In one respect, I think Sam is a symptom rather than the cause. Ruth could not manage the farmhouse/children/paperwork and all the cows. Therefore they arranged things so that she kept the job she hated, and they employed someone to do the job she loved – at a lot more than the cost of employing a cleaner/after-school childminder. The sensible option (hah!) is that Ruth say to David she is unhappy because she feels she’s become too much of a farmer’s wife rather than a farmer. Therefore she wants to go on an advanced training course to bring her knowledge up to date, and take over the cows herself. They’ll employ someone to do the cleaning, and collect the kids, and use the agency (or the New Bert) more effectively to provide cover. Excuse to get rid of Sam, plus get to the root cause of much of Ruth’s unhappiness, bingo. So obviously it won’t happen.
I am afraid that Ian and Adam give me pain purely by existing – I’d hate to have it reflect any RL trauma.
I agree; I like your theory and I'm hoping Sam's not going to be digging in, but I don't rate the chances of Ruth being able to hold a sensible conversation right now, and Sam's got to be desperate to stay. Ruth's cow-love baffles me somewhat. I've seen a lot of criticism of this storyline, and the writing of it, but I do think it's been quite well done, though I know I may be alone there.
Ian and Adam are thankfully not reflecting trauma; though Ian seems to me to be a man overburdened with stereotypes, well, rather a child overburdened, he and Adam bring me great joy, if only for their Brian-annoying skills.
he and Adam bring me great joy, if only for their Brian-annoying skills. Brian's response to the "we're getting married" squee was a joy to hear (I rather like Brian - he's a good-value character).
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Date: 2006-11-08 11:07 am (UTC)I am afraid that Ian and Adam give me pain purely by existing – I’d hate to have it reflect any RL trauma.
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Date: 2006-11-08 11:36 am (UTC)Ian and Adam are thankfully not reflecting trauma; though Ian seems to me to be a man overburdened with stereotypes, well, rather a child overburdened, he and Adam bring me great joy, if only for their Brian-annoying skills.
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Date: 2006-11-08 12:42 pm (UTC)Brian's response to the "we're getting married" squee was a joy to hear (I rather like Brian - he's a good-value character).
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Date: 2006-11-08 05:55 pm (UTC)