Archers thread #163: Too much aggro, not enough agri! 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, 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 to @LikeTalkingToLassie for the thread title idea! She and @LillianGish had fun with this theme on the last thread:

More farmer, less drama
More ploughing, less rowing
There's mileage in silage.
More sheds, fewer beds.

All good points. Fair to say nobody on the last thread was delighted to see the return of Harry. I think we all agree that Alice is a blithering idiot to get involved with him again. Most of us also think that Miranda is up to no good. Other storylines in play at the moment:

Alistair and Denise, with the massive complication of John and Paul
Ed and Emma - another doomed Grundy enterprise? Does Will still have the will to wang them some wonga?
Whither George - YouTube sensation or Borchester Magistrates' Court?
Will Markie cause mayhem at The Bull?
Will Harrison haul him in to Borchester nick?
Will Hannah get off with Chris?
Will we ever get used to the new Robert?
Will there ever be a new Roy?
Why do we hear so little from Brookfield now? (Although if we never heard Pip again, I for one would be delighted)
Will Stella dump Pip?

There are probably others I've missed. Over to you!

Agree it is totally ridiculous but they don’t seem to be able to find anyone. Look at the ridiculous post dog attack staff shortage crisis

Ha ha ha. Yes I often go into a job interview and say "Well I'm not too bothered about your job, I'm looking at a few actually" 😆

Why is Kirstie having such a conniption? She's spending ages going on about how little time she has!

Sounds like the mayor loves a freebie trip around the country 🙄

so where does mick live now? I thought he was already in ambridge. clearly Joy os not going to be joyous about micks surprise move

Who knew wildlife conversation was such a breakneck speed area. How on earth would Kirsty cope working in a cafe or in a professional role or on a farm? She seems to have no problem solving skills🙄.

Alice is still an idiot. And the constant lying … as if anyone won’t immediately assume she is back together with him

She lied. She said to both that the other job had offered a higher rate. Stupid when the employers know each other.

Well the problem Chelsea has is that she’s on the bottom rung so employers will just assume it’s min wage elsewhere too. She thinks she’s cleverer than she is and that’s why she ends up in trouble but o don’t think there’s anything wrong in trying to negotiate up

in a professional role it’s a lot easier

Oh I see, I must have missed that bit.

It was when Natasha and Kenton were talking.

Right at the end, in the last minute of the programme. If you'd lost the will to live by then, nobody would really blame you!

Yes I rather had 😜

What happened to capable, practical, unflappable Kirsty who used to manage the Grey Gables health club?

Who stole her and replaced her with a pathetic, panicky, rude person who needs to be rescued by Mick?

kirsty wouldn’t be able to manage herself out of a paper bag based on tonight!

It wasn't like Kirsty at all. And the Mick actor sounded like he was reading his lines (with all the solutions to Kirsty's many problems) in another room.

I like that Kirsty is back (I suppose the sw couldnt find a place for thier favorite Helen in the rewilding but she hasnt been in it for a while since she took the boys to France and back again), I think Kirsty was a bit true to form I remember the goldfish saga when Roy and she didnt know how to pick up a goldfish which had escaped from its bowl.
I believe that Mick and Leonard called rule the world, they are both cut from the same cloth with there practical can do approach to life. They should team them up as best buddys it would be good. Though Micks a bit over the top a bit.
Alice and Harry can both jump in a bottle of booze and stay there for all I care. She may not be drinking but she is lying to everyone like she is. What is wrong with her for petes sake.
Talking of fish I found one off my Angel fish laying at the bottom of the tank this morning. I know its only a fish but I hate it when this happens. I think my cat Reggie scared her by scratching at the tank. He loves watching them swim about. Sorry nothing to do with TA.

Kirsty is good in a major crisis (useful to have around when one is stabbing a husband) but can’t seem to think on her feet when small things go wrong. This feels inconsistent to me. I don’t like the thought that Joy is going to be upset again by Mick trying to get closer. She works hard to keep her equilibrium and I don’t want to see that off-kilter. It’s bound to happen now though given the SWs have only two motivations these days - either to create carnage and turmoil or French farce and slapstick.

I’m so uninterested in Harry. Drink or don’t drink. Who cares?

In the real world, it's incredibly difficult to recruit staff for hospitality jobs, so it's unlikely that either business has a list of possibles.

Yes, I work in rural hospitality and reliable staff who will work evenings and/or weekends are hard to come by. They have to be able to get to you, for a start, and then get home again at, say, 11pm. And at Chelsea's level they can't afford to have a car.

I can imagine in an area where house prices and rents are through the roof that's a real problem.

Kirsty is good in a major crisis (useful to have around when one is stabbing a husband)

I’m so uninterested in Harry. Drink or don’t drink. Who cares?

Good points well made, @Roysnewshirt!

Sorry to hear about your fish, @Alwaysdieting. I hope the others are OK.

Thanks Gasp, all the others are ok.🐠

The last three episodes have been appalling. I was asking myself who writes this drivel.

Currently thinking that everyone involved in the production of TA should be sent to live on the Isle of Man without any communication with the outside world.

And Mick ... Why doesn't he just shut up and listen. Why does he keep interrupting, he is very annoying; I can see why Joy doesn't want him living with her. Has he not read Emma ....

.... "Surprises are foolish things. The pleasure is not enhanced, and the inconvenience is often considerable."

Joy is not going to be happy.

Bit harsh on the Isle of Man!

I don’t understand why so many characters seem to have had a recent rewrite of their entire personalities. Kirsty didn’t seem her usual self in the latest ep. She’s usually much more capable.

Have you read George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four? They are conducting a thought experiment to see how far we have come along that road.

"Oceania has always been at war with Eurasia and allied with Eastasia."

Kirsty was acting completely out of character, didn’t she used to run the spa? I know she didn’t find it interesting but you have to be competent. The moment when she said CAN IT BE DONE about moving some signs - yeah probs unless they were put there by divine intervention

Also, her job is dealing with wildlife. Notorious for not doing what it's told.