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!

Thanks for the new thread, Gasp0de

I agree that we might be being teed up for something going wrong with Tony. While his concern for Helen is entirely understandable, the expression of it is always at high doh. I'd missed the forgetting thing, again something that one does under stress, but could be something else.

What is Justin up to? As Nicholas Angel says in "Hot Fuzz": "There is always something going on."

I am still thinking that Pat or Tony will end up shooting Rob or similar - there's a reason that they are dragging it all up again.

However what about Rex - he is becoming the most underused cast member and we need more Ardil - I really thought he was being lined ip for Kirstys happy ever after

what about Rex - he is becoming the most underused cast member

Tough contest with Johnny there.

I hope that the reason they are "dragging it all up again" is to accurately reflect what mothers in Helen's position go through.

Checking in, great title.

George really is horrible. It will make a good and realistic storyline for him to come out with some Andrew Tate style views he's picked up online. Especially if this escalates from words into actions.

J&L having dinner with Adam felt a bit contrived as a way to get Adam to talk about it again and possibly reflect he should have explained to Brine what he said.

Every time I think of George, one word comes to mind - scrote. That is all

So the sackless, lazy glipe George has to have the women sort him out with fund-raising ideas. And yes, the Ambridge area has had far too many calls on discretionary money to start digging deep for him.

And he'll run off with the money.

Oh my word how many more mentions of the "great new dairy window" and the distress that Helen and all her family are in re Rob, can the SWs get in before the big anniversary episode at the end of the week?!?!

Maybe Rob AND George will get shot through the Great New dairy window!

Into the sun would be better all round.

I wish Rob would just turn up so we can be done with it.

George would probably think Rob was a hard done by dad who deserves to see his kid and shouldn't be stopped by those feminazis at Bridge Farm.

which sadly makes them wrestling each other through the GNDW and both dying horribly from glass wounds unlikely

Look forward to joining the debate.

which sadly makes them wrestling each other through the GNDW and both dying horribly from glass wounds unlikely

Imagine the face of the poor SW who’s told to bring that scenario to life!

Welcome, @AuntyAlice! How long have you been listening?

I’m afraid I rarely rise to the level of debate - mostly just whingeing about improbable storylines …

(A brain tottering towards decrepitude means I have inadvertently name changed - but I’m cool with it … )

I may have missed it on the last thread, but does anyone else think Rob is going to turn up and either pretend to, or actually have, a life-limiting disease and use this as an excuse to see Jack again?

If Pat or Tony do act on their impulses and attack him in some way, that will be more fuel for the case.

But you’re right, the Great Dairy Window has got to be part of it… when Pat and Helen were cleaning it last week and remarking on the size of it… All eyes on the window!!

I’m going out for dinner tomorrow too… I will clearly have to be strategically late so I can listen!

The 🔮 and others have predicted that Rob is not long for this world.

I want them to replace TGDW with the stained glass one Peggy had her heart set on, featuring Sarin and Novichok as celestial angles

But not before Rob turns up to peer through it. Pat can then blast her shotgun at him, smashing TGDW in the process, hence the need for replacement

Well done to those of you who predicted Justin’s sneaky power move!

Might have predicted it - still makes my angry- I am over invested

but who wants to go back to work somewhere where your life will be made miserable?

so what are Brian’s next steps? Form an alliance with Adam? Unlikely
keel over with a heart attack and we learn the land will go to Ruari? More likely

I just wish they would ease up on the Rob story line - this is a realism I can do without.

Wait… there’s a window in the dairy???? Why haven’t they mentioned it? 😉

Hahahaha 💯

I’m just catching up with this week - Tony’s forgetfulness about hoeing and then his subsequent ‘well, yes, obviously’ was quietly striking to me. I hope for the families sake that they aren’t heading for a dementia/decline storyline, but it wouldn’t be unrealistic to do so; if so I hope they are going to do it well.

My first thought was Dementia. I suspect it will be a slow burn storyline.

I was expecting Freddie to come back and say Ben was missing or worse, after so many heavy hints about his mental health.