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!

And she stood there for five minutes ranting about how little time she had to do anything!

I know K is popular on here and generally pretty capable but we mustn’t over-endow her with special powers. Let’s remember she was married to the local slavemaster without actually realising.

There's not having special powers and there's not seeming at all competent at your job... (see also: Brad.) I think she is in a role where things will often not go to plan, so contingency planning should be part of the job requirements - and while I'm sure it wouldn't always work out brilliantly, I'm sure she could have come up with something other than a panicky rant.

That’s not fair, @WitcheryDivine . She meant”Can-it be done in the time available?”

I know that but why on Earth would he know better than she does? She works there.

anyway I agree he’s being turned into new Leonard

Has Alice come to her senses or will she be checking in on Harry next day?

Has Lillian cottoned on that Alice wasn't with a potential client?

She's always trying to palm her little girl off so she can go and save some lying drunk she's known for all of five minutes.

Alice is seeking redemption by rescuing Harry to make up for everything she put everyone else through.

She has realised she can't stay on the wagon so is effectively abandoning him. He will end up dead and she will blame herself endlessly and tiresome.

Also, she's crap at lying. It's much easier to maintain a lie if it's partly based on the truth. It's all going to come tumbling down around her ears.

anyway I agree he’s being turned into new Leonard

Mick? Nah …

Leonard was created to be a conduit for the thoughts and feelings of Jill Archer once Carol became silent. Someone outside Brookfield to whom she could express herself about stuff going on at Brookfield. Otherwise she would have been reduced to a one dimensional voice in the kitchen, telling people there’s cake.

That’s definitely not Mick’s role. Joy is far from being central to TA, and he really doesn’t extend what we hear from her. In fact we rarely hear them together …

Just heard On Your Farm - encompassing neurodiversity and Nuffield Scholarships.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001yhdm

I’m once again hugely annoyed that despite meeting through their Nuffield Scholarship awards - with the implication that they would both be going on to grand, important work - Tom and Natasha’s apparently visionary projects have been reduced to stealing the Tearoom from Fallon and plotting to ensure Chelsea is paid as little as possible as a potential employee.

How have things gone so very wrong?

I went from ‘ooh Kirsty’ to ‘what the f*?’ so quickly I almost got whiplash. So many people are acting out of character I don’t understand what’s happening.

I feel sorry for Malcolm. Has to go on the stupid visit and doesn’t even get a slice of the good cake

I swear it’s now being scripted by (not very good) AI.

Don’t, @Teddleshon …

Pretty much every day on MN I’m encountering huge unlikely slabs of generic text clearly not written by any human for the purposes of discussion or support … Too many to report, and they make me feel I must now be on the wrong side of history.

Unfortunately I don’t think we’ve heard the last of Harry, and I think Alice will end up paying the price ☹️

Alice has terrible boundaries so she won't leave Harry alone this time. He will continue to manipulate her and she will screw up her goodwill with Chris and probably end up with Martha in his sole care. Eventually they will get back together but this SL could run for a long time.

Harry will talk to Chris and drop Alice in it with a faux naive ‘I thought you knew’

I agree she’s endangering her custody of Martha - hasn’t she taken a moment to think “should I really be prioritising this guy I’ve known for 3 months over my daughter?” I know plenty of people take that approach but there’s been no signs of Alice being one of them til now.

I LA'd - not intentionally - that mayor woman was horrid, so unkind of her to let Fallon know (in the middle of the restaurant) that she'd seen the costume.

And what in heaven's name is a "ceremonial retreat"???

I think it’s something to do with having a jolly at taxpayers expense

I really hate the way Denise says Ali-STARE. If by hey get together then any pet name will be better than that.

Are we going to have cricket every Sunday?

Why are we getting all these cameos? First the mayor, then Laura. Is this to show alistair is desirable? Create a love triangle? Piss Denise off so the inevitable is delayed?

So Ed’s getting the fear. Never good.

So, so bored with Denise. If she wanted to end her marriage she would have done so by now. It’s beyond tedious. Hopefully Ali-stare gets fed up with it all and takes up with Laura.

So it has only just occurred to Ed that tree surgery is dangerous. Looks like another EdnEm dream will bite the dust.

So it has only just occurred to Ed that tree surgery is dangerous. Looks like another EdnEm dream will bite the dust

I thought this. Surely it would have been on the tree surgery 101 course. The very idea that Ed has just now googled the stats, the ones that would have been on the very first PowerPoint of training.

I'd be surprised if Ed has never used a chainsaw, though I can believe he hasn't been climbing trees to do so, nor will he have previously been on a chainsaw safety course.

But really, it's not occurred to him there are risks?

Leonard was created to be a conduit for the thoughts and feelings of Jill Archer once Carol became silent. Someone outside Brookfield to whom she could express herself about stuff going on at Brookfield. Otherwise she would have been reduced to a one dimensional voice in the kitchen, telling people there’s cake. brilliant analysis @TottersBlankly
And what in heavens name is a ceremonial retreat?? I have no idea, but I imagine Lily will be trying to ensure it takes place at LL.
i am not in the least bit interested in the Alistair/Denise/cricketer from Little Croxley love triangle, but it seems that’s we are destined to hear.

Cricket every sunday by the looks of it. I suppose its a way for every one to meet up in the country air instead of the Bull.
Nice to hear Joy, she and Mick are going tò have a bit of a story line now, perhaps we will find that she cant go further with Mick because of her witness protection stuff, or he just gets on her nerves.
I understand why Denise is taking her time, she obviously not sure if she wants to leave her marriage, she isnt young and carefree and she has Paul to think off. She just dosnt want to hurt anyone but she is hurting Alistair, perhaps this new women will turn Alister's head just as Denise is ready to leave her family home. In any event who really cares. Wheres Leonard he is my favorite and I wish he would pop up more often.