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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!

OP posts:
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Poppins2016 · 16/06/2023 20:10

MereDintofPandiculation · 16/06/2023 19:38

Indeed. The cracks show,don’t they?

Mmhmm. "I may have said some things I shouldn't have" (to Lee).

He hasn't changed one bit. And he clearly still has a hold over Helen, which we and Kirsty all knew.

It was a good episode. Although, I'm not sure I'm going to enjoy the storyline...

BeaLola · 16/06/2023 20:11

Can someone remind me from my post menopausal fog is Ethan not Rob's son as well ( Jess ex wife son) ?

I think Rob is playing her again - don't fall for it Helen

Poppins2016 · 16/06/2023 20:13

No, Ethan isn't Rob's son. Jess fell pregnant with Ethan as a result of a fling with an old university friend.

Poppins2016 · 16/06/2023 20:14

I think Rob is playing her again - don't fall for it Helen

Absolutely. It was like listening to a puppet master at work.

daretodenim · 16/06/2023 20:15

I reckon he's developed an illness in the US. My first thought when she said he looked different was that he'd lost some weight and she didn't want to say that, but actually it was a sign of him having cancer. He wouldn't want to tell her that though because he likes manipulation, having her guessing, not purely her sympathy.

The epilepsy possibility is a good one too though and that one if diagnosed in the US wouldn't be recorded in the U.K. and then he can claim it's the result of the head injury.

I'm in the process of leaving a narcissist who is "only" that, not a sociopath, and the way he reeled her back in through words was so eerily familiar, it's freaked me out. Whatever the reason for his fit, it wasn't random - either he induced it somehow, or it's a condition brought on by stress, which Helen walking out was, because his power over her was dropping in that moment.

MereDintofPandiculation · 16/06/2023 20:20

JanglyBeads · 16/06/2023 19:42

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

I know that’s the “official” story, but Lee wasn’t aware of pushing Rob.

JanglyBeads · 16/06/2023 20:31

No he did say something - "He just wouldn't get out of the way", iirc. He pushed past him, kind of thing, but only in trying to leave and stress etc, in midst of being taunted.

(@daretodenim been there done that. Message if you want to talk further, using Rob as the common experience!)

Eastie77Returns · 16/06/2023 20:32

Oh dear. So Rob can now make the case that meetings with both Lee and Helen (neither of which he instigated) have resulted in him ending up in hospital.

He can probably convincingly claim that Helen tried to force him to accept the resolution letter and then turned nasty/psychotic when he refused…
”and the next thing I knew, I woke up in hospital and Helen was still there..harassing me. I begged her to leave me in peace..”

TopOfTheCliff · 16/06/2023 20:54

With a bit of luck it’s nothing to do with the head injury but signs of a brain tumour that will finish Rob off. If we are unlucky he has a subdural haematoma from the fall and Lee will be done for grievous bodily harm or murder. Definitely a medical diagnosis on its way, I thought Rob was about to say something before he collapsed.

BoreOfWhabylon · 16/06/2023 21:05

Yep. Brain tumour. And he knows already.
That's what he meant when he said "There's something else" just before he keeled over.

Fink · 16/06/2023 21:07

Thanks @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g I find the DV storyline quite triggering so I try to avoid it, but if it wasn't too bad then I might gird my loins and woman up to it.

BoreOfWhabylon · 16/06/2023 21:09

Timothy Watson acting his socks off as always.

NewBootsAndRanty · 16/06/2023 21:10

I wonder if she'll regret agreeing that she was his partner when the nurse asked...

JanglyBeads · 16/06/2023 21:22

@fink it depends what aspects of abuse you are triggered by. This was mainly the faux humble stage of the cycle.

Yes brain tumour could cause sickness, couldn't it?

Geppili · 16/06/2023 21:26

Rob is such a liar and a faker!

OverArmour · 16/06/2023 21:35

I wasn’t listening around the time of the original storyline. Just listened to the recap episode. The stabbing scene is actually quite upsetting, isn’t it. I can imagine it was quite shocking to hear at the time? Did anyone expect anything to that level or was it a big shock?

JanglyBeads · 16/06/2023 21:37

It was a massive shock

JanglyBeads · 16/06/2023 21:39

Good points from the Fb group:

• she's surely breached/ rendered null the restraining order by going to see him

• if he's got a terminal illness why didn't he disclose it in his application for contact with Jack, would have really helped his case?

OverArmour · 16/06/2023 21:57

Thanks @JanglyBeads

Was he ever unwell / vulnerable some way in the original storyline? Wondering if he’s replaying something that always worked to manipulate her the first time around.

OverArmour · 16/06/2023 21:58

He only collapsed when he was about to lose control of the situation, when she was leaving.

JanglyBeads · 16/06/2023 22:08

True.

I really don't think it's his style to "act", in that way though?

No there were no health problems previously, real or pretended. Apart from after she stabbed him of course....

Kiwano · 16/06/2023 22:17

JanglyBeads · 16/06/2023 21:39

Good points from the Fb group:

• she's surely breached/ rendered null the restraining order by going to see him

• if he's got a terminal illness why didn't he disclose it in his application for contact with Jack, would have really helped his case?

She hasn't breached the order, it won't direct her to do anything. Whether she's affected it otherwise rather depends on the terms - in particular, whether it's ordering him to keep away from her, or whether it's restricted to Jack, and whether it has any caveats like not contacting without the Claimant's consent.

echt · 16/06/2023 22:50

Fab acting. And yes, Rob is playing her like a Stradivarius.

Love the reference to the years in North Dakota. Made me think of the scenes from Brokeback Mountain where Heath Ledger is alone at the end in his barren doublewide in the middle of nowhere. Boo hoo for Rob. Not.

So many possibilities have been opened up, especially by the head wound.

WitcheryDivine · 16/06/2023 23:34

I don’t for one moment think he’s ill. Nothing he did this evening couldn’t be faked. Bet he’ll convince H he is though - he’s trying to divide and conquer ie get her on his side against Lee and her family.

RegimentalSturgeon · 16/06/2023 23:43

JanglyBeads · 16/06/2023 19:42

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

No, Lee pushed Rob, very much not by accident, because Rob wouldn’t get out of his way, and has admitted as much. After an insult which Tom relayed to Helen. He’s the type Helen would choose, into fitness and not intellectually challenging, reportedly (spot on, Rob!).

[rubs hands, offers to hold Rob’s pint. Although possibly that will turn out to be a drip bag 😂

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