The Archers

[Ric.ror]

Well its getting to the stage where I cannot wait for the next episode - its Helen and her creepy husband's storyline that has me hooked

[ladybirder]

Hell when I heard that I thought I'd tuned in to Mapp & Lucia.

Mikey I think it's beautiful. Seen it four times, Covent Garden, ENO, Sadlers Wells and Glyndebourne. Sigh!

[ladybirder]

OK, everybody should have heard it on the radio by now so can we please discuss what happened between Rob and Helen after the wonderful meal he cooked for her. What does everyone think it might be?? She was crying in bed the next morning. Uh Oh!

[whirlyhurly]

Well, I surmise he forced himself on her, meaning raped her. Horrid, I wonder when he'll start on little Henry with his "punishments". He puts me in mind of David Copperfield's hateful stepfather

[ladybirder]

I agree whirley, I can't think what else it could be. She was obviously a bit the worse for drink which he was forcing on her; he wants a baby, soon, and Rob is determined to get what he wants. Not sure what he's done will be enough to open her eyes though. He'll probably talk her round. I'm still not convinced that the baby Jess had isn't his either. Oh well Pat's happy he's joined the family;-))

[hellywelly4]

I'm afraid I interpreted her crying as the result of much worse. He got her drunk on purpose, and he didn't need to rape her, she loves him so much. Perhaps I've got a dirty mind. I hope I'm wrong. He's married her so he's got half of everything, and if she moves out she would lose her inheritance from Peggy. Nasty piece of work.

[jourdain2]

I'm rather thinking like hellywelly. I've been saying for ages that the next move would be to get her pregnant. Sounds as if she was a bit sozzled, probably wanted to go to sleep, and was 'persuaded' into staying awake and having sex. She'll blame herself, of course, for having had a bit too much to drink and wearing that very alluring dress that her husband couldn't resist and found her so irresistably gorgeous in. ('In which her husband found her so irrestably gorgeous', for any pedants - I include myself.)

Somewhere inside herself she is thinking that the sex was wrong at the time, but that small thought will be overrun by all the flowers, wonderful words etc. - until she is preggers and he hits Henry. Well, that's my take on it.

[ladybirder]

Worse than rape Helly?

This is The Archers you know;=))

[Hopkirk]

I was right about Pip, Mikey.

Mind you, where is she going to sleep?

[mikey4444]

I too felt that there was an element of forcing involved, on the sofa. But, to be, honest Helen is such a drama queen, its not always easy to tell.

Its quite clear what Rob is trying to do. He is attempting to embed himself into the family structure to such an extent, that he will be ready to "take over" when the time comes. The old Tom would have seen through him by now, but this new Tom just doesn't have the same fire in him...in fact his character is totally different. I think the scriptwriters have slipped up there...they needed a new actor but not a new Tom.

There have been quite a few instances of Robs mask slipping. Remember Shula witnessing the assault on the hunt protester ? And Shula is nobodies fool. I thought he was unspeakably rude to Jim at the Opera but nobody else seemed to notice or care....strange !

Pip was never going to leave home...I could have predicted that months ago, as to where she is going to live...in the barn perhaps, as that is the only place left, or maybe Brickyard Cottage.

Come to think of it, why couldn't one of her Grandmothers have lived in Brickyard Cottage...their new cow man won't need it now will ?

[zebo]

Or she could move in with the brother who has already said that she is a route to getting his hands on Brookfield.

[Hopkirk]

I wondered if Rob was beginning to be accepted and liked by the family, just at the moment when Helen begins to see through him and have doubts. Only time will tell.

[mikey4444]

Hoppy...I think we are building up to a huge climax here....probably coming to a head at Xmas or perhaps New Year. ( favourite time for family rows, if my lot are anything to go by ! )

My bet is that he is going to give Henry a wallop !

The old adage that you can't fool all of the people all of the time is going to come true. I still think it was odd that nobody batted an eyelid when he was super rude to Jim at the Opera. It isn't like Linda to let something like that pass her by !

[UKSWF]

An still no Scruff!!!

[mikey4444]

I think poor old Scruff has gone to the great kennel in the sky UKSWF !

[Ric.ror]

And the Kenton/David storyline is getting good now too
I was hoping for a bit of a bust up last night but it might be tonight instead
As for Helen - I did not think she seemed to need too much coaxing so her reaction in the morning was a little OTT but i will now listen again to that episode

Hats off to the actor playing Rob though - what a creep

[Ellipsis]

It sounded to me like Rob gave Helen a date rape drug ...

[sunny-dave]

"I think we are building up to a huge climax here"

Said Rob, whilst twirling his villainous moustache ....

[Ric.ror]

Well I have just listened again - Helen's final 'Rob' could have indicated that he lost his momentum, or perhaps an act that will not result in pregnancy!

[ladybirder]

Delicately put Ric.ror. You've managed to say the unsayable. But wouldn't she have gone ROOOOOOOOOOOB!!!

Regarding the Jim episode, Mikey I think everyone was embarrassed and moved on quickly to defuse the situation. Of course Jim is too much of a gentleman to retaliate but I'd love for Rob to say it to someone who would but then he's crafty like that. Playing the part brilliantly though.

[Ellipsis]

LOL at the innuendo, but IMO he's drugged and raped her to get her pregnant ...