• Re: George - spoilers included end Dec

    From Kosmo@krw@whitnet.uk to uk.media.radio.archers on Sat Jan 3 13:38:05 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.media.radio.archers

    On 2.1.26 12:29, Jane Vernon wrote:
    I agree that there is something nasty about George, however I also feel
    that he has been unable to manage how he feels for a very long time and needed intervention way, way earlier.

    Which underlines my point that if he cannot control his temper he would
    not have have managed 12 months inside without losing it. So the
    character continuity is just not there.
    --
    Kosmo Richard W
    www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
    https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics
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  • From Sam Plusnet@not@home.com to uk.media.radio.archers on Sat Jan 3 19:46:53 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.media.radio.archers

    On 03/01/2026 13:38, Kosmo wrote:
    On 2.1.26 12:29, Jane Vernon wrote:
    I agree that there is something nasty about George, however I also
    feel that he has been unable to manage how he feels for a very long
    time and needed intervention way, way earlier.

    Which underlines my point that if he cannot control his temper he would
    not have have managed 12 months inside without losing it.-a So the
    character continuity is just not there.

    If he had a constant fear of violence from other inmates, that might
    have been enough to make him behave.
    I assume that there is no-one close to him in Ambridge that has the same effect.
    --
    Sam Plusnet
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  • From Chris@chris.mcmillan@ntlworld.com to uk.media.radio.archers on Sat Jan 3 21:58:02 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.media.radio.archers

    Jane Vernon <jane@clothandclay.co.uk> wrote:
    On 30/12/2025 10:18, Kosmo wrote:
    On 30.12.25 09:50, Jane Vernon wrote:
    I know it will just be me, but the whole George storyline is
    depressing me.-a It's probably because in my working life I saw
    youngsters who were misunderstood and needed more help but because of
    their behaviour weren't getting it. As a teacher, I was mostly
    completely helpless. That's what's difficult to hear, when you know
    what's needed but can't provide it.

    The scriptwriters are doing their best I think.-a The other people
    involved with George are behaving as many people would and do.-a That's >>> what's depressing.-a (What will happen when Ed hears of the latest row? >>> Will he stick up for George?)

    I still listen faithfully and haven't missed an episode since probably
    about 1980, though I listened on and off since I was a child of ten in
    1964.-a But this storyline is so difficult to hear.

    Poor George.



    I find the story objectionable for a number of reasons.

    1.-a He is not an Archer.-a Prime storylines need to revolve around the
    family.-a Too many episodes do not feature an Archer and even when they
    do (tractor run) it is tangentially.

    2.-a It is completely unrealistic in character development.-a He manages
    nearly a year in prison without losing his temper.-a He emerges and has a >> supportive family and a fiancee and suddenly starts hitting relations.
    If he was really an angry git then there would have been fisticuffs in
    prison.

    3.-a I do not believe that Ed would have lied over the black eye (at
    least to Emma) - as a one off he might have accepted the fall down the
    stairs although I think Ed would have wanted to pursue it with Emma sooner. >>
    4.-a We know Neil and Eddie were reconciled but (presumably due to limit
    on character numbers) have not heard them discuss George.-a More
    importantly any soap is driven by strong women - so where are Clarrie
    and Susan?-a Susan never had that apology from Amber and I feel Clarrie / >> Amber / Susan should have been sat in a room to talk about it.

    5.-a Emma has completely indulged and spoilt the child.-a Only Nick saw
    him for what he was - was that why she died?

    6.-a We are promised contemporary drama in a rural setting.-a A wrong 'un >> adjusting to life after prison is not a rural story and it is hardly
    contemporary as it has been the case for centuries.

    Meanwhile what are all the Archers doing?-a Why did Pat not grasp the
    nettle of Tony and get George work once he returned?-a Bridge Farm are
    two men down - Tony is far too old to be milking the Montbelliards for
    all the time since Johnny left and they have apparently coped since Adam
    downed tools.-a Yet Tony still has time to decorate the Fergie (which I
    am convinced he did not replace after selling it, investing in his MG
    Midget instead).

    So frankly yes I listen - but the plot holes are so immense I wonder if
    a black hole exists in Birmingham and is sucking all the good stuff into
    another universe.

    The recent "bubble" week written by Keri was so obviously poor and
    lacking in continuity it really was not worth 73 minutes.



    I don't find George's behaviour out of character. In prison he had the safety of the system plus the knowledge of being 'protected' by one of
    the other inmates. George has suffered from insufficient boundaries all
    his life.

    I think it's all just that everyone, especially George, underestimated
    how hard it is to re-adjust after prison. Susan's experiences were different. It's not surprising that the people who were affected by the events of the crash are suffering trauma from it all still.

    I find it absolutely believeable that Ed would try to give George
    chances, just as Oliver did for him.



    Somewhere - and I forget which news prog it was McT yelled to me ?(my head
    too full of R3 at all times) that Brine was being interviewed. He said when
    he first arrived, there were just the four farms, 15 cast members - but the script writers were running out of ideas to keep it flowing so in came
    others - now itrCOs a possible cast of 70.

