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!

We were all (dad and teens listening in with me and mum because they couldn't be arsed moving rooms) totally bemused.

I'm not one for a conspiracy theory in general (unless you count being a practising Catholic, which is obviously a minority world view), but it does actually sound like the SWs are deliberately making it as bad as possible, either for a dare or to try to get listening figures low enough to justify cancelling the show.

It's a wonder the actors don't strike.

I’ve a feeling they may think they’re being creative and cutting edge

I think exposure to Hilda (or Tortoise, or both) has resulted in Justin getting one of those brain parasites that changes the behavior of the prey animal, leaving it easier to catch and eat. Because he wasn't behaving like a healthy adult human.

Oh the humanity!

Is Lil lacing Justin's meals with mescaline?

Told you. They're rebooting that Curious Under The Stars shite.

I feel like I've fallen down a wormhole or something. What fresh hell was that? What was even happening? Who was responsible for that weirdness, did Rex say Robert had made it? Totally baffled (but also can't face listening again).

I was wrong, I said it could not get any worse.

I'm another one coming in to say what the heck was going on with Justin!.

I think the scriptwriters may just have jumped the shark.

I listened and thought that the day's events had finally taken their toll and looped my brain out entirely. But you all heard it too!

Have not heard it yet. Can hardly wait!

Put the cooking sherry down.

😂

Put the cooking sherry down.

Actually reassuringly medium priced (supposedly) organic red wine from the good wine place in Oxford Covered Market. Self-prescribed to soften the blow of the overnight news.

Maybe it’s made me more tolerant? I really did find AI Rex hilarious!

I loved this episode so much.
Justin Elliot’s early Christmas Scrooge impression. A little dose of humility for him and hilarity for me.
😝🤣🤣🤣🤣

Tell me, did you also like the episode in which Lilian tried to meet Paul's train at Cheltenham and fell in with someone she knew and from whom Paul had to be concealed?

What was that?
I kind of want to listen again to check it was real.

'the peeopllleeee' 😂😂

matt Crawford’s brother? Gosh I can’t remember that episode, such a long time ago, was it funny?

The episode was particularly funny given today’s events as it had the fall of capitalism, artificial intelligence and climate collapse. I love that Justin has denied himself and has these weird signs from the ether indicating he needs to change his world view. If it can happen to Justin, perhaps there’s hope for Donald 🤣🤣

Thursday 7th February, 2013

It was a re-write of Brief Encounter and yes, it was so bad it was funny.

I suspect that Noel Coward may have been a better writer than Nawal Gadalla....

Justin was like a small child who'd never had a computer talking to him before, calling him 'Justin'. He'd probably never even heard a railway announcement or a satnav.

Well I missed tonight as I’ve been to see Oedipus at the theatre. Hope that doesn’t give the sw any ideas 🙄

sounds like it may be worth a listen at 2 tomorrow for pure comedy value

perhaps the podcast has been introduced to gaslight the audience into thinking this is high quality drama

Oedipus was fabulous.

It was ok - I think we had a comedy audience in tbh - the gasps were almost ambridge worthy

So that was Christmas future.

Really? But it was so subtly written and seamlessly done that's it's hard to tell, isn't it? There's been no heavy-handed, creaking, clunky signposting to give us a hint. It doesn't in the slightest sound like someone let their 8 year old grandchild write it in a hurry after watching The Muppet Christmas Carol.

🤔

Apologies to those of you with 8 year olds who can write better than this.