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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!

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EBearhug · 08/07/2023 16:48

Staying with Jazzer's family? Odd to time a honeymoon that could have happened at any time for the Scottish school holidays.

And doesn't most of his family live in Meadow Rise anyway?

I don't think Jim had planned the car handover - I think it was mostly a spur of the moment action because Jazzer/Tracy's car was dead. I think he probably had been starting to think about replacing it, but not got any further than thinking. So I'd be very surprised if any insurance was sorted, unless Jazzer was already added for some reason we never heard about.

Kiwano · 08/07/2023 18:36

Have I missed something? What's happening to Chelsea while Tracy and Jazzer are away?

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 08/07/2023 18:40

We were told, but it went in one ear for me and out the other, I'm afraid.

OP posts:
JayAlfredPrufrock · 08/07/2023 18:42

She’s staying with a friend I think.

Poppins2016 · 08/07/2023 19:16

Seeing as Jazzer used to live with Jim/is a close friend, I don't find it implausible that he might have already been a named driver on an insurance policy (and I'm pretty sure he borrowed the car for a date with Tracey once)... BUT, he wouldn't be able to drive with a leg in plaster!

Fink · 08/07/2023 23:39

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 08/07/2023 11:32

Long ago I found Edinburgh to be a perfect place to live in penury.

Gosh! Are you J. K. Rowling? Grin

Staying with Jazzer's family? Odd to time a honeymoon that could have happened at any time for the Scottish school holidays.

Lilian and Justin never did marry, did they? I can't remember why now nor do I care very much but I'm surprised they haven't done it to minimise inheritance tax. Justin has no children to leave anything to, as far as I can recall, so I would expect him to be leaving a substantial sum to Lilian. Does he own the Dower House? She used to, and I have a dim memory of something happening - Matt related? - which meant she lost it.

No, they never married. Justin chickened out, clearly not wanting Lilian to have any claim on his money after feeling hard done by that his first wife (Miranda?) had been entitled to anything. IIRC, he spun Lilian a line about loving her too much to want to ruin it with boring, conventional, marriage. She bought it and agreed that it would be silly to get married, it would only spoil their fun. He came across as a conniving bastard, she as hopelessly naïve and gullible.

JanglyBeads · 09/07/2023 09:49

None of Jazzer's family have left Scotland apart from him as far as we know, have they? Certainly not to live in Meadow Rise?

There was a brief storyline about his sister and family a few years ago wasn't there? Or am I making that up?

ChocChipHandbag · 09/07/2023 11:20

JanglyBeads · 09/07/2023 09:49

None of Jazzer's family have left Scotland apart from him as far as we know, have they? Certainly not to live in Meadow Rise?

There was a brief storyline about his sister and family a few years ago wasn't there? Or am I making that up?

Pretty sure he grew up with his mother in Meadow Rise and went to school with Ed.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 09/07/2023 11:44

Aw, Brad & Mia. Cute.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 09/07/2023 12:34

ChocChipHandbag · 09/07/2023 11:20

Pretty sure he grew up with his mother in Meadow Rise and went to school with Ed.

That's what I thought. I think he has a brother, but I could be imagining that. As far as I can recall, we've never heard any of his family on air.

OP posts:
JanglyBeads · 09/07/2023 13:08

Oh! OK

EBearhug · 09/07/2023 14:26

sure he grew up with his mother in Meadow Rise and went to school with Ed.

That's what I thought, too. Ed mostly got involved with Jazzer and drugs when they were living in Meadow Rise after being evicted from Grange Farm, but I could be misremembering things.

Frenchthing · 09/07/2023 16:47

Ambridge · 08/07/2023 10:18

The insurance on a classic Riley isn’t going to be cheap either, I’d have thought. Much better for Jim to have sold the car and given them the money.

Insurance on old cars isn't all that dear, but you have to arrange it before you drive off.

The new keeper has to go through the motions of taxing it at zero rate too.

As a gift, the car is a liability, unless they feel free to sell it.

Frenchthing · 09/07/2023 16:50

So did I and I bet it guzzles fuel

The 1.5 litre types should get 30 mpg.

