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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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OverArmour · 12/07/2023 04:01

JanglyBeads · 12/07/2023 00:01

I wish there was more visible gap between Hannah and Stella - I realise they're one person in my head!

They’ve been introduced in similar ways - agricultural management, a bit chippy with run-ins with male bosses that then settle in somewhat afterwards with occasional skirmishes.

JanglyBeads · 12/07/2023 06:48

And within ?a year of each other. It's a bit weird really.

Have they ever been heard "in the same room together"?!

Point proven!

PedantScorner · 12/07/2023 06:56

Eastie77Returns · 11/07/2023 18:20

Why does anyone even care if Brad and George get along. They are second cousins and polar opposites with nothing in common. They do not need to interact and can just tolerate each other at the odd family gathering. The whole thing is silly and contrived.

They're not second cousins. They are first cousins once removed.

PedantScorner · 12/07/2023 06:58

<Psssst> @Bubbylanait's Lynda with not Linda with an i
She's definitely not a Linda.

PedantScorner · 12/07/2023 07:01

JanglyBeads · 12/07/2023 00:01

I wish there was more visible gap between Hannah and Stella - I realise they're one person in my head!

It's radio. Confused

JanglyBeads · 12/07/2023 07:03

Ok, audible gap. But I meant conceptual, really.

PedantScorner · 12/07/2023 07:09

Grin. They sound different - one's northern, one southern - but the tone is a bit similar. They are identical to look at though.

Bubbylana · 12/07/2023 07:17

Harrison should come to Hertfordshire we have lots of Red Kites. Not a novelty any more but I love watching them and the lovely whistle they make.
Hope George gets the sack.
Dont care if its his sausage roll or not its his attitude that gets me.
Has he ever been badly treated will he turn into a mass murderer. Dont know why I thought that!

stilldumdedumming · 12/07/2023 07:29

How has Harrison lived there all this time and rarely spotted a kite?

The sausage roll wrapper won't be George's as his nanna would make up his lunch for him (and probably does Neil's too) but it's a lesson in how he's treating Hannah.

Although who's would it be?

Eastie77Returns · 12/07/2023 07:43

PedantScorner · 12/07/2023 06:56

They're not second cousins. They are first cousins once removed.

Regardless, the point I’m making remains the same.

PedantScorner · 12/07/2023 07:51

The relationship is closer than second cousins and because they live locally and are the same sort of age, they are pushed together more.

FallonsNewCoat · 12/07/2023 07:54

Jodie was mentioned an awful
lot in that scene. We’ve never met her but may be it was hers.

CountryCousin · 12/07/2023 08:52

Well observed, @FallonsNewCoat - that’s sure to be it!

Although if Jodie is consequently sacked, that might lead to promotion for Not Gorgeous George.

Kiwano · 12/07/2023 08:55

How easy is it for police officers to go part time? When they're giving evidence in court, for instance, I can't see the court being happy to adjourn because it's not one of witness PC Plod's work days. And if, say, a child goes missing it's normally expected for every officer in the vicinity to turn out.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 12/07/2023 10:22

I don’t think I’ve ever heard of part time police officers.

FallonsNewCoat · 12/07/2023 13:23

May be they don’t exactly go part-time but just work fewer shifts. I have no idea how it works. F and H were acting as if they have literally just moved to the country from Brixton or somewhere equally developed. Are the SWs on drugs these days?!? It’s as if they have been parachuted in from a parallel universe.

WitcheryDivine · 12/07/2023 13:41

stilldumdedumming · 12/07/2023 07:29

How has Harrison lived there all this time and rarely spotted a kite?

The sausage roll wrapper won't be George's as his nanna would make up his lunch for him (and probably does Neil's too) but it's a lesson in how he's treating Hannah.

Although who's would it be?

He admitted to someone or other the other week that he never really looks up/around because he's dim and now he's become a nature bore in record time.

Last night was so dull I think I missed most of the detail.

Iloveabaconbutty · 12/07/2023 15:23

"Yes, George, you're fired". I know I'm awful but Neil's words in last night's episode gave me an immense amount of satisfaction!

Poppins2016 · 12/07/2023 16:52

George very much reminds me of the "boy who cried wolf"... he's used up his chances! Serves him right.

I agree with the pp, he did sound innocent... but he's been so obnoxious that he simply couldn't be believed.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 12/07/2023 16:58

I don't think he's innocent, but then I could believe anything of George. He is too stupid to realise how stupid and ignorant he is. Never mind the sausage roll, the way he's spoken to Hannah over many weeks has been abhorrent. I'd have sacked him in week 1.

Emma won't like this, will she? I have a strong suspicion, though, that Ed doesn't have any illusions about George.

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Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 12/07/2023 16:58

PS I see we're galloping towards the end of the thread. Title suggestions welcome!

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EBearhug · 12/07/2023 17:22

The reason I believe George on this is because I'm not convinced that shop-bought sausage rolls will have often passed his lips, given he grew up around Emma and Clarrie and so on. My money's on Martyn Gibson having popped in.

Even if George is innocent as far as sausage rolls go, the rest of his workplace behaviour was appalling, and they could have got rid of him on that alone.

WitcheryDivine · 12/07/2023 17:25

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 12/07/2023 16:58

PS I see we're galloping towards the end of the thread. Title suggestions welcome!

Recharging, Red Kites and The Man They Call Ron, is Ambridge becoming an earthly paradise or a hell on earth? 😂

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 12/07/2023 17:31

EBearhug · 12/07/2023 17:22

The reason I believe George on this is because I'm not convinced that shop-bought sausage rolls will have often passed his lips, given he grew up around Emma and Clarrie and so on. My money's on Martyn Gibson having popped in.

Even if George is innocent as far as sausage rolls go, the rest of his workplace behaviour was appalling, and they could have got rid of him on that alone.

George's Nana runs the village shop. I bet the family are often given food that's about to go out of date, including sausage rolls. I confidently expect* Susan to confirm to Neil that she either sold or gave George a sausage roll.

*this almost certainly means Susan will have thrown Neil out of the house for daring to sack the Golden Boy

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Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 12/07/2023 17:32

WitcheryDivine · 12/07/2023 17:25

Recharging, Red Kites and The Man They Call Ron, is Ambridge becoming an earthly paradise or a hell on earth? 😂

[makes notes]
May be a touch long, but there's food for thought there!

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