Customer Reviews

As Time Goes By, Vol. 9 [VHS]

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Volume 9 of the BBC comedy "As Time goes By" has one of the moments we have been waiting for since Lionel (Geoffrey Palmer) and Jean (Judi Dench) rediscovered each other forty years after the British postal service sent their love letters to each other astray and estranged the young lovers. Finally the show is getting away from Lionel's efforts to write a mini-series for American television based on the dashing young British Army office and a lovely student nurse and back to the present and Lionel and Jean living happily ever after, or, at least, as much as possible given all the other people cluttering up their lives. In the case of this trio of episodes, those people would be Jean's sister in law Penny (Moyra Fraser) and her bumbling husband Stephen (Paul Chapman):

Episode 27: As if having Sandy in the house along with Jean, Lionel and Judy is not enough, Penny shows up insisting she has to move in because Stephen is having an affair with his dental hygienist. This is stunning news to Jean and Lionel, not to mention Stephen. Meanwhile, Judy (Moira Brooker) has written off Alistair (Philip Bretherton).

Episode 28: The insipid American producer of Lionel's mini-series has hopped across the pond to scout locations. Lionel take him and the gang to see his family home (which might pass as his family home in the mini-series), where his father, Rocky (Frank Middlemass) and his eccentric wife, Madge (Joan Sims), has an unexpected offer for Lionel. In turn, this allows Lionel to do something he has been wanting to do for forty years.

Episode 29: Stephen's plans for a surprise 25th anniversary party for Penny go completely wrong. Fortunately Alistair, who has accompanied a reluctant Judy for the weekend, is around to save the day (or night in this case). Ironically, the only happy couple on the scene appear to be Lionel and Jean.

This series works best when Jean and Lionel take center stage and this volume gets them back towards the center spotlight. However, Alistair and Judy are never far behind at this point. Note: My number of these episodes goes from the beginning of the series, where as this video insists these are episodes 4-6. It does not say so but my research indicates these would be from Series 4 ("As Time Goes By" made it to Series 9). It only sounds confusing, so hang in there.

This is a superior series: excellent casting, superb acting, tightly directed with attention to details. All the characters stay in character throughout the series, like real people would. I have seen every series available several times, and enjoy them no matter how many times I have seen them. I can hardly wait for the 2002 series!

Volume 9 of "As Time Goes By" features three of my favorite episodes of the wonderful British comedy series. Falling into the middle of the 4th season, this video contains things which are funny, touching, and quite pivotal.

"As Time Goes By", starring Judi Dench & Geoffrey Palmer, tells the poignant story of Jean Pargetter & Lionel Hardcastle, who were once lovers before the Korean War. That conflict separated them (Lionel went off to fight), and they lost contact. Years later, they meet again, and the series begins with the slow, but sure, re-kindling of their romance.

Episode 1 in this collection features a visit from Jean's sister-in-law (from her previous marriage) Penny, and her long-suffering husband Stephen. Penny believes Stephen to be cheating on her with his office secretary, but there is, infact, something else going on.

Episode 2 finds Lionel & Jean visiting Lionel's father in the country. His dad decides to give his rather large and desirable mansion to him, and so Lionel finally proposes marriage to Jean. NOTE: Where this would be a death-knell for most American series, this pivotal plot point only takes "As Time Goes By" in a different, even more beautiful direction.

Episode 3 showcases the classy skills of Jean & Lionel's friend Alistair. He comes to the rescue when the anniversary party which Stephen has planned for himself & Penny begins to unravel before everyone's very eyes. A well-scripted, well-acted episode.

If you desire to relax and curl-up with a nice, slow, charming television series about two (mostly) mature adults who are very much in-love, then by all means, begin watching "As Time Goes By" today.