Archers thread #196: Run, Rex, run! 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 marry Pip, 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.)

So now we know who bonked George on the head. Will the stunning revelation lead to anything interesting or credible happening? Answers on a postcard, please!

Will Alice and Rex become an item? Will Amber come to her senses? Has Adam's constant languor and fatigue now removed his ability to speak on air?

Over to you!

Lawks a mercy I’ve barely started tonight’s episode and there have already been multiple moments that made me laugh out loud (not deliberate). Zach within 30 seconds of introducing himself being subjected to a speech about “mum and dad reducing their input costs” and then asking “how do they do that?” AS IF HE WOULD CARE. And then the absolutely solid gold on IHT “has it forced farmers into certain actions?” “Definitely.” NO ONE SPEAKS LIKE THIS, SURELY?!!!

Keri Davies really ought to be a bit better at this by now.

Keri Davies really ought to be a bit better at this by now.

@WitcheryDivine , that is my new favourite sentence.

Zach sounded like Ali G to me.

Glad so many are 'shipping K-Rex. They could have a Summer wedding at the rewilding and live happily ever after in arcadian bliss.

What to wear to a rewilding wedding? That will be on Style and Beauty before you know it…

I don't think it matters how Rhauri's name is spelt on here, he isn't real and everyone knows who he is without spelling his name rightly or wrongly.
I thought the Rex and Alice episode was painful to hear. If I were Alice I'd give up, and why go drinking with a load of 20 somethings, wouldn't it be so very tempting to have a drink, it not like she has been on the wagon for years.
Rex isn't worth it in that case. She should just asked him out, but I think she would have to let it know not as friends but romantically, as I think Rex is very slow on the up take.

That’s a very good point - everyone knows she is a recovering alcoholic so why invite her to a ‘big night’.

I don’t think the sw know the ages of their characters as they often act younger.

it also feels very obvious that they are trying to attract a younger audience. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rex became Rexina within the next few months with Kirsty being his handmaiden

It was weird of Rex, one minute he was being thoughtful and checking she was ok going around bars looking for the watch, the next minute he's invited all the party goers of Ambridge out for drinks with them. I know they're trying to show he's completely oblivious to Alice's interest in him but really?

As painful as it is with Rex, I'm quite enjoying Alice not getting her way straight away for once. A new experience for her.

@Nos4r2 to be fair to Alice, she did ask him out. She couldn't make it much more obvious, well to any normal guy anyway. Maybe thats why he ended up with Rochelle as she was so blunt she literally spelt it out for him!

Yes, AGAIN with the telling not showing! New characters seem to be being introduced for the sole reason of recapping plot points for new listeners, by immediately forming such close relationships with existing characters that they spill their guts about their entire past history. I’m so tired of it.

Lynda and Brian really stood out last night as being acted well, against the backdrop of dross from Josh/Ben (I can’t be bothered to remember which is which) and Zach

I was grateful that finally we have had a couple of scenes where Lynda has been portrayed exactly as she is ie a tiresome, manipulative, out-of-touch retiree who assumes everyone has the same
amount of time on their hands as she does. Running the b+b should occupy her far more than it does.

Thank God we have been spared any laboured references to the start of Ramadan so far. I expect the clunky mentions of iftar are yet to come…

Maybe Rex will get tipsy (I don’t think he drinks very much usually) and confide his yearning for Kirsty to Alice. Then Alice will overcompensate in her embarrassment and blurt it all out to Kirsty….

I do hope so.

@Nos4r2 I don't think it matters how Rhauri's name is spelt on here
Rhauri isn't even the right letters in the wrong order.

It matters because it looks like it might be being misspelt because it isn't a standard "English" name. Even if you don't intend it to be, it could be interpreted as xenophobic.

It's only 6 letters - how hard can it be?

Unfortunately some non English names are hard to remember the spelling - especially when there are legitimate different spellings

the maliks all have non English names but no one gets the spelling wrong

whereas we get Linda/lynda mix ups

Lynda isn't a Linda. Linda seems far too ordinary for her, which it why it matters.

The Maliks' first names do get misspelt. Azra's brother's name has been misspelt a lot.

Even if you can't see the hidden xenophobia, bear in mind that it's the sort of thing some of us live with every day.

You’ve made an assumption. My name and DHs names are often misspelt as not English. I just don’t take it personally because most of the time I can see they’ve tried their best!

@Bruisername , I've not assumed anything.

I had an English surname which was usually mis-spelt. And these days saying xxxphobia can be taken as implying mental illness, where it doesn't refer to an actual phobia.

True - you just seem to have your knickers in a twist

i don’t think anyone has spelt Ruari’s mothers name wrong - so I don’t think there’s some massive anti Irish bias going on. Ruari is just a difficult name if you aren’t familiar with it.

I also find it funny that Ruari himself is as English as they come!! It feels like he’s Brian’s replacement in the sw eyes but he just doesn’t have the charm

I haven't got my knickers in a twist at all, but comments like that don't help.
I should be able to say that I find it comes across as xenophobic.

He's been a regular character for years. How much time do you need?

It's RUAIRI.

@muddyford , I don't think you can compare xenophobia with mental illness.

Well funnily enough it’s radio so they don’t spell his name out every time he’s on. Just like they don’t with Lynda/linda or Elizabeth/Elisabeth or Kirstie/Kirsty or Ian/Iain or Brian/Bryan or all the other characters with names that could be spelt differently. As long as we know who people are talking about doesn’t really matter?

fine you are entitled to see it as xenophobia but people are also allowed to push back on that

Just listening again. Why does Stella's bruvvah have such a wide boy accent? And is in "wealf manigement", but doesn't know that pre nups aren't a legal thing in the UK?

That's exactly the point. Xenophobia isn't a mental illness so don't call it a phobia.

I mean the sw can’t even be bothered to check the status of the properties Ruth and David are leaving in their will so I suspect they are arrogant enough to just guess at the other stuff too. This isn’t the first time they’ve done zero fact checking

and obviously everyone who works in finance is an east end wide boy because the sw clearly haven’t realised it’s not the 80s anymore

As long as we know who people are talking about doesn’t really matter?
You are completely missing the point.

Someone writing Lynda as Linda comes across as having missed something af the nature of Lynda's character. Most of the other characters have the conventional/popular spelling.

The repeated misspelling of a fairly major character when that character's name is from a minority language has implications, whether intentional or not.

@muddyford , I haven't said xenophobia is a phobia.