The Archers

[hellywelly4]

Helen is on Woman's Hour at the moment.

[mikey4444]

Thanks HW !

By the way, was anybody remotely surprised when that money went missing ?

I knew that sparks would fly as soon as Eddie's brother turned up.....
he is a wrong 'un, make no mistake.

[hellywelly4]

I got the impression that they're not going to resolve the Rob/Helen issue in the near future.

[frugalfred]

Agreed, hellywelly; it's too good a storyline from the scriptwriters to bring to an early conclusion, and it's bringing in the listening audience. But when the balloon finally goes up for Rob T., it's going to be one hell of a finale!

[Ellipsis]

My impression from the first call that Kirsty made to the women's support number is that the Rob/Helen storyline is set up to provide public information about this new law:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/coercive-or-controlling-behaviour-now-a-crime

That kind of takes the shine off it for me - social change through soap operas. But The Archers has been at that for a very long time:

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17820571
It was in 1951 that BBC radio and the Ministry of Agriculture created The Archers, an "everyday story of country folk", which encouraged farmers to try new techniques to increase productivity in the years after WWII.
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[Prudie]

Thanks helly,that boosted me to get off the sofa and turn the radio on while I did some chores. It's difficult to see how this story can pan out well for Helen,surely she wouldn't want to be stuck with 2 children to deal with alone.
As for the storyline raising awareness in some ways I wish it wouldn't keep focusing on physical violence (as on woman's hour). You can be in a controlling abusive relationship without ever a hand laid on you,in some ways more insidious.

[ladybirder]

Perhaps she'll miscarry or the child will die later all her fault of course. I'm wondering if Rob will have to die to enable him to be disentangled from being Henry's father. Perhaps him and Helen aren't legally married, he could still be married to Jess. I for one don't want it to finish, yet.

Did Helen give anything away this morning hw4?

[mikey4444]

I think the worm has definitely started to turn !

Call the midwife Helen !

[hellywelly4]

Ladyb, no. I just got the impression from the editor that it wouldn't end soon. They were quite defensive even though people has complained that it is more like Eastenders. I felt cautiously optimistic tonight, though.

[Ellipsis]

Helen will definitely come out on the winning side, and the whole thing will serve as a social lesson to us all about how you can use the new law to not put up with this kind of ... treatment.

[ladybirder]

Thanks helly, what a cheek. Like Eastenders indeed, how very dare they! The Archers is good for a start. Humph.

[jourdain2]

Helen will survive, but it isn't going to be easy. Right now she is in a very dark place, having (just about) realised that her dream has become a nightmare. She doesn't know what to do about it, would still like somehow to think that she has been wrong. She's putting one foot in front of another and striving for normality - she has Henry to consider. A long way to go - and Rob could become dangerous.

No, mikey, not at surprised about the money! (See, I've started catching up on the box!!!)

[Hopkirk]

Is Peggy going batty?

[ladybirder]

Good question H. She was certainly very annoying with Helen the other day.

[mikey4444]

jourdain2...glad that you are in Catch-Up mode !

Rob seems to have noticed that Helen is more Compos Mentis than she was a week or so ago, and he has, therefore, upped his game.....answering her phone, asking her questions about what she is doing, etc, etc.

He has definitely become more creepier recently !

I think we could be seeing a whole new chapter here.....Rob on the run perhaps ? But a mad dog is said to be more dangerous, when cornered.....

[Quizproquo]

Once I get past telling you off for "more creepier" Mikey, Tsk!, I think this is a story worth involving with a social issue and I like the way it's been slow, creeping and insiduous, just like it would be in real life.
Peggy might not be daft but let's face it, pregnant women can be a bit random, so Rob is in the perfect position to make it look like she is the one who's not quite themselves right now. I think she'll win in the end, with Kirsty's help.

[ladybirder]

I wish Kirsty would tell Tom. He'd stand up to Rob.

[Hopkirk]

Not good for my blood pressure today!

[jourdain2]

Nope, Hopkirk - constriction in throat and adrenalin running full-time here!

[mikey4444]

There have been many articles in the press about this storyline.

The scriptwriters have continually made the point that they are trying to present a very real issue, in a realistic way. But I am throwing doubts upon that.

I have no problems with accepting that this kind of domestic abuse happens, no problem at all.

But I have grave issues regarding other characters responses. The role of Pat, Peggy, Tom, Tony, etc, etc is approaching the laughable and risible.
I am simply not prepared to believe that Helens family would abandon her to her fate.

Alarm bells should have been crashing away in the heads of her family long before now, and its starting to irritate me !

There are enough people in the Village that have good reason to doubt Rob.....and its about time they stood up and were counted.

[jourdain2]

People see what they want to see, mikey. It's a brave person to stand up and chuck a pebble into still (it seems) waters, possibly antagonising others if s/he is wrong. Rob has 'groomed' well.