Archers thread #203: It's Affair Cop! 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 would love to attend Pip's wedding with Natasha and the starry twins, 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-12-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.)

Starting the new thread a bit early as I'm not sure I'll have much internet access for the next few days. Fill up the old one first. And then - over to you!

(Credit for the thread title goes to @TripleSulko.)

I don't deny its realism, just dedicating an entire episode to it was "grim" to quote @BeatriceBatchelor . I've calved, foaled and lambed the appropriate animals so I don't have a problem with birth and am not generally squeamish, but Amber on the radio was not what I wanted to hear.

OK. Well I liked it. I think childbirth is a beautiful thing having done it myself and been with my daughter during two births (one with twins in hospital and one at home).

I thought there were a few character arcs developed in the episode, which is presumably why it took the whole thing:
Amber giving up on influencing when something actually important happened
Brad leaving them to it and realising this is Amber’s life now
George realising that he has to actually step up to the mark
George and Amber together working through a frightening-if-exciting situation as actual grown-ups, thus developing their relationship

I’m hoping against hope that George growing up is a permanent state of affairs and doesn’t go down the pan as soon as they’re sleep deprived and faced with a screaming baby.

I’m also a sucker for childbirth though - it always makes me cry, although I had to develop a certain level of self-control when I was actually the medical professional on labour ward 😅

I had children at my own wedding but when I say Stella should have stuck to her guns I’m from the pov that’s it’s their wedding and their decision - stuff what Natasha thinks (in the nicest possible way) - when there are sooo many “Archers” perhaps they wanted to contain numbers ?

The baby will have Edward in there somewhere in its name.

Oh, d’you think so? I’d have thought William was a certainty since both George’s father and Amber’s have that name. (I’m assuming Bill has William on his birth certificate.)

Joseph Bradley Edward William Grundy.

All of this.

Yes. I always get teary eyed even if it's not all that realistic. I think it releases some sort of hormones in me.

Exactly this. To which I would add it finally cemented New Robert for me, it's taken a while, but I thought he was superb in this episode.

I thought the birth was well handled. Quite an authentic experience, no mean feat given the time constraints.

The picnic rug was an excellent touch.

Robert’s faffing about had me swearing at my radio!

I thought that was a brilliant episode. Really well acted.

It made me tearful to remember how utterly overwhelming the pain of childbirth is, especially the first time. And then how incredible you feel when the baby is born. I really understood what she meant about it being something that happens to you. There’s no controlling it.

Arriving late to the party…

I'm not squeamish about birth and never have been.

Well, good for you.

It's something everyone experiences one way or another so there's no reason to leave it out of a drama about every day lives.

I would suggest that slightly under 50% of the population do not experience childbirth except for having been born, though. And I have never met anyone who actually did remember being born.

No but we have all experienced it and our mothers will remember it. It is a daily occurance.

I thought that the birth was absolutely wonderful! The acting was superb and I felt emotional hearing the baby cry. I’ve listened for years and this is the strongest reaction I’ve felt since hearing Helen stab Rob on my way to a night shift! Brilliant!

Birth is amazing of course, but on speakers coming into the kitchen while prepping dinner is a little too much for me. 😂But I agree with the other poster - there was very good character development in the episode.

I must be fairly close to “Ambridge” on my Cross-Country train, on its way south from Brum, but I have just passed a load of motorhomes and caravans on hard-standing in the middle of countryside!

There would have been 40-50, from what I noticed.

Perhaps Brian did spot a gap in the market!

You’ve summed it up perfectly!

Everyone experiences sex - one way or another - but I don't want to hear it on the radio.

A birth is a little miracle. Listening to an actor pretend to do it is not something I want to do.

I think little Joseph was named Joseph to avoid naming him after his great-grandfather and uncle.

A wedding is a legal commitment between 2 adults originally to 'become one' so I don't think it's really for young children to attend but maybe the presence of children varies between denominations.
I've not been to a funeral with young children present. There was one aged about 10 at a grandparent's funeral, but the older siblings and parents and all the (older) cousins were there.

I definitely don't want to hear any copulation.