Archers thread #142: Kill Jill? Is Ambridge heading for a Tarantino-style bloodbath on Stir Up Sunday? 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, although we do mostly try to be civil about it. Most of us are posting tongue in cheek a lot of the time, so don't worry about revealing that , 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/4636789-the-archers-spoilers-thread-7-cant-wait-for-702pm-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.)

Well, things have taken a turn for the better in the last few days! The SWs have re-discovered their form and the actors and directors have risen to the challenge. I won't say much more than that for fear of jinxing things. Over to you!

(Thanks to @JanglyBeads for the thread title idea!)

No, but they wouldn’t be increasing the amount of loan (although, as you say, interest would be higher)

I know it's supposed to be fiction, but could the SW at least try to give some credibility to the farming storylines. I cannot imagine any farmer not checking any loan agreement before he signed, farmers are usually pretty canny. Phil would never have done so and David learned his trade from his Dad, so it would have been drummed into David from a young age to always check the details of any financial documentation. I know it's been said before but it is becoming more like EE every month. I couldn't agree more.
@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime I am in awe at your dedication.

True

I am catching up so apologies if I’m repeating something that has already been discussed: why is David even entertaining the idea of repaying £8k for the NZ tickets? I understand all of the “I want Casey off our backs” but it doesn’t make sense to pay for this when they have no legal or moral obligation to do so and are already strapped for cash. Vince will probably has insurance and will get most or a his money back!

probably has insurance and will get most or all of his money back

@Eastie77Returns , because David isn't terribly astute.

David was scared by Vince's threat that if David didn't pay up, he'd come after Ben to recoup his losses. Vince is probably banking on Ben having something like his father's utter lack of astute business acumen coupled with youthful naivety about the ways of the world and crippling self-loathing so he'd cough up whatever the moral or legal grounds or consequences to himself. David agreed to pay to avoid Vince approaching Ben. Still not realistic, far better would have been for David to pre-warn Ben and say 'under no circumstances are you to pay anything, he hasn't got a leg to stand on'. But here we are.

I am reminded from time to time that this is such an odd programme. I still can’t quite put my finger on why I listen both avidly and regularly.

Rival choirs
Messages in bottles
Flakey legal threats
Teenage escorts at business events

I mean- honestly… 🤦‍♀️

You are completely right, it makes absolutely no sense, except in the SW's minds. In real life David would just do as @Fink says above, just warn Ben to ignore. Vince is just trying on the bully boy antics that no doubt have served him very well in business. WTF Elizabeth is still with him I just cannot fathom.

Ever heard of Soap Opera's, @Roysnewshirt ?

*Operas, obvs

I’ve taken to calling her oblivious Elizabeth because it seems she either hasn’t noticed or simply doesn’t care.

She was furious when Vince initially tried to confront and threaten Ben but has since appeared curiously unconcerned about what he is doing to David. I’ve heard a few cursory “Vince is upset….he’ll calm down…” comments but that’s about it.

I think we are overdue a conversation between Elizabeth and Vince about his latest demands from David and Ruth.

I have this strange thought that Vince is buying the Brookfield land.

@Roysnewshirt your pondering made me laugh - I completely agree 😆

The sheep/spider/Rosie dialogue - I know we’ve previously wondered about a Ruth and Stella ‘ship but the Stella and Pip chat today seemed a bit random didn’t it? We’re not being set up for a New Romantic situation here are we…? Stella mentioned something about the soil book being suitable for ‘our generation’ - did she mean Ruth and her generation? Or Pip and her? I can’t remember how old she is meant to be

Lower case *new romantic intended there!

Hmm … I’ve had a look on the very impressive Ben Norris’ website and see nothing suggesting imminent Hollywood stardom - but things are not looking good for Ben (Archer). Last time I saw a TV soap there was a lot of head shaking and debate over the devastating consequences of depression in young men. Really hope that isn’t what they’re planning for Ambridge.

@JanglyBeads said Ever heard of Soap Operas, @Roysnewshirt ?

Wash your mouth out, Jangly, (or maybe bleach your keyboard?) TA is NOT one of those. Even if it is no longer an Everyday Story of Country Folk. It has become a unique dramatic form in its own right

Was being intentionally controversial....

Whenever Stella appears it seems random. We still don't know what her relationship with Justin is/ was

@TheSilveryPussycat @Roysnewshirt and @JanglyBeads and @anybodyelseinearshot...come on now, we all know it's a documentary and you can't convince me otherwise!

Oh yes, it's a documentary, a dramatic documentary. Or do I mean over-dramatic?

I must say I'm enjoying it a lot more now that I've surrendered to the utter ridiculousness of the whole thing.

Somehow I don't think holiday insurance will cough up because one member of the party has dumped another.

Well, quite. Soap opera writers never let the law get in the way of a storyline. Casualty is notorious for the way characters are constantly leaving more or less on impulse without anyone bothering about notice periods. Throughout soapland, if a landlord tells a tenant to leave they meekly do so without anyone pointing out that notice is a thing, let alone that they don't have to go unless and until the landlord gets a court order.

I suspect it could be. I also suspect that that was part of the logic behind the late abortion: Ben had a long time to think about his child developing, and about being a father if Chelsea had had the baby. He's also going to be aware that the foetus wasn't far off viability and was pretty fully formed, so he could well be dwelling on the reality of what the abortion involved and torturing himself generally about it all. And all of that, combined with the break-up with Beth, could build into a big depression storyline.

characters are constantly leaving more or less on impulse without anyone bothering about notice periods.

This sort of thing really annoys me. Soaps would be a good place to help educate some people on the basics of employment law, housing law and so on, your rights and responsibilities. But no. I decide I don't want to do this job any more, so that's it, end of shift, I'm off. Or fall out with your manager, that's it, here's your P45, no disciplinary process, notice period or anything.