Archers thread #176: In which Ian puts the I in PTA. 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 like to hear more from Wesley the ashtray collector, 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 @DeanElderberry for the pithy phrase in the thread title and @CaptainMyCaptain for suggesting it should go in there. At least we've got the spooky disco out of the way for now. Plenty of wooden dialogue in the last few episodes that could go on the village bonfire next week. It's all been too dispiriting to discuss in greater depth. I'll just say that I don't hold out any great hopes that the production team will make a good job of reflecting concern in the farming community about the changes announced in the Budget to inheritance tax for farms. So often they get an expert to talk them through stuff like this but instead of ending up with a realistic storyline they pick out the bits they like the sound of and cobble them together in a totally unrealistic way. Maybe I'll be proved wrong this time. I hope so.

Over to you!

The idea that 18 year old Brad is meant to be starting a maths degree, working part time at GG, trying to run George's business (can't imagine video editing is a quick job either) and finding time to for ad hoc tutoring sessions for Henry is just ludicrous. He chose a good degree. He won’t have to be doing much reading around the subject, and he won’t be spending hours in the lab. And he’s living at home so won’t have to cook for himself and keep house.

Given the title of this thread, I'd almost welcome a quick blast of Ian and whassername talking about the nativity play as a break from the Christmas Curdle and the fun running MP's magic wand - but it's probably a bit early for that: we'll have to wait till the week before Christmas. If we can endure it that long.

Anyway, it's 5th November tomorrow. I forget: is that when they're having the bonfire ceremony?

this whole Scrooge thing is stupid (although didn’t totally disagree with Justin’s description of Kirsty and Rex) Still can’t get my head round re-wilding on a 5 year lease. Do the SW know how long a tree takes to grow? Or a habitat to become more favourable? Rewilding on a 5 year timescale is a bit like replacing an acre of ancient woodland with two acres of whips.

clearly not labour to have that much time on her hands. It’s farming country. She won’t be Labour.

I did like the tiny nugget where Will clearly didn’t have a clue that the name Ed gave him was the name of their MP. Rather like our community Facebook page where no-one knows our Councillors, and gets them muddled up with our MPs

She's a new MP in a rural constituency so she's going to be Lib Dem, replacing a Tory. Not that they can ever come out and say that.

Inspector Norris's maiden name was probably Goole.

She could be Green (there's one in Herefordshire).

True - so we have more to come? How painful

so wonder MP gets George moved? But he’s in Northumberland?

Yes, that raised a slight twitch at the corners of the mouth here, along with the bit where Hapless Will said 'But I dint vote for her' and Ed told him it didn't matter, but later one or both of them said to Sarah Byron 'We voted for you!' Will really does seem thicker every time he opens his mouth.

If Justin ran a bank and Megan had happened to call in earlier when he was there, I'd be inclined to believe the SWs were channelling It's a Wonderful Life as well as everything else. I suppose I'll have to assume Justin had nothing to do with her losing her wallet and phone, though.

This ghost thing is bonkers. Why has everyone had personality transplants? Why is Fallons mum randomly in a field? Make it make sense.

Boop to Brad for his 'shame' to Justin, that did make me laugh. The rest of the last 2 episodes has been utter tosh.

Kirsty's mum was by the side of a road because the cab driver from Felpersham threw her out of the car when she told him her purse and phone were missing from her bag.

I'd be inclined to believe the SWs were channelling It's a Wonderful Life as well as everything else

Don't give them ideas.

Although tbh, It's now so bonkers I'm sort of looking forward to tomorrow's episode.

Kirsty's mum reminded me of Joy when she first pitched up in TA. Same oversharing, just with a different accent.

As for the ludicrous SL to get her into Justin's car. Give me strength.

Such a rubbish episode I even got the wrong mum!

echt
As for the ludicrous SL to get her into Justin's car. Give me strength.

Who goes to visit someone, presumably for the night, without giving them advance warning? What if Kirsty had been away for the night?

I recall reading similar comments ("it's the Helen Archer show") when Rob died... and now we seek to have bounced from Helen to George to Brad. There seems to be form for zoning in on one character at the moment rather than focusing on a few storylines/characters at a time and weaving into episodes more naturally, which feels very clunky and not at all like good writing.

I can't shake the feeling that it's quite likely a bunch of talented students would genuinely do better than the current writers...

It hasn't been raining so Justin couldn't have drove through a puddle and soaked Kirsty's mum, because that would be just about what nasty Justin would have done if you go by the personality change.
So where was Kirsty's mum when she had all that trouble with Phillip?.
Emma is getting on my nerves and so are the brothers, dont think the MP could do much about George or there would be loads of young offenders moved about. Dont think that happens in RL.

Why would she tell the taxi driver and not just keep shtum until she arrives and get Kirsty to pay

Because the scriptwriters are using the Plotto method and one of the post-it notes fell off someone's elbow and landed on their knee, thus causing confusion.

Their knee, @Gonners ? Are you absolutely sure about that?

Is anyone taking a hit for the team and listening to the podcast? No doubt lots of gushing about how clever the Justin SL is

i grew up with a certain reverence for the Beeb but my kids have none - listening through their ears I can hear why - it is phenomenally patronising

I think increasingly most vegan cafes (or similar) don’t put that front and centre of their marketing they just do it. One place I know has the most amazing cakes and sandwiches and I truly don’t know how they do it as most vegan cakes taste like the contents of my dad’s shed.

I simply cannot deal with the Justin SL any more.