Archers thread #173: The Fall of the House of Grundy? 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 wish we were hearing more of Pip, 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.)

I chose the thread title to echo one I used three years ago, which is here if anyone fancies a trip down Memory Lane: www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/4320618--Archers-thread-130-The-Fall-of-the-House-of-Aldridge-Discuss-The-Archers-here. That was the thread where I caused all sorts of confusion at the start by not starting it before the old thread filled up, but others stepped in, fortunately.

At that point I see Ruairi was heading off to London to start his degree, which he has now finished, with none of us any the wiser about what he studied or where. Perhaps this will finally be mentioned now he's graduating.

And now, over to you!

Thanks!! Just in the nick of time…

All ready for Friday's episode...

yabba dabba doo

Thanks Gasp0de

Thank you! Very grateful for the question mark in the thread title …

Signing in!

In reply to @tinyme77's question at the end of the previous thread: Does anyone think that Fallon is too hard on Harrison? It is always about her so he can never be honest. Does he want to try for another child? I would say Harrison is another character (rather like new Robert) who has changed beyond recognition. Despite continued attempts to portray him and Fallon as loved up, huge differences have opened up between them - he has now revealed a burning desire to have kids (having previously said he was fine to not have them), his overnight conversion to Christianity after playing Jesus and now his repeated unprofessionalism at work. I've never found them a particularly convincing couple - it felt like she married him because he was a good provider (they own their own home which is unusual for a non-landowning couple in Ambridge). He's supposed to be devastatingly handsome, but I never hear that in his voice so it's hard to remember and it never sounds like there's any real chemistry between them. I think their differences are now irreconcilable and they should call it a day. I did have a half-fleeting wonder if she might get back with Ed - they did something together recently (I've forgotten what) and Ed and Emma have a few differences themselves at the moment. I'm probably being entirely fanciful.

He’s never been very professional - his whole courtship of Fallon for eg!

Signing in 😊

True, but I think that was supposed to be romantic (a misguided attempt by the SWs if ever there was one)

Ambridge should have an ‘old lags’ club. They could reminisce and help rehab George .

wromantic but wrong

Love that, @Minimammoth! They could do battle with the (remnants of) the WI for meeting space in the village hall.

Ed and Fallon were organising that party for Emma @LillianGish - and you’re right, I certainly also thought there sounded like more than a small spark between them.

Bearhug · Yesterday 23:09
Don't know his age, but yes.
Why did you think he was male? Independent evidence? ”Cornelius”? Statistics nerd?

There was always a ‘spark’ - from Fallon to Ed. He was only ever fond of her, and she had to learn to live with it when he went back to Emma.

I’d be annoyed if the SWs went there again. I don’t want Ed and Emma to break up, ever. And Fallon could surely bring another new character into the village. Preferably a farmer from a different area.

Is Fallon likely to find a new farmer beau at her vegan cafe? Perhaps she’s more likely to find a new patron of the charging station cafe.

PMK

See old thread.

Fallon could be a childless cat lady. I gather they're doing well at the moment.

Does anyone think that Fallon is too hard on Harrison? It is always about her so he can never be honest. Does he want to try for another child?

I'm sure he'd love to try for a child and, to be fair, he has been honest about that. However, I can't remember whether Fallon made her views on having children clear before they were married or not, but she's certainly left him in no doubt about that and he's chosen to stay with her. The general view is that, on that issue, the wishes of the person who doesn't want children have to come first, for fairly obvious reasons. The subject should be right off the table.

Off the point, but Harrison would be such a pain in the neck if they actually were trying, wouldn't he? He'd be taking Fallon's temperature all the time and pushing for sex when she was ovulating, tracing her cycle and interrogating her every hour whenever a period was due, buying industrial quantities of pregnancy tests, and hovering outside the loo radiating tension every time she took a test. It would only get worse if she did get pregnant.

And if they did have a baby he would be Disney dad and she would be stuck with all the drudge

in terms of bringing another farmer in - I think that should be Josh - this creating more resentment over Brookfield being handed down to sainted pip

I wouldn’t be surprised if Fallon was starting to think she’d been sold a pup. Harrison badgered and badgered her to go out with him, when she wasn’t interested. I don’t think his character has changed - he has always been on the selfish side of single minded - but age and recent events have pushed him into a sort of crisis and Fallon is having to cope with the fallout, feeling ignored and - I think - that he has never really known or understood her. Until recently he’s had a stable career going for him but he seems determined to jeopardise or jettison that. Fallon must be questioning everything!

buying industrial quantities of pregnancy tests, and hovering outside the loo

Is Burns in fact Jill’s long-lost child?

We're pregnant! [he did say that to Alan, didn't he?]
We're going for as natural a birth as possible, because it's just better for the behbeh, in't it? No nasties like pain relief, cos all you really need is breathing exercises and a positive mindset. The endorphins get you through. After all, it's a natural process!
Breast is best and of course we're also going for attachment parenting. We've done the research and there's no arguing wi' it. Fallon will be a real little Earth Muther!

😱😱😱

I think the issue with Harrison is that the unpleasant beginnings of the relationship are sufficiently long ago that the average not-over-infested listener had probably forgotten. And then he's gone through years of being a meh background character without any really striking personality. Then it's come to Behbeh Gate and his true colours have been revealed, which comes as a shock to most people. In a way, it's well done, because it seems to be concurrent with Fallon herself realising what an arse he is. But on the other hand, it means that listeners are a bit perplexed about his apparent volte face from slightly annoying cricket and Christianity enthusiast to selfish, baby- obsessed guy with anger- management issues and no ability to listen.