Archers thread #200: Trouble in Ambridge! (All 200 threads could have had this title.) 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 love to be Brian's child or stepchild, or other unusual views.

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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.)

Over to you!

Alice and Rex may have known each other a long time, but they've only been a couple for 5 minutes. And Martha is only about 5.

The conversation between Alice and Rex was a sledgehammer demonstration of the conversation Fallon and Harrison should have had before getting married. There has never been any spark between the two of them to my ears, but now it feels like they are acting this lack of connection - witness how effusive H was when chatting to Lynda having told F virtually nothing about his first day. I think the Lynda encounter was deliberate, another hint at Monty being the sheep slaughterer - I can already hear Harrison breaking the news to her. I wouldn’t be surprised if H has already met someone back wherever he was doing special operations, I don’t think Falllon will care - him being back was getting in the way of her new routine.

It’s true Fallon and Harrison are each a million times more relaxed and joyful with other people than they are with each other. So I suppose one must give credit to the actors for portraying this so consistently.

And yes - Monty …

Agreed on all points!

I think Fallon assumed when they got married that she would eventually feel ready to have a child, because the majority of women do. However, she changed her mind. It happens. She might well have changed her own mind if she'd decided to go have a baby anyway to please Harrison, but equally she might not have done, and it's an enormous risk to take. Not fair on the child.

Indeed, and like babies and toddlers, most children of my acquaintance have been very endearing (some of the time, anyway) as well as/in spite of the above qualities.

I am not a particularly long term listener but am I right that Alice didn't want to have children?

I think it’s more that she was still deep in alcoholism and didn’t think she deserved or would be fair to any children. She wanted to be “better” before having one.
Unlike Fallon she hadn’t decided against them. (I think Fallon firmed up that decision after looking after Harrison’s niece - which she did well, but knew after she definitely didn’t want a child of her own.)

I remember Fallon telling Jolene she didn’t want children a long time ago. Fallon recognised that Jolene might have been hoping for a grandchild. It was an honest and considerate conversation.

Sigh. 'Like wrens' is what that was meant to say.

Harrison is annoying me already and he has only been back a couple of days! Unless he was actually seconded to a nuclear submarine on a classified mission surely he had the usual 4-6 weeks' annual leave and sufficient rest days to get down to Ambridge more than a couple of times?

Not that I should probably suggest introducing a bit of "swinging" into Ambridge storylines, but I do wonder whether Chris with Fallon and Harrison with Lottie might improve the chemistry between couples (sorry this was inspired by the 'PTA invite to sex pond" thread from a few weeks back).

If Kirsty is currently 17 weeks pregnant we must be due a Christmas birth. Congratulations to WitcheryDivine, incidentally. I have very rose-tinted glasses regarding pregnancy, but I do hope we will be spared listening to Kirsty tell absolutely every speaking character in the village about the much hoped-for addition to the Ambridge cast.

I agree that wrens are bloomin noisy; I had the misfortune to have one nesting in a bush below my bedroom window a few summers ago.

They both know it's over but neither wants to be the one to end the marriage. Their behaviour is extremely artificial when they are together, desperately trying to sound/be happy but it is all so stitled. Fallon sounds million times happier and more relaxed when chatting to Chris or anyone else really. Ditto for Harrison. It's really well done.

It’s painful.

They are both trying, and both making assumptions, but huge failure in communication. Notably Harrison straight into his new job, while Fallon has taken the week off.

I imagine Fallon is feeling incredibly hurt.

WELL!

Firstly congratulations @WitcheryDivine, how lovely.

And omg @Madcats, Ambridge swingers would be appalling, don't give the scriptwriters ideas!

I love this thread for many reasons but particularly because people's reactions to the storyline are so different based on many things, I think especially how long you've been listening. I have always been anti-Harrison because he was a borderline stalker when he went after Fallon. That, and him being an absolute dick.

Having Tom actually recognise and name emotions like an adult tonight was very surprising. Obviously not as surprising as Helen being wise, but there we go!

Am finding the Harrison/Lynda/Monty storyline quite implausible and I hope it ends with Monty being falsely accused.

As the scriptwriters seem short on their usual absurd level of drama, may I suggest that animal rights activists have liberated some wolves from a zoo and released them among the sheep?

Very well put. They really need to separate, the sooner the better for both their sakes.

When did they start calling him Wren?

After his being stillborn. Can't remember if it was a planned name, i.e. they'd discussed it.

Back to today's episode, was I the only one who shouted "No!!!" when Tom mooted going back to apologise to Kirsty? This is entirely based on his sound history of being such a clod. He certainly owes her an apology, just not convinced he'll be any good at it.

was I the only one who shouted "No!!!" when Tom mooted going back to apologise to Kirsty? This is entirely based on his sound history of being such a clod

I was thinking "No!" too. Clod is a good word for Tom.

@echt , it was a late miscarriage not a stillbirth. I find the idea of telling the twins they had a half-brother very strange. They're so young.

I had to skip Amber's mum and Susan's bit I found it really boring and Susan gets on me nerves anyway.
Tom and Helen are both so self Involved that I could hardly listen to that unbelievable in real life rubbish.
I hope it isn't Monty who killed David's sheep. Poor Lynda if it is. But if Monty had got lose I think Lynda or Robert would have noticed if thier dog had blood and fur all.over it. Unless Monty jumped into the Am after, and George save him. Sorry Im waffling on. My brain has gone dead listening to that last episode.

It is utterly, utterly bizarre.

Tom: "Daddy was going to marry Kirstie. But he left her waiting at the altar and she had hysterics, and then later on he fancied a one-night stand with her and she got pregnant but the baby died before it was born. So instead he married Mummy and just think! If that baby boy hadn't died, you probably wouldn't exist!"

Natasha: "And then I could have married someone more intelligent and had babies with him instead."

Hell no. If this is the storyline then they’ll be being lead by Rochelle….

Thank you @noodlezoodle ❤️

I enjoyed Susan and Anne-Marie. Susan is actually a good peacemaker when she has her head in gear

Speaking of Rochelle, how long is it since we have heard from her mother? It's great and long may it last but it's so strange she was in practically every episode but has now been silent for months.

I think your script writing is so much better 😂