Eastie77Returns · 09/07/2023 19:14

My understanding was that Jazzer was basically dragged up on the MR estate and he didn't have much time for his feckless mother. I'm fairly sure she was at the wedding as someone mentioned her presence.

Following Friday's episode, I understand some of the comments on this thread about classism on TA. It's not enough that Jazzer and Tracey are caught in a pepetual cycle of poverty, constantly receiving handouts and freebies from benevolent friends in a way that infantalizes the pair of them. They also lack the basic intelligence required to get to the registry office on time and then of course their car isn't roadworthy, no doubt because they lacked the wherewival to service it. Everything that can go wrong, does go wrong and they are always portrayed as too dim witted to have a Plan B as they lurch from crisis to crisis. It's ridiculous.

Bubbylana · 10/07/2023 06:50

Why Is Tom and all giving Fallon the run around surely its not because of Rob, that wouldnt stop them just having a chat with her. Thats another stupid story line.
Grundys laugh a minute with Brad.
If he knew that Brad was staying for 2/3 weeks why did Neil start decorating the other spare room and how long does it take to splash a bit of paint around anyway and how many spare rooms has Susan got.
What is happening to my beloved Archers its sooooo boring. Its got so bad they have had to dig up the old story line of Helen and Rob. Why cant someone at least be happy for a little while.

Brefugee · 10/07/2023 07:04

Fallon should investigate opening a café (even a franchise) at the charging station and flip BF the bird and not renew the lease.

The adults around George and Brad are driving me mad. Especially Neil. How could they, in a good conscience put the lads in one room?

CountryCousin · 10/07/2023 07:24

why did Neil start decorating the other spare room

Precisely in order to force George and Brad into the same room! Grin

FallonsNewCoat · 10/07/2023 08:03

how many spare rooms has Susan got?

Yes, I was wondering this. One for the boys, one for Bert and an empty one being decorated. Add in Susan and Neil’s room and that makes 4-bedrooms. Is that right? Seems more like the Dower House.

greenacrylicpaint · 10/07/2023 09:22

FallonsNewCoat · 10/07/2023 08:03

how many spare rooms has Susan got?

Yes, I was wondering this. One for the boys, one for Bert and an empty one being decorated. Add in Susan and Neil’s room and that makes 4-bedrooms. Is that right? Seems more like the Dower House.

didn't emma & kids live there for a while?
I imagine a 3bed + box room.

greenacrylicpaint · 10/07/2023 09:23

I think Brad and George are very well done.
they sound exactly like my teens (similar age).

ChocChipHandbag · 10/07/2023 09:26

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 09/07/2023 12:34

That's what I thought. I think he has a brother, but I could be imagining that. As far as I can recall, we've never heard any of his family on air.

Yes, his brother is called Stu (art). Older I think, bit of a wrong’un but not on a Horrobin scale.

CountryCousin · 10/07/2023 11:12

I don’t remember, and am not near any books to check, the exact number of bedrooms at Ambridge View - but when they built it the Carters would have needed one parental bedroom and one each for Emma and Chris - and I’m certain Susan would have wanted a Guest Room, too. (I’m almost certain I recall her showing it off to visitors once the house was finished.) So I’m willing to assume four bedrooms - making it easy enough to accommodate Bert, George and Brad in normal circumstances. Only Neil’s intervention is forcing sharing of rooms.

CountryCousin · 10/07/2023 11:13

Pic:

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.
WitcheryDivine · 10/07/2023 11:13

Brefugee · 10/07/2023 07:04

Fallon should investigate opening a café (even a franchise) at the charging station and flip BF the bird and not renew the lease.

The adults around George and Brad are driving me mad. Especially Neil. How could they, in a good conscience put the lads in one room?

I'm pretty sure that's exactly the way this story is heading. Tom will probably be as high handed with Fallon as Helen is with Susan and Clarrie, and F will object to being treated like a servant/poor relation and start getting her vintage ducks in a row to move.

ANYONE half competent can sort out a half-renovated room for a teenager to stay in for a couple of weeks. If I were Brad I'd have taken to the sofa.

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