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.

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

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

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.

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.)

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.

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. 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!

I thought his voice was already quavering at that point.

Yes let's hope H ends up doing the freedom programme - although I wonder what will have to happen first!

Fwiw, most of the criticisms of Helen here could be levelled at all abused women who return to their abusers.

I hope everyone here never has the misfortune to have to deal with one of these men, or your daughters etc.

She's already truly suckered in, isn't she?

The way Helen mentioned Lee's barging Rob to Lee? I can't remember the exact term she used but it was Ron's version, not Lee's. When Lee defended himself she also dismissed it as his version of events.

Did anyone hear the Helen actor on Woman’s Hour this morning? Talking about the Rob storyline while being careful not to give anything away.

I had a moment of confusion with Harrison today. Talking over his new-found love of nature with a woman I took to be Helen. I had time to wonder why before the familiar Fallon twangs reappeared.

Harrison is really overdoing his mid-life crisis, isn’t he? Most people are satisfied with one big life change, Harrison has already done religion but evidently it wasn’t enough

I think Harrison desperately wants to have children and is trying to find things that fill that void.

I’m surprised Harrison has time for nature, what with being the only police officer in Borsetshire.

I agree. It's sad and I wonder if they forgot to clear that up before marriage.

They're not married, but have "agreed" not to have children. Or Fallon has....

They are married.

About 5 years ago.

Was that when the bunting went missing, too?

I think the bunting went missing before then. That was closer to the bunting case being reopened, though I can't recall the conclusion

Apologies, had forgotten about that wedding.

Stella is not going to bury the hatchet with Adam, is she....

I think Stella is going to do whatever she can to cause trouble for Adam. He is a weak man his apology was a bit rubbish when he knows he should have fessed up to Brian in the first place, not that im over keen on Stella.
I remember when Harrison and Fallon had the talk about babies or rather Fallon told Harrison she dosnt want any Children. I think Harrison has a big void in his life and is trying to fill it with Nature and spiritual things. I feel sorry for him its hard enough when you cant have Children and hard enough when the choice is taken away from you. I think they should have talked about it before they got married. Also Fallen seems to put the mockers on anything Harrison wants to do.

I quite enjoyed Stella v Kate.

I think Stella is going to do whatever she can to cause trouble for Adam. He is a weak man his apology was a bit rubbish when he knows he should have fessed up to Brian in the first place, not that im over keen on Stella.

i think Stella won't make things easy for Adam, and she won't be involving him in any day-to-day running of the farm at all. She was very cold towards him, and who can blame her? and his "apology" was, in effect 'sorry i was so weak that i didn't speak clearly either at the time the drill was ordered or during Brian's enquiry into my role in it'.

Stella knows where she is, she knows she is good and she knows that Brian knows that if she is pushed out, BL will end the contract asap. She may or may not use that at all, since she seemed genuine in her shock that Justin may do that - but in any case that is the situation. In her shoes I'd have been a bit less gracious to Adam, but i think her way was right.

Harrison? He's an idiot.

also Stella vs Kate. Oh no. No. Are they building up to a major fire? I hope Kate and Home Farm's insurance is up-to-date.

And in Stella's shoes? email to Kate summarising what they discussed and her understanding there will be no fire (there will be a fire, Kate didn't agree not to have one). With cc to Brian.

So Susan has form for stealing things 🦙 👓

Stella is not going to bury the hatchet with Adam, is she - I think it's more that Stella now knows where she stands. She's in charge and she needs to run things past Brian because that's who she answers to. Erroneously thinking it's a family farm so all animals are equal was big mistake which nearly cost her her job. She is taking no chances - the same goes for Kate and Spiritual Home. If the crops go up in flames Stella knows it will be her neck on the line. She's making sure she's got all her ducks in a row. I can't say I blame her.

Also I think the cracks are finally starting to show between Fallon and Harrison. Once upon a time she would have gone up to the bathroom and taken Harrison with her - now it feels like they are on very different tracks. She worries about paying the mortgage while feeling nostalgic about the past, he's definitely looking for something more - religion, nature, a change of direction and pace (in lieu of kids as @TherapistInATabard so rightly surmises). I predict she'll be meeting up with Ash - the Dross singer who sent her the birthday card.

Yes, I feel very sorry for Harrison. Fallon believes herself to be kind, warm and generous but she’s actually very selfish. She sounded very petulant complaining about Bridge Farm being closed on OFS. She should have had an open conversation with Helen or Pat weeks ago about it. They might not have given her a straight answer as they wouldn’t have wanted to talk about Rob but it would have been better than just whining about her supply chain.

How old are Fallon and Harrison now? I had completely forgotten about their wedding! Agree I think Harrison would have really loved to have a baby. Suppose maybe he hoped Fallon would change her mind one day? She came across as quite mean and selfish last night. I've always liked Harrison, just seems an average nice guy. Nothing wrong with that.

I don’t know - I thought Harrison was a bit selfish, he’d hardly made much of an effort for her birthday. He got so involved in himself and his love for his new fad he didn’t bother coming home to get her special birthday meal started in time. Considering she’d been at work all day and would be knackered. No wonder she decided to treat herself to a soak in the bath.

I think Fallon has a healthy sense of her own worth and isn’t afraid to stick up for herself or her boundaries (to use a popular MN phrase!).

Also I agree with Pat that I wouldn't put it past Knob to fake a seizure. They said tests were all normal.. so hinting at that possibility perhaps. Was it a spur of the momen desperate attempt to stop her walking away? He started to get angry when she refused to listen anymore and said something about there being something else she needed to know.

And right at the end of that episode his last line "it was probably the intensity of seeing you again". Pretending to comfort her whilst simultaneously scolding her. Straight back to his old ways.

Suppose with Fallon, it seems clear Harrison is really struggling with work, stress etc but she isn't taking any notice. Focussed on her own things. Likewise, maybe Harrison isn't paying her worries much attention either. Although tbf, he can't discuss Bridge Farm with her and had to swiftly try and change the subject. They just seem to be drifting I think.

@Labradory I agree, he popped in to see her for 3 minutes because he decided he HAD to walk the dog that one day, and then was starting to marinade meat in the mid evening when presumably Fallon was just hoping to sit down and have a nice dinner with her husband.

I think they're trying to paint them as a couple who are just drifting apart not through anyone's particular fault, just not paying each other enough attention.