Archers thread #199: Kaboom! The Aldridges are self-destructing, and it's GLORIOUS. 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 drop everything to help Helen create a new cheese on national minimum wage, 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.)

If you haven't heard last night's episode (Friday 22nd May) you really must. It's episodes like that that keep me addicted. Funny how often they involve the Aldridges, the most dysfunctional and also by far the most interesting family in Ambridge. Also very well acted on the whole. How lovely to hear Tamsin Greig in TA, but I wonder if we ever will again.

Some cracking posts towards the end of the last thread, which is here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/radio_addicts/5518503-archers-thread-198-josh-sent-to-patagonia-pip-stays-put-wrong-way-round-discuss-the-archers-here

Over to you!

There were a lot of shark attacks around the Sydney area at the time, and I was really hopeful.

When did Kate become the sensible and empathetic child in the family! 😁

Didn’t the radio dialogue about Lily looking forward to visiting Oz and going surfing happen close to the Hanukkah attack at Bondi?

IMO Adam should be thinking about preserving the wealth of Home Farm for Xander, assuming Brian includes him….(that would have been a much better SL to jump a generation to pass on to his direct descendants). Adam will be 60 next week, incidentally!

It’s all ridiculous

Xander isn't a direct descendent of Brian, because Adam isn't Brian's son. And for all that he calls himself Macy (and Xander is Macy-Craig), he wasn't Roger Travers-Macy's son either.

I do love the idea that people should somehow be compelled to leave their money to those who think they should have it! It really doesn't work like that.

Nevertheless, Xander is a blood Archer, through Adam and Jenny. In that sense he’s much more important than Brian Aldridge.

(Sometimes it seems as if the creative team understands what they’re doing - but so often they appear to have literally lost the plot.)

Good for Kate.

I am looking forward to Amber's baby's perfect upbringing, no lost tempers or anything.

I laughed like a drain at that bit! Five minutes on MN would show Amber it's her hormones talking.

I thought the George and Amber bit was lovely. It showed an awareness of what has gone on around them.

I just hope the offspring doesn't get turned into a Sad Beuge Internet Baby.

Kate is good at this family stuff until it comes to her and her own children. I thought she was excellent not letting Brian see Xander.

Adam is also right: why would he let future-Brian break Xander's heart?

What's a Sad Beuge, please?

sad beige clothes for sad beige children is an internet meme/ joke at more waldorf / scandi inspired sackcloth-esque aesthetic.

Gosh Brian sounded so wonderfully feeble and pitiable last night. Boop for Kate navigating that tricky situation.

Ive been of the mind that Brian is losing his marbles for a while now but he’s changeable, obstinate and rude cantankerous naturally it’s easily hidden. I’d much prefer he wasn’t though.

It's a typo for Sad Beige. 😆

A brilliant observation! I had not thought of it like that, but you are right (of course). And by the same token Ruairi is not a blood Archer.

It is slightly sickening to realise Brian is happy to indulge and tolerate a not-blood ‘descendant’ whilst they’re a biddable child. He would indeed do exactly the same to Xander as he’s done to Adam, once Xander is old enough to defy him. (Though Brian may not live that long.)

I can only assume it must have been one particular SW who insisted that poor Ian’s sperm would be inadequate to the task, forcing the Archer-descended husband to provide the material for the surrogacy.

It was a brilliant move, in terms of ongoing Archer world building, but it’s still incredibly likely that future SWs won’t understand or care about the significance of Xander’s biological history.

But the land isn't Archer land, it's Brian's. By that token, Adam and Debbie are not Aldridges and nor is Xander-the-Wunderkind (sing along to the tune of Champion the Wonder Horse) and he is under no obligation to give them a penny.

Had he died first, it would have been a different matter.

Sure - but once all Archers are removed from Home Farm its land ceases to hold any dynastic significance whatsoever. It’s Jenny’s descendants who matter in The Archers, not Brian’s.

Makes me think that this is why Jenny agreed to take on Ruarie. Her instinct was to keep the family together so that the future of all the children was safeguarded…

I’m sure Brian would have promised as much as Jenny was approaching her final days.

But now Brian has to protect Ruari from the consequences of his idiotic actions and it’s all
imploding.

Thanks for that. I thought it was a term from modern culture that I wouldn't have heard!

Kate is good at this family stuff until it comes to her and her own children

As Peggy said, after Kate complained "she's my daughter,"

"When it suits you, dear."

Sorry fat fingers. Should be Sad Beige Baby

My God. Actual farming.

How long since we’ve had a shocking episode that’s actually about farming?
Awful, anyway. 😢

Oh, it’s on Brine’s land!
Wonder where this is going.

So catalyst for David and Brian to fall out . And Brian become more isolated

Yes.