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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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stilldumdedumming · 10/07/2023 13:42

Jim has a spare room and would be miles more suitable for Brad.

stilldumdedumming · 10/07/2023 13:44

Or George's old room 😁

FallonsNewCoat · 10/07/2023 20:41

Sorry Fallon but I’m not sure many landlords would be happy with a capped rent for eight years at the moment…

TopOfTheCliff · 10/07/2023 21:43

Ooh yes Brad - get round to Jim’s and explain about the unspeakable George!

echt · 10/07/2023 22:52

The SWs must have been having larf with Tom's last lines: big build up, hesitation, then: I'm really not sure.

BeatriceBatchelor · 11/07/2023 07:02

It's good that Fallon has a plan given that the profitability of her business seemed to rest on one event - Open Farm Sunday.

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 11/07/2023 07:14

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?

And Susan making them paint the shed rather than Brad doing homework 🙄

Stupid

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 11/07/2023 07:23

FallonsNewCoat · 08/07/2023 10:03

Did they say they are going for three weeks? That seems astonishing. May be I made that up.

If they said they were going camping that would have squared off the cost a bit but T was at the food bank not long ago and only has a part time bar job to keep the wolf from the door. Jazzer seems to have had a broken something for months (I thought it was an ankle for a long time only to discover last night it’s a leg!) If he’s well enough to go to Scotland, wouldn’t Martin Gibson start questioning whether he is well enough to return to work?

He's still in plaster. He mentioned it in the context of whether to wear a suit or kilt to the wedding, he couldn't get his suit trousers over the cast.

Martin isn't going to want him at work in plaster, he'd be a liability

Brefugee · 11/07/2023 08:11

FallonsNewCoat · 10/07/2023 20:41

Sorry Fallon but I’m not sure many landlords would be happy with a capped rent for eight years at the moment…

many landlords should take a quick course in economics. They need to weigh having an empty premises, premises that they themselves must work or a regular income.

And the totally normal reply to Fallon was Tony's "we'll think about it" the abnormal reaction is Tom not thinking longer term. A good counter offer would be, for eg, a longer term contract (if she has 3 years, take it to 5) with a planned yearly increase in line with annual inflation, or a percentage of that or something. Not an out and out toys out of the pram "no!"

And you can see that his whole life revolves around the twins - but not to the extent that he sees that cooperation with Fallon would be good for the farm (twins' future) and that other people are in this business, Helen, who might have completely other ideas about how it works.

Glad Lynda has now seen what's happening with the fete (which in reality would have been fixed months ago)

Brefugee · 11/07/2023 08:14

but again - everything is pointing towards Fallon (i hope she wakes up to this soon) taking the café pitch in the EV station, especially if her BF contract is up for renewal soon.
She knows Justin so she could ask him to put a good word in. And the EV station will get even more local acceptance if a local is running an independent café there. (she can start a business empire with Chelsea)

Ambridge · 11/07/2023 08:16

How old is Brad, 17? He’s not a small child and is almost preternaturally sensible so I can’t understand why his grandfather couldn’t have gone to Soosan while he stayed at home alone. He could have gone to hers for his tea if Tracy insisted. Obviously that wouldn’t deliver the required level of conflict between him and George but the contrived lunacy of Neil suddenly deciding to decorate the spare room is infuriating me.

Brefugee · 11/07/2023 08:27

because otherwise we don't have the next semi-comic Brad/George incident. I'm hoping it all explodes and everyone finally realises what a menace George is. I'm not holding my breath.

CountryCousin · 11/07/2023 08:28

I’ll say again - Neil deliberately put one bedroom out of action to force the warring pair together! (I am willing to give the SWs the benefit of the doubt on this; if they had him decide to decorate completely randomly - well, they wouldn’t deserve paying.)

I guess, to Tracy, Brad is an absent minded child; she’d be worried about him not eating proper meals, setting the house on fire by accident, getting lonely and depressed and becoming a statistic … Having thought about it, I can completely see why she wouldn’t want him left alone for so long. Would be different if it were just a weekend.

Brefugee · 11/07/2023 08:49

agree that Neil at least subconsciously wanted the two boys together in a stupid, misguided attempt to get them to bond.

In reality, the last thing I'd want at him and Susan's age would be two teenage boys bickering and fighting constantly.

And i also think that they all, especially Tracy, have missed the chance to let Brad live on his own for a bit, with the stipulation that he turns up at Susan's daily for the evening meal. Which is what i would have done with my teens. Chelsea included.

FallonsNewCoat · 11/07/2023 09:48

many landlords should take a quick course in economics. They need to weigh having an empty premises, premises that they themselves must work or a regular income

I agree on this totally in the BF context. They need to tread carefully as who else is there to take out the lease - Tony recognises that. But in more desirable locations, trying to lock a landlord in for eight years on a fixed rent is likely to backfire.

Brefugee · 11/07/2023 10:05

well, quite. That would be absolutely normal. But BF is anything other than normal for a business, don't you think? 😂

Brefugee · 11/07/2023 10:05

The more i think about it the more I'm thinking Helen will say "well Susan and Clarrie could also work in the tea room"... imagine the pursed lips and snide comments from Susan then!

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 11/07/2023 10:26

Brefugee · 11/07/2023 08:49

agree that Neil at least subconsciously wanted the two boys together in a stupid, misguided attempt to get them to bond.

In reality, the last thing I'd want at him and Susan's age would be two teenage boys bickering and fighting constantly.

And i also think that they all, especially Tracy, have missed the chance to let Brad live on his own for a bit, with the stipulation that he turns up at Susan's daily for the evening meal. Which is what i would have done with my teens. Chelsea included.

I agree, surely Brad and Chelsea could have both stayed at home with Susan checking in with them. Brad is 17, and Chelsea is older, not sure why either need to stay elsewhere.

TonightMatthewIamgoingtobecher · 11/07/2023 10:44

Just going to say makes no sense either for Chelsea to be staying with a friend for so long, why would she?

Fallon's meeting with Tom and Tony annoyed me, she came across as whiny and pushy no idea why as her concerns are real and valid. Agree Tom and Helen could negotiate and meet her halfway. 8 years is a long time.

If I tune out the fete shenanigans then last night's episode was better than other recent ones.

EBearhug · 11/07/2023 10:45

FallonsNewCoat · 10/07/2023 20:41

Sorry Fallon but I’m not sure many landlords would be happy with a capped rent for eight years at the moment…

Surely it's an opening point for negotiation? She says 8, they say 4, agreement on 6 or whatever.

CountryCousin · 11/07/2023 11:00

last night's episode was better than other recent ones.

Fell asleep in the middle … Blush

WitcheryDivine · 11/07/2023 11:13

I really enjoyed Lynda and Joy working together! Good on them. Lynda's actor really is great, I loved the moment where she realised she'd been led up the garden path by the temptation of Research.

Abra1t · 11/07/2023 11:15

Lynda really is one of the biggest assets in TAs.

TonightMatthewIamgoingtobecher · 11/07/2023 12:19

CountryCousin · 11/07/2023 11:00

last night's episode was better than other recent ones.

Fell asleep in the middle … Blush

Ha ha oh dear

TherapistInATabard · 11/07/2023 12:57

I thought Joy was Kirsty at the start of the episode, and I very rarely get the voices mixed up.

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