Archers thread #161: Kenton seems to be getting better, but the storylines aren’t. Discuss The Archers here.

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Well, here we are. I was strongly tempted to go for the dog's dinner, dog/human bullies etc suggestions for the title, but Mere asked if we could not have anything graphic in the thread title, so I've held back. In a couple of weeks when this thead is nearing its end the attack may all be a distant memory, anyway.

Goodness knows what's in store for us now. Kenton seems likely to have PTSD, not surprisingly. Surely we must soon find out why HARRY talks so. Unconvincingly. Alice! Hello. CHRIS. CHRIS. etc, and also whether he is (as many of us suspect) addicted to opiates and/or up to no good. Too much to hope why nobody in Ambridge horsey circles had ever heard of him until recent weeks.

Over to you!

It's still problematic drinking, however it's labelled, and Alice should make sure she's not dragged down with it.

It's illegal to serve alcohol to a drunk person. I'm surprised Kenton didn't mention that!

I'd be surprised if Kenton knew it, going by his remark about it being a pub and them being all right with people being a bit drunk. Also the way he regarded any idea of stopping serving Tony as unthinkable.

That’s what I thought David was getting at to begin with, but I’m not sure it was.

I think she just needs to steer well clear full stop. Even if he wasn’t a problematic drinker there is clearly something amiss personality wise. Several people (Kate, Susan) instantly picked up on it despite the fact he was on his charming, best behaviour when he met them. I wonder why Alice can’t see through it. A man declaring he is madly in love just a few weeks into dating is a classic MN ‘Red Flag’.

Back again after another mammoth catch up of episodes and thread(s).

With workplace japes and letting his hair down in the pub, Tony is clearly revelling in being free from the baleful influence of his daughter at work. It is all utterly ludicrous at the moment. I can’t even, as the kids say.

I am wondering whether he was actually drunk.

Maybe his mysterious illness made him behave as though drunk or his medication made a small amount of drink affect him significantly.

Are we going to find him unconscious and unwell in his cell perhaps?

We can only hope. Harry’s quick demise would be a blessing at this stage, even if it does cause trouble for Harrison

Who also left him because she couldn’t recover while with him, even though the relationship seemed healthy before that and he’s not an addict 🤷‍♀️

I do suspect we might get awkward scenes where Harrison doesn’t tell Alice because he can’t, while also having to be polite to Harry. Additionally, they’ve made Harry come across as an unlikable character already with the odd scenes with Chris, etc. And the shouting when he first met Alice. And the turning up at her house early. They’re making him out to seem to be a baddie, as well as possibly having a drink problem. If it was just the drink thing, I’m surprised they didn’t bury the lede entirely.

Also they made a point with his boss about how he absolutely couldn’t be involved in a case relating to somebody he knew (even though he’s the village policeman for whom that would be almost impossible, and has had multiple connections to cases in the past). But then, in the same episode, we had the Harry bit with him not mentioning his connection. I wonder whether it will cause any issues in his job.

But if he sees someone he knows committing a crime he can’t just ’not get involved’ and not arrest them. As pointed out, he lives in a village and knows lots of people so it’s almost inevitable he’ll deal with an acquaintance or friend. He arrested Freddie for selling drugs and was involved in investigating Chelsea’s disappearance. My understanding is he can’t interfere in a case he isn’t already involved in if his family is involved or (generally) pass on info to his family about any case at all.

Yes, but not sure the SW’s are that straightforward about it when there’s a storyline brewing.

Harry's stripping off was a bit weird. Too hot? In February?
I know it's been mild but Borsetshire does have its own microclimate.

Anyway, I think that due to the mild wet weather we've had this winter, Ed will be forced to sell most of his flock. He'll get a texcellent price for his ram-a-lamb-a-ding-dongs and a ewe'll-never-believe-it price for the yaws.

Mianem will buy state-of-the-art hers'n'his chainsaws and start practicing.
Their dodgy branch cutting will mean a falling branch will knock an inebriated/drugged-up Harry into the ether, and another will cark Markie and the big bully dog.

Mianed will disappear into the twilight zone to the black hole where Jamie Perks and the Cyclops Mike Tucker went.

Back in ShAmbridge, Alice will be blamed by Dorothea Eve Chilcott-Ginquiry-Fancypants, and Alice will almost have a large bottle of voddy before falling into her XH's loving arms.

Harrison will go back to full-time plodding as he is single-handedly the long arm of the law in Borsetshire. Fallon will realise that there's a little Chorley cake in the oven, and they all live happily ever after.

P.S. Can ShamKitten be put on the waiting list of the Kitten Klub, please?

Could we add David into the tree storyline please. I think Ed could definitely fall spectacularly out of a tree when David comes along and starts getting involved from the ground. Perhaps we could have David refuse to pay for the new arborists and Pip could go
up the tree..

It's been a tough week, but I have managed it. The last episode I heard was Monday 12th.

I've been reading the thread, though! It somehow feels as if I am peering into the Bridge Farm dairy through the observation window...but it gives me no desire to go inside.

Now I have to decide whether to give in tomorrow and listen to the Film

Well it’s time you’ll never get back but your input would be interesting!!

and being TWFL she'd be there with her XP K I S S I N G.

Shall I get back in my box?

David's got history with falling tree branches. It could get complicated.

My God, the tedious spinning out of the arborist training costs - all of which would have occurred to a sentient human being as soon as it was announced weeks back. Then the dragged out reveal of er, nothing much really on the Titchener grazing front.

Or was it some catch-up for people who don't tune in much?

Aaargh.

I cant believe how much aurtime that bloody cat's had. And the 'pranks' in the dairy - wtf?

Dear me, Eddie was being unusually thick even for him tonight. However, it was good to hear Emmur heading him off from the usual path of "Everything's awful, the whole world has it in for us Grundys".

Also - what was that nonsense from Fallon about it being weeks since the baddies got in touch? It's only just over a couple of weeks.

Do you mean Ed?

Jolene?