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Archers thread #149: This is not a drill, it’s a plot device. Here’s hoping for Stella-r rows in Ambridge. Discuss The Archers here.

979 replies

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 06/06/2023 08:28

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

Archers All views on The Archers welcome here! New blood welcomed, and of course we are always delighted to welcome back former or occasional listeners/posters. 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 you think George Grundy's bantz make him a great laugh and totally harmless to women, or other unusual views. Grin

Archers 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!

Archers 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 for title suggestions - @FallonsNewCoat started us off with Drilling down OR What’s the drill?: So many jobs hanging in the balance - what’s planned for Adam, Stella, Freddie and horrible George?, @OverArmour's suggestion was ‘Drilling down on less than Stella-r performances and who will be a pig in muck’ and @TeenDivided contributed the laserdrill focussed Lets drill into plot holes and hope George gets his comeuppance. I went for a bit of all of that. The phrase at the back of my head, which I am very pleased to have tracked down, was from one of my favourite film franchises where the character Conklin says in Jason Bourne's memory This is not a drill, soldier. We clear on that? This is a live project. You are go. Training is over. Training is over. Well, that's us, troops. Training is over, discussing The Archers is a live project, and it's our job to drill down into all aspects of what we hear. Grin

On the last thread, people were discussing how unrealistic the portrayal of mental health problems is on TA. I wholeheartedly agree, but I suppose they don't feel they can tackle long-running slow burn storylines that often. They made a great effort with Jack Woolley's Alzheimer's. Other than that, I don't recall anybody having a recurring illness that's been portrayed realistically (and actually that goes for physical conditions as well). Most things clear up and are hardly mentioned again. Sticking just to mental illness, Pat had depression after John died, Mike Tucker had a bad bout of depression, so did Elizabeth. Helen's ED may or may not be about to re-appear, but nobody's mentioning it. Ben's rapid-onset depresssion recently led to a psychotic episode but now he's fine, not least because he got prompt, skilled and appropriate treatment on the NHS, unlike most of the UK. Hmm This is one area where I feel they shouldn't even attempt it if they can't do it in a way that reflects the reality of what most of us experience, for ourselves and our loved ones.

Anyway, with that off my chest - over to you!

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Brefugee · 16/06/2023 15:15

i'm training my ears to scoot over the Helen / Rob stuff. It is just rubbish.

BoreOfWhabylon · 16/06/2023 17:07

Well, I rather enjoyed Kirsty's True-crime podcasts, complete with evil plinky-plonky music!

Just hope there's proper drama tonight and not a damp squid.

DeanElderberry · 16/06/2023 17:18

I won't listen to it until after I've read what people here and on Mustardland have to say. I took a break for a few months when Ed and Em's marriage was breaking up, could easily take another one now if it all sounds grim.

JanetheObscure · 16/06/2023 17:21

Thank you @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g ! I feel liberated after delurking.

Have heard the bonus episode. Very well chosen clips, quite nicely linked together by Annabelle Dowler.

CountryCousin · 16/06/2023 19:04

Don’t think the BBC got the SPOILERS note …

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 16/06/2023 19:12

FGS, Helen, don't fall for this nonsense!

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JanglyBeads · 16/06/2023 19:14

Oh my goodness what the heck is happening?!?!

NewBootsAndRanty · 16/06/2023 19:15

For a moment i thought he'd stabbed himself and was going to say Helen did it..

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 16/06/2023 19:15

It's all a fake! Run for the hills!

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JanglyBeads · 16/06/2023 19:16

How long are we going to have to wait to know if the blow to his head has caused something?!
We didn't see this bit coming did we? Well done, Scripties!

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 16/06/2023 19:17

'You know what you're like ... ' And so it resumes. Sad Angry

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JanglyBeads · 16/06/2023 19:17

And what else was he about to tell l her when it happened?

CountryCousin · 16/06/2023 19:18

Would be a bit convenient, wouldn’t it? Just when he needs a bit of sympathy to ensure he gets his own way …

JanglyBeads · 16/06/2023 19:18

The one bit I could boop there:
"You raped me"

JanglyBeads · 16/06/2023 19:29

That was a well written and acted episode.

Would have been wonderful for a big anniversary of the series.....

MereDintofPandiculation · 16/06/2023 19:36

JanglyBeads · 16/06/2023 19:17

And what else was he about to tell l her when it happened?

That he’d developed epilepsy? In which case google will tell you a number of ways of inducing a seizure, some of them drug induced, some of them obvious to an onlooker, some of them less so.

Why did he get there so early? Because he wanted to take something once he had arrived?

Did you note her refusing a cappucino? Eating disorder? Or simply wanting to retain control over the situation?

MereDintofPandiculation · 16/06/2023 19:37

JanglyBeads · 16/06/2023 19:29

That was a well written and acted episode.

Would have been wonderful for a big anniversary of the series.....

I think someone made a calendar mistake

MereDintofPandiculation · 16/06/2023 19:38

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 16/06/2023 19:17

'You know what you're like ... ' And so it resumes. Sad Angry

Indeed. The cracks show,don’t they?

MereDintofPandiculation · 16/06/2023 19:40

What happened during the Lee visit? Did he have a seizure then? Lee and Tom didn’t stay around to see, did they? (I haven’t listened to the episode)

MereDintofPandiculation · 16/06/2023 19:41

Sorry about all the messages, but DH is hiding in his study till it’s all over

JanglyBeads · 16/06/2023 19:42

Lee ended up pushing Rob by accident and he fell and hit his head.

JanglyBeads · 16/06/2023 19:42

The refusing a coffee was just about trying to avoid slipping into any suggestion of cosines/ normality.

Fink · 16/06/2023 19:53

I switched off as soon as I heard Rob's voice at the beginning, it made my skin crawl. Worth listening on catch up or will I regret it? How awful was it?

WilkinsonM · 16/06/2023 19:53

Did Stella and Brian just behave well and like normal people and resolve a situation to everyone's satisfaction?? Surely not

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 16/06/2023 19:58

It wasn't awful. He is in hospital with what may or may not be a real health issue brought on by the exchange with Helen. We are speculating that it might, or might not, be connected with the bump to the head sustained during the altercation with Lee on Sunday. Buckle in, it's going to be strung out for a bit longer. Sigh.

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