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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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TopOfTheCliff · 21/06/2023 19:41

So it’s official now that Stella is lesbian. I’m surprised we heard Ruth asking so casually about the new woman friend, but I guess they have had long chats on a Saturday out of our earshot. Interesting to see how that will go down with Brian.

ChocChipHandbag · 21/06/2023 19:42

No but Hayley was played by the real life daughter of Jasper Carrott, who plays Sykesy. Lucy Davies, she played Dawn the Office too.

ChocChipHandbag · 21/06/2023 19:43

TopOfTheCliff · 21/06/2023 19:41

So it’s official now that Stella is lesbian. I’m surprised we heard Ruth asking so casually about the new woman friend, but I guess they have had long chats on a Saturday out of our earshot. Interesting to see how that will go down with Brian.

He was very zen about Ruari being bisexual, can’t imagine he’ll care all that much.

TeenDivided · 21/06/2023 19:49

ChocChipHandbag · 21/06/2023 19:42

No but Hayley was played by the real life daughter of Jasper Carrott, who plays Sykesy. Lucy Davies, she played Dawn the Office too.

Ahhh. See I knew that really, just didn't pick it up. I've been up since 5, that's my excuse.

WitcheryDivine · 21/06/2023 20:34

HOORAY I haven’t listened to tonight’s yet but I was the first to suggest Stella was a lesbian (and hoped for Ruth to leave David for her, that element mostly in jest).

do you think they just read these threads for ideas?

Agapornis · 21/06/2023 21:04

The fuck-off attitude, the Twirl, the lesbianism - I think Stella is me Grin
(my mum briefly considered naming me Stella...)

echt · 21/06/2023 23:12

I don't often address the radio - or laptop in this case - but Helen's saying she was going to get in touch with Rob again had me shouting "you fuckwit!!".
I don't believe for one minute she'll keep her promise to Kirsty.

Gosh, Kate's a nasty piece of work, reminding Stella of her place. She actually commented on the embers floating away - exactly what Stella warned about.

In other news we have our winter solstice today, Thursday 22nd.

Voltefarce · 22/06/2023 07:48

God, Stella is a thoroughly unpleasant person. And a terrible manager. Why hasn’t she learned to be clear?

greenacrylicpaint · 22/06/2023 08:02

kate is infuriating.
selling her hobby business but still expecting home farm to accomodate her.

Brefugee · 22/06/2023 08:49

I'm not actually with Stella here on the storming in and calling the odds.

I do think it was a construct so Stella could tell Adam that he's a vacillating fence-sitter and she's on to him.

Kate spouting "I'm a partner" and essentially threatening to have her fired was Kate being a spoiled brat.

TBH there should be rules that there are no open fires on Home Farm land without the express prior written permission of the farm management. But i doubt that's in place. Unless Stella can find it in the regulations.

Does Kate's land (where Spiritual Home is) belong to her or the farm?

I completely missed all the potential-lesbian stuff. Must re-listen.

Ambridge · 22/06/2023 08:56

I have extreme difficulty in listening to anything Kate says because of her repellently self-satisfied tone. She absolutely exudes smug entitlement with every syllable that comes out of her mouth and I almost have to cover my ears, it’s so unbearable.

CaptainMyCaptain · 22/06/2023 09:04

Ambridge · 22/06/2023 08:56

I have extreme difficulty in listening to anything Kate says because of her repellently self-satisfied tone. She absolutely exudes smug entitlement with every syllable that comes out of her mouth and I almost have to cover my ears, it’s so unbearable.

I'm the same.

LillianGish · 22/06/2023 09:36

I don't often address the radio - or laptop in this case - but Helen's saying she was going to get in touch with Rob again had me shouting "you fuckwit!!". I don't believe for one minute she'll keep her promise to Kirsty. Me too. And I get that this is standard behaviour for some DV victims, but Helen is a woman with her barrister (love interest for Stella?) on speed dial not to mention another solicitor dealing with the existing restraining order - you’d think she might take a bit of advice. Doggedly independent as ever I suppose 🤷‍♀️

Brefugee · 22/06/2023 10:29

CaptainMyCaptain · 22/06/2023 09:04

I'm the same.

Me too. So i can't listen to Kate storylines - only with half an ear.
I can't stand the way Pat talks, as though she has too many teeth and speaks through a clenched jaw (plus her "Tom is always right even when he's terribly wrong" gets on my nerves)
Can't listen to the Helen stuff. If I were Kirsty i would keep slapping her until she agreed that she said it would be one email. She has had that. There. Are. No. More. Emails. To. Rob.

stilldumdedumming · 22/06/2023 10:35

Does anyone have the Venn diagram of doggedly independent/ fuckwitt

But in seriousness anyone who has been in or close to one of these relationships, I don't think it ever really goes away.

