Archers thread #180: Burgeoning backstories! Continuity, what’s that? 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 think it's a great idea for Helen and the boys to lodge with Tom, Natasha, Seren and Dippity*, 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 www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/5244480-the-archers-spoilers-thread-10-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.)

*Can't remember who coined this, but it's genius.

I was strongly tempted to use one or both of the posts suggested for the title of this thread on the last thread, but went for something a bit briefer. However, they're brilliant and will kickstart this thread very nicely, so here they are:

@Sidebeforeself: Beavers, bridge, bunny boilers and busybodies - it's all a load of bollocks!

(I couldn't agree more!)

@DeanElderberry: I don't usually speculate much on the appearance of characters, but do wonder what it is about Miranda that is bringing out the chest-thumping silverback in Brian and Justin? One little bridge game and the course of Ambridge rewilding is set. The face that launched a thousand beavers.

Over to you!

Just finished a 55 minute phone call with a friend. Should I listen to this evening's ep?

Will it be safe to start listening again next week?

Why Susan and Tracy?

Ridiculous.

Least said, soonest mended …

I’m guessing we can’t have

‘some version of faerie porn’

as the next thread title? Thought not …

I'm sensing 'no' . . .

Did Mick pay Berwick-upon-Tweed out of his own pocket and did he pass it on to Lynda in appreciation of her magnificent scriptwriting skills and not-at-all bossy behaviour? In which case she Should Be Told and should give it back to Mick. Otherwise she'll only spend it on organising something else. Or was it the proceeds of the bet between whichever two ridiculous men were involved (I have erased that from memory)?

Or maybe it was Robert, in the hope of keeping her busy and out of his hair?

I thought that was a pair of trainers slung over telegraph wires? And that it was an urban myth.

The five hundred quid was paid by Vince Casey to Lynda Snell because she won the unrealistic bet he imposed on her.

Nobody paid Berwick anything as far as we know.

@DeanElderberry I mean if you're really, really bored...

To summarise.
Neil dabbled in a bit of cross dressing.
Lost shoe was found.
Panto was a triumph, all hail Lynda.
Money given anonymously to Tracy and Susan, presumably from fairy godmother Lynda? ("hilarious" Horrobin girls night out to come, will they stretch that out for a week as well?).
Mick and Joy madly in love. Possibly engaged? I wasn't listening properly.
Some cute lambs were involved somewhere to remind us it's the countryside.

Thank you @TheUsualChaos . I suspect that your summary is much better than the episode.

Having coped with a phone call that started with 'the shit has really hit the fan this evening . . . ' I think I've had as much enjoyment as I can cope with right now.

Oh dear, I hope whatever it is can be sorted 😕 yes, I wouldn't make your evening any worse if I were you.

I think we'll manage to extricate ourselves, but very much fear I see a Committee Meeting in my future. Local clubs and societies - Ambridge could have so much fun with them.

But I saw some cute lambs today, so maybe TA is an accurate portrayal of rural life.

I actually thought it wasn't awful. Given the rest of this week I was expecting worse. Damning with faint praise, I know, but it was bearable. The Tracy and Susan bits were even a little sweet (I may be slightly delerious, I've been fasting today).

Gosh, that was exciting wasn't it. One or two loose ends shoes tied up. Meanwhile, George languishes, Brad frets and hones his droning skillz, the Pargetter trustees rub their hands at the unexpected extension of their trusteeship.

The thing that has me on tenterhooks is wondering whether we have the collective energy for a new thread.

Mick: "I don't want to leave"

Possibly the most depressing sentence we'll hear this year.

So Tony/Antonia and Neil the Foundling are now into cross dressing?

If the scriptwriters have been captured by trans ideology it'll probably turn out that one of them now believes he's a woman, will be dressing up in women's clothes from now on and no one will bat an eyelid, least of all their own wives...

You're sensing accurately. What an abysmal week. I thought it might be fun, but it wasn't really. Desperately hoping for some sort of normality on Sunday. Not holding my breath.

I absolutely refuse to believe that Neil - solid, honest, dependable Neil - has been experimenting with cross-dressing, a fact that’s laughed off by Susan as nothing particularly out of the ordinary. And that we’re hit with that particular bombshell mere days after he’s gone to see the women who discovered him as a foundling on a doorstep all those decades ago, a fact hitherto completely unknown to everyone, including himself.

They've all gone mad. Quite, quite mad.

Oh Jesus, don’t even joke about that. I absolutely couldn’t cope with a trans storyline.

I’ve been dreading the introduction of a trans storyline as I felt sure that this was more or less the last PC box the SWs might feel they had to tick. I didn’t want to mention it in case they’re reading here for ideas 😬

If anyone is going to develop a trans persona in the future - let it be Jack

So Rob can spin eternally in his grave.

And we’ll have Jaqueline taking over that bit of land Rob bought and left them out of malice towards the village. (Land, acquired in the face of Archers …) They’ll enjoy a lifetime of lording it over Grundys or whoever else later needs it. And of upsetting Henry.

I have just discovered - no doubt you already knew - that Jack / Jaqueline carry the meaning ‘supplanter’. Am suitably awed.

Remember when Coronation Street introduced Hayley the transsexual? It seemed so innocent back then, partly because Hayley was played by an actual woman, we had no idea how dark things would turn in real life.

Oh and no way would Lynda have agreed to Lillian handing over £500 to Tracey & Susan so they could indulge in some sisterly bonding. Lynda would have insisted in it be used for the good of the community.

The Neil story line has broken the Archers for me.

I was quite enjoying this week's nonsense but that storyline along with giving the £500 to Tracy and Susan spoilt it.