Reflections on DTD 91

I, too, had a reflection on this weeks DTD so I’ll tag onto here if that’s OK.

Roifield’s disquiet about the 65th anniversary episode gave rise to a wild theory to explain what I think has made my “Archers” experience less than satisfactory in the last year or so, and it’s this:

Listeners relate to Characters whilst the writers have been prioritising Plot.

When Caller-Inerers voice their opinions, it’s nearly always about the characters we love (or love-to-hate). The intimacy of radio turns these fictional characters into close aquaintances, and the longevity of the show means we have had a very prolonged period in which to get to know them.

We care about how Linda runs the Christmas show each year, or the effect of Roy & Elizabeth’s affair on Hayley or about Jim & Jazzer sharing a home because we know all these characters really well and we care what happens to them. The medium of the show allows the listener an unnaturally voyeuristic 360 degree view of all sides of the story so we can’t help but see all of the repercussions.
Was the storyline of the 60th Anniversary episode memorable because someone died, or because it was lovable, foolish, optimistic Nigel who died all too soon? Would we have cared, would we even still remember the episode if it had been, say, Martin Gibson who had died five years ago? I’d argue that it was our emotional response to the character that lends the event it’s significance.
We’ve found it hard to warm to new characters like the Fairbrethern or nu-Tom not only because they sound alike, but because they’re beige, with few defining characteristics. We gradually grew to like Charlie because he eventually managed to break out of his initial blandness with some actual defining features.

However in the last year or so, the writers have chosen to prioritise their storylines, relegating our beloved characters to being subserviant to the needs of the plot. Need jolly jester Kenton to become a depressive alcoholic for three months without explanation? No Problem! Would threatening David & Ruth’s marriage add dramatic tension? Why not just sprinkle over some manufactured stress and artificially imposed deadlines to seemingly raise the stakes!

Here’s the problem; I don’t think the listeners care about storylines as much as we do about the personalities, and writers who ride roughshod over the characters we love, making them behave in atypical ways and ignoring years of carefully laid-down continuity and personal history feels little short of a betrayal.

There would be a saving grace if the recent & current plots had been gripping, era-defining stories. But the mixture of Route B, floods, domestic abuse and Brookfield upheavals have been depressing and disorienting. The plots that have been prioritised over the character development of our friends in Ambridge haven’t – to be frank – been that enjoyable.

So my Archers wish for 2016 is for consistent characters over ponderous plots. (Please).

Chris – agree wholeheartedly. Paddy Green (Jill) on her desert island discs said she will pick up the SW if they try and make her do something incidental out of character (e.g. take a sweet not dry sherry) however she can’t interfere in story arcs.

LG – couple of answers to your questions:
Blithe Spirit wasn’t on the Archers podcast stream unlike CG, though I believe they were both R4 drama of the week so might still be available
Bridge Farm sold their cows in 2014 and but buy their milk from an organic herd so Brookers couldn’t sell to them without more far reaching changes
Part of the Berrow Farm development included refitting old buildings as accommodation for the workers so yes, there will be some coming to the market, though I would imagine it is shared living areas with separate bedrooms and maybe shared bathrooms, so in reality how much will it bring to the market? The bit about the Berrow closure that doesn’t make sense to me is it was supposed to be about more than milk. There is a huge anaerobic digester to feed too and also a load of solar arrays deeding into the same grid entry point….maybe the electric market is softening too in sympathy to the oil price, but I thought most early adopters had guaranteed pricing fixed to encourage investment.
Do I take it you emigrated to NZ on a more permanent basis than Ruth? My brother moved down 9 years ago and loves it.

Like you, I enjoyed the agricultural focus and going full circle to Dan/Doris