Archers thread #169: Denise rocks the boat in more than one way! Will Chris find a message in a cider bottle? 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 you'd have liked to have Harrison's behbe, 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 https://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 and @BrightYellowDaffodil for title inspiration. Is this the end for Denise and John? It does seem odd to introduce John now if he's going to disappear. He has a lovely voice.

Over to you!

I worry about the sw. They seem to have a really weird idea of adult relationships

and what the hell was the drunken scene about? Was that necessary?

Actors 'Doing Drunk' is always bad comedy

@Gonners , yes, they did get divorced, and he is Jakob's landlord.
Not listened to this evening's yet.

I wouldn't bother. It was mind numbingly dull unless you are keenly interested in Paul's intimate feelings about Denise or enjoy actors acting drunk badly, and it didn't advance the storyline.

Agreed

i I was wondering who Jacob’s landlord was

I won't say actors pretending to be drunk is the worst thing because I've heard the actors pretending to be amateur actors, but it is up (or down) there. And grow the f up Paul, you're not 6, you and your mummy are two different people, each with your own life.

@Godesstobe , too late but you seem to be right. I have no interest in Paul or Denise. I'd be glad to see the back of them.

I hate coffee creams.

I like coffee ice cream, and pistachio, so if you're lurking Natasha get some in. I'll pop by at the weekend.

Life is like a box of chocolates…

No, it's like a bag of Revels you eat at the theatre or cinema.

The coffee creams are always the ones still left in the boxes in the office in January when people are beginning to think about going into post-Christmas recovery mode and hoping someone efficient will just bin the remainders.

So that's what the SWs really think of Denise.

As it's Harry Potter's birthday (and his creator's) - here's a relevant quote about mixed flavours.

"You want to be careful with those*," Ron warned Harry. "When they say every flavour, they mean every flavour - you know, you get all the ordinary ones like chocolate and peppermint and marmalade, but then you can get spinach and liver and tripe. George reckons he had a bogey-flavored one once." Ron picked up a green bean, looked at it carefully, and bit into a corner. "Bleaaargh - see? Sprouts.”

*Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans

I feel many of us would say The Archers is very like this and we have had far too much tripe in recent months.

On another note, Withnail and I, a great favourite of mine, has lots of actors-playing-drunk scenes which work brilliantly. I do agree it's rare, though.

(Haven't heard tonight's TA yet. A joy to come.)

Poppy is Will's daughter with Nic; Will struggled to cope with caring for Poppy after Nic's death. You're thinking of Keira, Ed & Emma's daughter.

Mind you, as I recall, it was poor Mia who ended up doing most of the caring for Poppy after Nic's death, until Mia decided enough was enough and went to live with her dad. Will moved in with his parents not long after that, and caring for Poppy mostly then fell to Clarrie. I don't recall George getting involved, and I'm not convinced he'd have bothered.

re: actors doing drunk, Bashir and O'Brien getting locked, swearing undying not-quite-love because that wouldn't be manly, and eventually singing Jerusalem together is one of Deep Space 9's most enjoyable moments - and DS9 had many many good episodes.

It gave us a new moment in a relationship between well liked major characters that we'd watched develop from mutual antipathy, through begrudging respect, into friendship, over years. Tonight in Ambridge wasn't that.

Withnail is especially remarkable as Richard E Grant doesn't drink.

I'm rather hoping that Jim was less drunk than he was, perhaps, pretending to be and that he was lurking outside the open door, recording Alistair's (frankly repulsive) sentimental claptrap before sending it to Denise.

Paul's conversation with Jakob was simply creepy and if Alistair heard what he said, he might also be somewhat put off!

I think it was Michael Caine who was told by a director that he was doing drunk wrong because he sounded as if he were trying to sound drunk, whereas someone genuinely drunk sounds as if they are trying to sound sober.

Yes he was helping his dad with poppy. I was confused

But isn’t she 11 or so? Why would will need help? Doing what? Do they drug her and stick her in a cupboard?

The stuff about 'the office wife is always there and doesn't expect me to wash like the home wife did' wasn't the most lyrically romantic thing I've ever heard.

Yes! Bruce Robinson made him get drunk so he would know what it was like.

The Queen Mother was always referred to as “The Queen” during George VI’s reign.

It was a compare and contrast, wasn’t it? Alistare feeling he comes second to Paul in Denise’s heart and Paul feeling he now comes second to Alistare.

interesting Paul felt he was Denise’s “go to”. Doesn’t say much for her marriage, looks like they’ve been on separate tracks for a long while

@MereDintofPandiculation It was a compare and contrast, wasn’t it?

Whatever it was, it was bloody awful.

I had a massive eye roll at Paul's indignation at Jakob saying he didn't get a say in his parents' marriage.
Of course you don't get a bloody say!

For someone who has been written as "on the spectrum", Jakob has amazing impathy an insight into others' feelings. Quite a character turnaround, I'd say

@MereDintofPandiculation yes I used to find him quite annoying but now he's the only sane one there.

Still not totally convinced that his relationship with Kate is that believable though. I know opposites attract etc but surely she'll drive him mad in the end.