    Mrs McT

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  • From Chris@chris.mcmillan@ntlworld.com to uk.media.radio.archers on Sat Jan 3 21:58:03 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.media.radio.archers

    Jane Vernon <jane@clothandclay.co.uk> wrote:
    On 30/12/2025 15:40, BrritSki wrote:
    On 30/12/2025 10:18, Kosmo wrote:
    On 30.12.25 09:50, Jane Vernon wrote:
    I know it will just be me, but the whole George storyline is
    depressing me.-a It's probably because in my working life I saw
    youngsters who were misunderstood and needed more help but because of >>>> their behaviour weren't getting it. As a teacher, I was mostly
    completely helpless. That's what's difficult to hear, when you know
    what's needed but can't provide it.

    The scriptwriters are doing their best I think.-a The other people
    involved with George are behaving as many people would and do.
    That's what's depressing.-a (What will happen when Ed hears of the
    latest row? Will he stick up for George?)

    I still listen faithfully and haven't missed an episode since
    probably about 1980, though I listened on and off since I was a child >>>> of ten in 1964.-a But this storyline is so difficult to hear.

    Poor George.



    I find the story objectionable for a number of reasons.

    1.-a He is not an Archer.-a Prime storylines need to revolve around the >>> family.-a Too many episodes do not feature an Archer and even when they >>> do (tractor run) it is tangentially.

    2.-a It is completely unrealistic in character development.-a He manages >>> nearly a year in prison without losing his temper.-a He emerges and has >>> a supportive family and a fiancee and suddenly starts hitting
    relations. If he was really an angry git then there would have been
    fisticuffs in prison.

    3.-a I do not believe that Ed would have lied over the black eye (at
    least to Emma) - as a one off he might have accepted the fall down the
    stairs although I think Ed would have wanted to pursue it with Emma
    sooner.

    4.-a We know Neil and Eddie were reconciled but (presumably due to
    limit on character numbers) have not heard them discuss George.-a More
    importantly any soap is driven by strong women - so where are Clarrie
    and Susan?-a Susan never had that apology from Amber and I feel
    Clarrie / Amber / Susan should have been sat in a room to talk about it. >>>
    5.-a Emma has completely indulged and spoilt the child.-a Only Nick saw >>> him for what he was - was that why she died?

    6.-a We are promised contemporary drama in a rural setting.-a A wrong
    'un adjusting to life after prison is not a rural story and it is
    hardly contemporary as it has been the case for centuries.

    Meanwhile what are all the Archers doing?-a Why did Pat not grasp the
    nettle of Tony and get George work once he returned?-a Bridge Farm are
    two men down - Tony is far too old to be milking the Montbelliards for
    all the time since Johnny left and they have apparently coped since
    Adam downed tools.-a Yet Tony still has time to decorate the Fergie
    (which I am convinced he did not replace after selling it, investing
    in his MG Midget instead).

    So frankly yes I listen - but the plot holes are so immense I wonder
    if a black hole exists in Birmingham and is sucking all the good stuff
    into another universe.

    The recent "bubble" week written by Keri was so obviously poor and
    lacking in continuity it really was not worth 73 minutes.



    Up to a point Lord Copper.

    I don't really care too much about whether Archers are in it or not.

    We don't really know whether he controlled his temper in chokey or not -
    much easier to control if you know the consequences will be severe which
    they would not be with Ed.

    Ed would not have lied if asked outright, but I can believe him not
    coming out with it at first to make it easier. I think he has the most
    sympathy with George because of what happened to him, and I don't think
    the conversation would have ended with G. being kicked out if Ed was there. >>
    OTOH I do think there is something fundamentally nasty about G. He's had
    some rough breaks and made some bad choices and maybe could have
    overcome them in different circs but underneath it all he's a Grundy and
    an 'orrobin.

    I agree with most of the rest - there are huge holes in plots and huge
    suspensions of disbelief required, like why a seemingly intelligent if
    somewhat woooly-headed girl like Amber would have been attracted in the
    1st place.



    I agree that there is something nasty about George, however I also feel
    that he has been unable to manage how he feels for a very long time and needed intervention way, way earlier.



    Is he influenced by having Alf as an uncle and Clive (and the other bros)as
    in laws?

    Mrs McT

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  • From Kosmo@krw@whitnet.uk to uk.media.radio.archers on Sun Jan 4 09:48:06 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.media.radio.archers

    On 3.1.26 21:58, Chris wrote:
    now itrCOs a possible cast of 70.

    My current listing is 74 for the last year excluding some blow-ins -
    Carl / Carly / Celia Sparrow / Prison Chaplain / Driver / Father Crispin
    / Finlay / Imaani / Jenna / Naomi (who may be about to reappear) / Nelly
    / Prison Officer / Saskie / Terry / DC Tanner.

    I did have hopes that Carly might be offered a job at Grey Gables as she
    can join the Health team and we know Chris has a date with a Naomi and a
    lady of the same name was asking for Angela a few months ago so might
    well be on a dating site.

    I would welcome a further visit from Finlay but that seems unlikely.
    --
    Kosmo Richard W
    www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
    https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics
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