My ex was controlling in a really weird way. We've been apart 8 years and our children are grown up. He contacted me yesterday about his latest nonsense and it got me all wound up and I felt myself pulled back in. And he has not got Rob's level of expertise.

FizzingAda · 22/06/2023 11:01

When Kirsty asked how Lee was, Helen replied with a cursory, 'he's alright', dismissing concerns about his job til Kirsty pressed a bit more. same re enquiry about her parents. she really is a self centred madam.

suzyscat · 22/06/2023 11:04

Oh I love listening to Kate. She's so reliably awful and vacuous and Kate like. I thought she hadn't sold spiritual home in the end?

If I was running an event and I'd been running for years and someone stormed up in the middle of it, shouting the odds and putting out the fire I'd be very cross with them as well. Stella's concerns are entirely valid but has she learned nothing about working within a family business?

She thought she could tell Kate off and she'd toe the line, which was pretty naive. As I said before, I'd have a whole risk assessment just for Kate. If I thought someone was likely to have a fire regardless, I'd be working with them to ensure it was safe, relocating it, keeping it low, keeping it brief, extra fire safety measures, not working on the assumption that it had been dealt with and certainly not managing it by causing a scene.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 22/06/2023 11:17

I really like Stella usually, but she was completely unprofessional in her approach regarding the fire.

Firstly, I don't understand why there wasn't an agreed risk assessment in place for the summer solstice event. Rather than just a vague conversation about no fires that was left without any clear conclusion.

Secondly, the way she barged in so aggressively wasn't helpful. She should have expressed her concerns in a calm, professional manner and contacted Brian if Kate wasn't taking it on board.

I don't like the way she is handling things with Adam either. Too much passive aggression and not enough direct communication about how she felt about him not backing her up/not being honest about the conversation that she thought they had had.

The lack of clear communication about the drill and the lack of clear communication about the fire reflect a bit of a pattern in Stella of hearing what she wants to hear, rather than nailing things down in a conclusive manner that doesn't leave any room for doubt. She would do well to follow up her conversations with emails confirming what she understood from them, e.g. it was my understanding that you have authorised me to make an independent decision about the purchase of the drill, it was my understanding that we have agreed that the will be no fires on the property etc.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 22/06/2023 11:18

And yes, I agree, it would have been better to work with Kate on how to make the fire safe, rather than just having a vague conversation without a proper conclusion.

greenacrylicpaint · 22/06/2023 11:23

I love listening to kate, because she's not 'my' kate.

LittleOwl22 · 22/06/2023 11:30

Stella is now all powerful at Home Farm - she knows Brian has to toe the line to keep the biggest contract. She acting like who is untouchable. It will be interesting to see how far
she takes her abrasiveness and not willingness to compromise. Will it tip Brian over the edge?

@suzyscat you laid out how to mitigate the situation- make it win win - key to ongoing and sustained success

I cannot write about Helen as far too grim and realistic. Please roll on therapy. For Henry too.
This storyline was to educate about cohesive control - so please if any SW are reading this - educate your listeners that there IS a way out of this, that, with help, the mindset of a DV / control victim can be reset.

WitcheryDivine · 22/06/2023 12:00

I’m really sorry to hear about your experience @stilldumdedumming - glad he’s no Rob at least.

100% agree @suzyscat - and Stella’s objection don’t make much sense as people with land surrounding Home Farm or even gardens can have bonfires probably just as close to the crops and she can’t control everything. Far better to have tried to restrict size etc as you said.

Brefugee · 22/06/2023 12:24

I don't like the way she is handling things with Adam either. Too much passive aggression and not enough direct communication about how she felt about him not backing her up/not being honest about the conversation that she thought they had had.

I disagree (agree with the rest)
Adam deserves all he gets for fence-sitting

I get that Helen gets pulled in. That is why she should listen to Kirsty

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 22/06/2023 12:34

Brefugee · 22/06/2023 12:24

I don't like the way she is handling things with Adam either. Too much passive aggression and not enough direct communication about how she felt about him not backing her up/not being honest about the conversation that she thought they had had.

I disagree (agree with the rest)
Adam deserves all he gets for fence-sitting

I get that Helen gets pulled in. That is why she should listen to Kirsty

Oh, I think Adam has behaved dreadfully, and I don't blame Stella at all for being angry with him. I just wish that she would confront him head on instead of the passive aggressive shit.

MathiasBroucek · 22/06/2023 14:19

Not sure why Kate decided to give Stella both barrels in front of her own guests...