Archers thread #186: Eavesdropping on a home for the terminally confused. Discuss The Archers here.

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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 swipe right on Dane, the new Grey Gables manager, 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/radioaddicts/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/radioaddicts/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 @WitcheryDivine for the title inspiration. Over to you!

It was Kenton. Where was she when she met Naomi? Had she stayed over at The Bull? Otherwise why would Naomi know where she lived?

She was walking the dog on the green. Naomi had gone to the pub to see her - very early. So that was weird

Kenton saw them out the window

More than random- downright weird. You don't pitch up at your daughter's workplace on her first day for no reason.

I didn't spot his magical lift fixing powers. I don't get the lurve for him on here . He's annoying.

Lilian was in her jim-jams...

Pa malik is annoying but has potential. I’m still hoping he’ll be the new lothario!!!

I saw a young woman in hello kitty pjs, pink slipper and a pink fluffy dressing gown holding her boyfriend’s hand (he was wearing outside clothes) at 11am on a weekday in London. It was very bizarre as was blatantly sleep wear rather than lounge wear

Loungewear, darling, loungewear!

As someone who lost their 96 year old mother a week ago I can’t identify with Lilian at all (although wouldn’t judge anyone who does obviously).

I lost my dad when I was young and just feel incredibly lucky to have had my mother into my 60s. She clearly wasn’t going to live forever and she and I were well prepared for her passing. She had a great long happy life and was ready to go at the end. I just can’t imagine being poleaxed by something that was an inevitability. It’s the people who lost their parents when they were young that I feel for.

My mum lost her parents young and my dads parents lived long lives

in my grandads last years my dad made a comment about how hard it is to see your parents decline and my mum bit back that he was lucky to see it as she didn’t get the chance

it struck me then that grief is very individual and only the person can feel it and to compare it or make someone feel bad because they haven’t reacted the way you would is unfair.

That would be good, but I fear not. He seems to be being written as unequivocally saintly - perfect father, perfect husband, perfect neighbour. Of course, the SWs could be planning to reveal that this is just a plausible veneer covering a dark core, but I doubt it.

They don’t seem to want any negativity in the characters anymore - wouldn’t surprise me if the new pope makes a cameo to make them all saints

If it looks like pyjamas it is pyjamas (she says ungrammatically!).

Didn't Lilian say it was pyjamas?

However you write a grieving character, is the right way. Because all grief and loss is different.

Of course, the SWs could be planning to reveal that this is just a plausible veneer covering a dark core, but I doubt it.

They used that storyline up for Philip Moss.

This talk of being saintly but practical has made me think we need more Leonard.

It feels to me as if benevolent prejudice is at play in the portrayal of the Family Malik, and it is profoundly irritating. There was a kind of dreary inevitability about Pa Malik turning out to be such a perfect family man and neighbour. And don’t get me started on Cancer Boy.

It's a shame because I think the "mixed" characters are more interesting and more realistic.

So I have a lot of time for Lynda. Yes, she is incredibly irritating but she's basically well meaning and has contributed an enormous amount to the Ambridge community over the years, and her interactions with her beloved Robert have enabled us to see her softer side. (I think the SWs have turned her into a more unpleasant bully recently and I miss the more subtle writing of her character.)

I like Natasha and Kate as characters for the same reason. Of course they are both very selfish, but their charm is that they are not usually driven by malice, just a disabling lack of self-awareness. Natasha is often very kind and Kate has been able to show a more thoughtful side as her relationship with Jakob has deepened. (Where is Jakob btw? I miss him.)

Susan is another complex character. She can be deeply unpleasant at times but we generally understand where she is coming from because we have watched her life-long struggle to free herself from the feckless, semi-criminal Horobin family and live the kind of respectable life she has always wanted. And, again, she's often able to show another side of her character in her interactions with Neil. The fact that Susan loves nice but dull Neil is very much a redeeming factor.

I'm trying to think if any of the male characters are similarly complex, but I'm drawing a blank at the moment - and have things I need to be getting on with involving real humans instead of frittering my time away on here pontificating about imaginary beings!

Tom - deeply irritating but real

The new characters are one dimensional imo

they tried with mick being mean to Emma but then of course he had to realise the error in his ways

Godesstobe
I'm trying to think if any of the male characters are similarly complex, but I'm drawing a blank at the moment

Brian?

Maybe Jakob - he means well, but can piss people off by being so direct.

David can be pretty grouchy

as can Tony!

Yes.
And Russ was. He started off being hated by everyone because of Lily, but he developed into an interesting character. He and Lynda were the ones who spotted Chelsea's potential. If he were still around he'd tell her she's wasting her time at the tea room.

Please!! No more new characters .Been avoiding listening to The Joy Show , only to find out now the bloomin Maliks are back! As PPs have said, the clue is in the title of the show ( if the SWs need some help). There are soooo many farming storylines at this time of year that we could be listening to , not twaddle about people who we dont care about.