"As Time Goes By" begins here with Lionel Hardcastle (the sublime Geoffrey Palmer) needing a secretary to help type-up the manuscript to his new book "My Life In Kenya". The secretarial agency he hires is run by Jean Pargetter (the great Judi Dench). Lionel and Jean meet, and realize that they used to be sweethearts 38 years previous, in the few short months before Lionel was sent away to the Korean War. After they parted, they lost touch, got re-married, and moved on with their lives. Now Jean is widowed and Lionel is divorced, and the stage is set for a possibly warm reunion.

Warm is not the word to describe the first season, however. The romance is very up and down, and there are actually other *possible* love interests that come into the fray. But the season does have its positively sweet moments -- pre-cursors of the enjoyable situations to come. And I found the up & down nature of the romance at first one of the more believable elements. Relationships aren't always easy, whether new or old, and to show that two people who are really meant for each other may hit some bumps along the way, almost makes the romance that much more satisfying when things start working out.

I love "As Time Goes By". There are very few TV series that I can say that about - less than I can count on one hand - but this is one of them. The writing is always impeccable, the acting superb, and the stories warm and funny. And on DVD, it all looks great. I wish more shows were like it.

57 of 57 found the following review helpful:

Where is my Lionel?  Mar 13, 2003
By Ms Winston
Okay,I have never met a British TV series that I didn't like,so it comes as no surprise to anyone who knows me that I own Sets 1-V of As Time Goes By. It is a gentle, civilized comedy about two lovers separated by a undelivered letter forty years before the series opens in c. 1992. Judy Dench and Geoffrey Palmer, as Jean and Lionel, are the perfect middle age lovers: Jean has lines on her face, is not a stick in a size 0 dress, and Lionel has jowls and thinning hair. It matters not! They adore each other and we adore them! The supporting cast is excellent -- especially the young women who portray Judy and Sandy, Jean's daughter by her first marriage, and her assistant respectively. Nothing very profound can be resolved in 30 minutes, but what is is interesting is the process of rediscovery, falling in love, and learning to love and accept each other, "warts and all," that the viewer sees in episode after episode. It is refreshing to see that someone believes that love is just not for the under 30 set. Jean and Lionel are never treated as "cute," as in "how cute that people that age can be in love." Why they even have sex -- always implied and never seen -- and it is treated as a natural and normal state of being for a middle aged couple. Buy the series -- you won't be sorry!

24 of 25 found the following review helpful:

Second Chances  Oct 11, 2005
By Movie Mania "DVD Collector"
Lionel and Jean had a breif encounter at the beginning of the Korean war. But when Lionel's letter gets lost, they both assume that it was just one of those things.

Series 1 (they have series not seasons in the UK)

Flash forward 45 years later. Jean is a widow with a daughter. She runs a secretarial agency. Lionel has spent his time in Kenya. He had a coffee plantation but is escaping a bad marriage with no kids.

Lionel is writing his memiors and needs a secretary. Enter Judith, Jean's daughter. Eventually, Lionel and Jean meet up but neither is willing to make the first move. Therefore, Judith decides to date Lionel. While Lionel's publisher, Alister, takes a liking to Jean. The series ends up on a double date. When Judith and Alister poop out, Jean and Lionel finally connect.

Series 2

Jean and Lionel start to see each other. But the main storyline is Lionel's book. It actually turns out that Alister is publishing the book because of a debt that his father owed Lionel's father. In this series, Lionel's free spirited father, Rocky, is introduced and Rocky's housekeeper Mrs. Bale.

This is a two disc set. Series 1 contains 6 episodes and Series 2 contains 7 episodes.

This is the beginning of a great series. (Seven more series to come)

10 of 10 found the following review helpful:

Visiting with Good Friends  Feb 07, 2004

"As Time Goes By" is warm and entertaining, having no need to resort to low comedy, sarcasm or smut to be funny. Real people
with real problems, good supporting friends and quirky relatives
complete the "day in the life" routine which most of us face.
Alistair Deacon (Phillip Bretherton) is my favourite character.
A little off-the-wall but always fun and a much needed safety
net for the Hardcastle household, Alistair is a full dimensioned
character brilliantly portrayed by Mr. Bretherton. You get the
feeling that things are going to "pop" when Alistair is around!
We are collecting all the series and we can hardly wait until the
remaining three are released. You won't find better at any price!

9 of 9 found the following review helpful:

A Fantastic Britcom !  Jul 09, 2003

This DVD is one of the best and successful British Situation Comedies of all time. It mixes the excellent acting of Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer.

It is an old fashioned comedy, that is completely harmless and brings back what comedy used to be like ! Easy and VERY Funny.

If you like Series 1 & 2. I recommend getting the other series' as well.

Buy Now !

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