forbid actually parenting.

Helen has apparently made no effort at all to teach her children that it is wrong to take other people's things without permission
That's scarcely surprising, given her own history.

I bow to your superior knowledge @theThreeofWeevils!
Re. Rob, I do rather miss a proper hate figure, mildly irritating-Adam/Pip/Shula/ Emma/Tony/Kate (delete according to personal preference) doesn't quite do it.
Philip Moss was shaping up to be a good substitute hate figure but it all rather fizzled out. I was hoping for a court scene where he tried to blame Gavin and Kirsty and heart rending testimony from Blake and the other lads.

@JanFebAnyMonth

Oh my goodness re the PR! But then why have we not heard Helen lamenting it, worrying about it, cursing herself for giving him it, and seeking to get it rescinded?! Or if not her, Pat or Tony?

Now I’m even more worried about who’s going to turn up at the blue and red love nest in a matter of months....

As Rob was banned by order of a judge from having any contact whatsoever with Henry, I think it can safely be assumed that he has no PR.

Halfhardy
Pip is only mildly irritating. Are you serious?!!

Good to see Peggy hasn’t forgotten how to use her bank balance to buy her way out of a good old-fashioned family dispute. I don’t doubt she will be back on speaking terms with Jenny within moments of transferring Alice’s clinic fees.

Interesting that Lee is now fast becoming the Ambridge sage and rivalling Jim in the wisdom stakes. First offering balanced and sensible advice to the man-sized toddler known as Adam and now demonstrating his enlightenment/zen by not being phased at all by the boys’ treatment of Wolverine. The SLs have clearly decided they needed to move his character on a bit from the shallow cardboard cut-out who wore white trainers on a muddy walk during his and Helen’s first date.

Both Lee's and Helen's reactions rang true to me. Helen with her understandable anxiety over Lee's attitude, and Lee's resigned sadness at the destruction of the 'worth' of his toys. Maybe he's realised that the true value of a toy is how much joy is gained from playing with it. I dunno...

I haven't heard the episodes, but I can see Helen being more 'permissive' in her parenting than she otherwise might have been because of Rob.

I find everything about Lee's super hero figures intensely annoying. They have clearly been included as a way of illustrating that Helen still has issues after Knob (you don't say) and that Lee is nothing like Knob. It has felt like such sledgehammer symbolism which has chiefly served to make Lee seem slightly nerdy and obsessive rather than the handsome super hero we are meant to imagine he is. Yes it's lovely that they've both learned something from the episode, but it just feels too pat (no not that one - I think she's been put back in her packaging and locked away in the cereal cupboard).

Collections are weird but fine, I do find the toys in boxes collectors especially odd though. It’s a bit like getting a plant and watching it die or getting a car and never driving it. I’d find it less weird if they were out of the box - unplayed with but in perfect nick - than boxed up.

Enjoyed last night’s episode after the deeply pointless ones of the last few days. Lee was sweet - it’s the first time his temper has been tested and he passed. I like Lee - he’s a nice change from the posho Ambridge residents and the intended to be peasants ones too. He’s kind and fit and relaxed and willing to put up with Helen and be nice to her kids - what more could anyone want? I mean sure - not being boring would help but I expect Helen is ready for a bit of slightly dull.
Sometimes I do think that he’s a latter day copy of Harrison though? Both in “tough” jobs, both up for a bit of getting naked, both essentially domestic and humdrum.

@nettie434 glad I’m not the only one yelling “the money was just resting in my account!” at Adam

Meant to say BOOP for Peggy and Lilian - and the very believable revealing of long ago secrets

Foxglove If watching The Big Bang Theory & Antiques Roadshow has taught me anything it's that toys in boxes are worth considerably more than those opened or, horror, played with. (Like new uncirculated coins).

@TeenMinusTests

Foxglove If watching The Big Bang Theory & Antiques Roadshow has taught me anything it's that toys in boxes are worth considerably more than those opened or, horror, played with. (Like new uncirculated coins).

Oh - I know. But Lee doesn’t seem interested in selling them, more gawping at them.

Mini BOOP for the nice moment of Lee’s disillusionment with Wolverine’s bendy claws

@TeenMinusTests

Foxglove If watching The Big Bang Theory & Antiques Roadshow has taught me anything it's that toys in boxes are worth considerably more than those opened or, horror, played with. (Like new uncirculated coins).

And don't forget Toy Story 2.

I predict a financial crisis for Lee and Helen, which will be retrieved by Lee sacrificing his collection. Maybe they will take up Adam's recommendation of an electrician and be charged thousands for changing a plug.

[quote FoxgloveSummers]@nettie434 glad I’m not the only one yelling “the money was just resting in my account!” at Adam

Meant to say BOOP for Peggy and Lilian - and the very believable revealing of long ago secrets[/quote]
The shame is that the secrets Peggy revealed didn't actually happen. Apart from that it was fine.

Did they not? This is all several decades before my time I’m afraid

I have read the synopsis but not heard the episode. It says rehab failed for Jack and he died a horrible death, is that not true? I didn’t think that was a secret though.