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!

I always listen later on the app. I didn't hear the preview of doom but it's a bit precious to complain that something which has been aired on live radio can't be mentioned.

I thought so.

Just listened to last night. That was painful. But the some of the best-written and most interesting scenes we’ve had in a while. Good acting from the people playing Brian and Alice, I thought. And poor Jakob. He’s such a lovely character. It was unwise to have hidden it but his credulity reflects the straightforward person that he is himself, and so believed Alice to be.

Easier to live with being a second partner if you can demonise the first

Lil is loathsome but her behaviour towards Miranda is entirely in character.

Good episode last night. The actors are all brilliant at their character.
I hope Brian is just lashing out and won't hold a grudge against Jakob.
When Chris hears about this all hell is going to break loose. I worry Jakob will get the blame and be pushed out of the family.

I heard it for the first time today the only question is who does she knock down?

I suppose the sad thing is that she knows she’s jeopardising her relationship with Martha but even that’s not enough to make her rethink

i I guess after Chris telling Harrison he’s still in love with her it’s going to be an even harder blow to him

I suspect it may be Martha who gets hurt (not least because it will then avoid the SWs having to fully explore her FAS which they seem to have neatly swerved so far).

Sadly true to life in that innocent wider family members are often also hurt by alcoholics. Obviously not to the extent of immediate family, especially children, but it can still be painful.

Please give me a clue who HWMNBN is. Thank you

He Who Must Not Be Named. There was at one time a superstitious belief that saying the name "D#rr#ll" caused him to be in the next episode.

There's a list of these things at https://ambridgereporter.org.uk/nicknames.html but that one doesn't seem to be on it.

. I think I suggested one or two of the MN-attributed ones, but I have no recollection of coining one attributed to me.

I spoke to a friend whose two sisters are hairdressers and both sisters trained at college, not as day release students. Both are older than Chelsea, but one is in her late 20s.

Alice is an awful person. I hope she is able to get back on track. I felt very sorry for Jakob, as a pp said, a straightforward person, confronted with a difficult situation. The scene with Alice, Brian, Kate and Jakob was very good. Brian over-reacted towards Jakob a bit which was hard on Jakob but probably realistic.

I think Alistair lacks emotional intelligence. I also think he should ask himself whether he actually is in love with Denise, or did she just happen to be there? He hasn’t shown much interest in dating or relationships since he and Shula broke up. I’m not convinced he wouldn’t be happier single. Jim is behaving very oddly about it all - maybe he subconsciously wishes Alistair would move out of his house!

I don’t like Eddie one bit and I wish someone would read him the riot act. Will should have listened more carefully to George instead of jumping straight to ‘we’re family’. Nice that he got Eddie to hand over half the cash though.

I listened to Friday's episode again and poor Brian sounded quite broken when he said he couldn't believe they were right back where they started with Alice. He is in his 80s isn't he? I don't think he's got it in him to deal with all of this again. It nearly broke him last time when he had to force her into rehab but at least he had JD to lean on. The siblings will have to rally round but tbh I can't see Kate or Adam being much help. Perhaps Ruairi? They did part on good terms in the end after she 'saved' him from Juliette.

Harrison

t's a bit precious to complain that something which has been aired on live radio can't be mentioned

Precious? Oh sod off.

Edit ....Sorry thought this was spoiler thread....

Anybody who does want to discuss spoilers - link is in the OP.

I’m looking forward to tonight! All the Helen and Rob trailers put me off but this one has me more interested

I’m glad they didn’t drag the secret drinking out too long and Jakob knew less than a week before others.

I agree - the brisk movement on with this story is one of the best things about it.

Perhaps we'll get our wish and have a full episode of discussion about foot rot and winter wheat prices.

Perhaps there will be an episode of Stella going to Adam because she can’t talk to Brian atm and we will get a full episode debating a few farming issues

I'm solidly working class, and I would either i) not go to such a place, or ii) go and make the most of it, and enjoy myself. I wouldn't iii) go but spend the whole evening taking the piss and clicking my fingers at the staff.
WC people in real life tend not to be as ungracious and lacking in class as they're often depicted in drama (or maybe it's s just the ones I know).

I forgot to say how much I liked idle and undeserving poor, @DeanElderberry.

Though I’m more inclined to describe myself as steeply downwardly mobile …