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!

I like David as well. His favouritism of one child over another isn't brilliant, but subtle enough that it seems believable. And he's one of the characters who comes across as an actual farmer.

I grew up with a farming family who nowadays are on the borders between smallholding and proper farming. Although I liked hearing about Home Farm when I was younger (we hardly hear from them at all now), it was too big an entreprise to be relatable to my experience. Bridge Farm, although in the same size range as my family, has gone down the route of shop, tea room, on-site food manufacturing, which I'm not familiar with. Brookfield always seemed to be the most 'normal' farm to me, and its owners the most run-of-the-mill farmers. I get that that's probably going to sideline them as characters, because there's less potential for drama, but I think SWs overlook that a lot of people listen to TA for a gentle bit of countryside. The melodramatic soap elements draw in new listeners, but it's not what I'm there for, and I think the same is true for a lot of long-term listeners. Give me a cow with mastitis over a teenager perverting the course of justice any day!

So stable and supportive that he recently moved out from his mother’s house to go and live with his father. I’m sure that could be spun.

@LillianGish I can only assume that Rosie's/Jazzer's sunflower was more like this poor specimen outside my work (parking restriction sign included for scale). And consequently that the other entries were all seeds. 😂

I thought Ed and Emma didn’t really have any space for him though?

I like David but not his favouritism. Agree that Brookfield could have more farming sl. Don’t have to be dramatic

if It turns out that the tiny kitten knocked the table over I may well have to throw my radio at the sw head

And given the number of entries destroyed they should have cancelled the baking competition

I like David. I find him believable in terms of characterisation and I think he’s very well acted. I LOVE scenes with both David and Kenton, even in incredibly stupid episodes (which yesterday’s was).

The thought of all the wasted food, and the wasted time and effort to produce it, actually made me feel sick.

I cannot imagine why the scriptwriter thought this would be amusing or entertaining.

I mean … Kenton runs a pub; surely they’re aware of, even if they don’t contribute to, all the mechanisms for directing unused food to people who need it. There’s no way any decent, self-respecting adult involved in the food service industry would deliberately do this. Leaves a bad taste.

But even regardless of the food waste - the fact that people have put time and effort into entering a once a year competition - only to have the local pub won and use in promotional materials? Seriously unkind

it was a nasty episode

I thought Ed and Emma didn’t really have any space for him though?

He had a dual home - Grange Farm/Little Grange, until he managed to get Will to boot Hannah out and they moved into No.1 The Green.

Inspector Lindy will soon find out that Jazzer was in the building when pie-mageddon happened.

A greater injustice than George framing Alice is about to be unleashed.

Why are they not restricting the competition to amateurs?

I’ve thought suspended sentence with community service (at Meg’s charity?)

Of course! Thanks.

So do I. I find them believable as brothers.

i barely pay attention these days. Who is David's favourite?

Pip. (Inexplicably.)

Sorry but I thought a few months back that a lot of posters were moaning about David, but I must have made a mistake as everyone seems to like him.
I myself am not too keen.

But Kenton is an amateur. At everything.

A shoddy, tedious, predictable, writing-by-numbers episode. They seem to think a) they’re being funny; and b) that people like it.

I have to report that the cheese and apple pie was highly rated in the newt household
I actually used more apple than the recipe suggested,(thanks again for the recipe) adding a layer if sliced apples on top of the filling. I didn't bother buttering them though, that was a step too far.
I think I would have won a prize in the F&P show !

Anyone whose household sells baked goods for a living should be barred.

In terms of good publicity - when I was young (many, many years ago) our local butcher got done for not having enough meat in his sausages. His sales went through the roof as people discovered that our town had a butcher that made his own sausages.

Any publicity is good publicity!

Maybe Kenton could feature in a "Pub landlord turns the tables!" news article.

Kenton has always been an idiot/loser and portrayed as the Black Sheep of the family. However in previous years he had his saintly twin sister Shula to look after him and gently keep him on the straight and narrow.

"Saigon cinnamon"

Felicity Cloake’s ‘perfect apple pie’ is just that imo https://amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2013/nov/07/how-to-make-perfect-apple-pie
cheese optional!