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 Fallon was a bit of a blabber confiding in Lynda about Harrison. It’s very early days and he is only kicking the ball. Broadcasting rumours that he wants to quit the police won’t do his career any good should he choose to stay. I’m sure he would be very unhappy to learn of her gossiping (even if dressed up as concern).

If she’d mentioned it to Joelene - or even Emma - then that would have been understandable but not a random in passing when talking about the village fete. Very poor judgement- though presumably Lynda was picked so we could hear some choice memories of her and Robert.

Can’t wait to hear Eddie’s ideas for livening up the village fete…sigh…

But it's not his dog. So his wife's birthday should have priority. He was only going with Ben on the walk to commune with nature.

Yes. I've got that now thanks.

Sorry - hadn't seen the other replies

I replayed the episode for the Henry bits. Yes, his accent all over the place, but as a northerner myself I only heard it in "done", "Mum" and "funny" the vowel sounds that are so round in northern accents.

No problem 😊

CANCEL THE CHEQUE DOG!

I'm younger than Tom but I can never remember him doing anything for anyone other than himself, except taking over John's business.

Tom took the blame for Helen when she ran someone over (Mike?). I can’t remember if she was drunk behind the wheel or simply not paying attention. I think it was in the midst of one of her many personal dramas and Tom was worried a conviction for drink/careless driving would tip her over the edge.

I thought Henry sounded west mids. I suppose to some that’s ‘northern’ 😉

Haha
It was the 'stook' for stuck that sounded northern.

I don’t know much about children but he seemed to be a very young version of a 12-year-old. I know they were attempting at teenage behaviour with the minor ribbing of Uncle Tom but this child seemed more like an 8-year-old- whatever the accent.

£5 is quite an inducement from Tony. Rewards must be RPI-linked nowadays.

12 year old boys do still sound like little boys though, they're still choristers at that age remember until their voices break!

He sounds very similar to my 12 year old nephews to me.

Is Blayke (Henry) a girl? There was something odd about the voice. Perhaps it was just the lines.

Others may correct me, but I thought Robert Snell's company went bust, not that he chose to quit the rat race?

I wonder what is planned for Harrison.

No, a boy. I think Robert had his own company when he first moved to Ambridge, so I suppose that was a version of leaving the rat race, but it went bust and after that they opened the B&B and he did handyman work around the village.

Oh I always thought he worked in IT or something, from home. Shows what I know.

He did work in IT, through his own company. Contracting work, consultancy? Something like that, anyway. I found it odd that he turned his back on IT, but maybe he was bored with it and couldn't/wouldn't keep up with the fast pace of change in the sector.

I think he couldn't keep up with the pace of change, as @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g says. The problem is that in keeping up, you have to constantly keep topping up/amending/consigning to the past various bits of your IT knowledge. (Anyone still remember CP/M?) Whereas the younger folks' heads aren't as full yet

I thought that. Tom was an idiot, but Lee needs to take responsibility for his own actions!

Agree also that Henry's voice didn't quite fit for some reason.

HENRY's voice doesn't fit? I know loads of people from all over Birmingham/the rest of the Midlands and I'm struggling to think of who in the Archers has the slightest hint of a "local" accent. Jack Woolley, ummmm ummmmm. There must be others.

Some of the Grundies are OK if you take Archerland as being Vale of Evesham towards Herefs. Very different accent from Brum and places further north.

So much for Lynda’s promise “I won’t try to make you join the Committee, I promise….right, now you’ve told me what’s upsetting you, will you join the Committee?”

Sid had a Brummie accent.

Vince is a Brummie, so was Beth. And Hayley. And her Dad Sykesy.

Sorry have I missed something? (possible I've only been dipping in recently) Sykesy is Hayley's Dad???