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!

Link isn’t working for me on the other thread - sw sabotage?

(thanks for new thread!!)

Wouldn't put it past them! Thanks for the alert.

Link not working for me either, but I found you! Thanks Gaspode.

I wondered whether the Archers and Horvilles were supposed to highlight that Helen also is a mother who doesn't listen to her child. I'm not saying Henry was reasonable (and for a start he surely could have mentioned something sooner), but given that he was upset, a fairly perfunctory apology from Tom and then an expectation that they'll all play happy families wasn't a great move from her.

New link worked, thanks again for your efforts, Gaspode.

The entire board died when I tried to use the link, but it came back after a bit.... Thanks for the new thread!

Ummmm, is anyone worried the well-being event might have to be cancelled 😂😂😂

Which means no Rochelle and Kate!!!

Thanks Gasp0de

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g Thanks for the mention! Great title as per usual

Will listen to tonight’s episode tomorrow but it doesn’t sound great…

Thanks @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g!

So in the brief time she was in the village Rochelle has probably caused Mick and Joy to split up?

Although - Mick might decide to forgive Joy, what with the weather being quite rough at the moment …

Good acting from Joy and Rochelle tonight

Desperately. Awful if it is, after all the effort and planning that’s gone into it. Kate’s had her chakras polished specially. And Ruth might even have scribbled down a booking in whatever clarty notebook she stashes in her dungarees.

@TottersBlankly yes. It is chilly!

I haven't listened to tonight but I wanted to mention the crude parallels. Neil abandoned but feeling loved. Rochelle not abandoned but not loved. Presumably this is the point?

Just checking in...

Why oh why isn't Helen moving out to make way for the owners to move in to the house they've paid for?

April Cottage (is that where Tom's moving from?) might be smaller but surely less squashed than sharing with Uncle, Aunt and twin cousins.

The SL could've highlighted the dismal lack of rights renters have in the UK and how expensive and competitive it is to find a decent place to rent but instead they have Helen being a brat. That said, I am looking forward to Helen and Natasha being rival chatelaines of Beechwood!

Thanks @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g .

Thanks for the new thread @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

@RegimentalSturgeon I'm not sure how I'd pick myself up if my well-being was centred on Chelsea's movement session and Rex's running tips. All snatched away in a moment after a teenage style mother-daughter row.

I felt sorry for Henry (I often do) as Helen could afford to buy the house but decided it was too suburban. At no point did she seem to consider what was best for Henry and Jack and what they like.

I'm not sure why I expect anything different from her.

It's so typical of Helen that she can't see it's massively inappropriate to take TomnTash up on what was a 'just being polite' offer.

Yes that’s a good point about Helen not thinking about the boys

no word on Cathy and the rental either. This sale seems to be the fastest in history

So we've learnt that Joy had a breakdown after Rochelle's dad left, and that Rochelle became her carer. Do we know what age Rochelle was then?
And we've learnt that Rochelle has always struggled to settle down and hasn't always been a 'present' parent for her own kids. And that Joy finds this difficult to accept. And that Rochelle finds pressure and judgement from Joy about her parenting hard to swallow.
If I understand correctly Rochelle is an only child so I can see that history creating a really complex relationship where they are very close, desperately need each other, but also can't find a way to actually support each other in the way they each need, if you see what I mean. We hear enough about complex mother daughter relationships on here to know people go back to their mum's time and again to seek comfort and support only to realise that isn't going to happen in the way they need it.
Whether or not that kind of complex relationship can be well written into a radio soap is another thing all together.
I have to say I was with Mick last night in getting frustrated with another repeat of the endless "you don't understand, it's complicated"... No, we don't understand... Please help us to understand by providing more information!

Just listened. Is that it then? The big reveal? So two characters , who we don’t care about , don’t get on cos one didn’t cope well with their marriage breakdown? Honestly thought I’d never type this but can we go back to hearing about beavers please?

Can't understand why they are all going to be squashed into that house, is Helen looking for some where to live? It doesn't seem she is. How many people have a mum and dad who have room for you to live with them and your 2 children indefinitely? Helen could also move into T and Ns old home, surely there would be more room for the 3 of them temporary.
Can't understand Helen's thinking, and yes she didn't even think of the boys but then she is so up herself what do I expect.
Joy, Mick and Rochelle is a trio I couldn't give a kippers dick about.
Neil's story line is so bad and very badly thought out. Don't the SW look at the back catalogue. Thanks for new thread Gasp.

Yes the beechwood situation is thoroughly bizarre. I assume it is going to end with a big fallout and Helen moving in with Kirsty because she is too doggedly independent to move in with her parents 🙄

I thought the same... Is that it?!
@Nettleteaser101