Once upon a time, a dashing young British Army officer and a lovely student nurse fell deeply, magically in love. Then he was shipped off to Korea and they never heard from one another. Forty years later, fate brings them ... more »together again... with hilarious results. From the first moment Jean and Lionel meet again to the wedding of Alistair and Judith, all the classic moments are here for fans to enjoy. DVD Features:
Biographies:Cast bios
Interviews:Interviews with members of the cast (Geoffrey Palmer, Moira Brooker, Philip Bretherton)
Other:Excerpts from Judi Dench's BAFTA tribute, featuring personal anecdotes from Geoffrey Palmer« less
As Time Goes By is a great series to sit back with after a long day and enjoy a few shows. It's not as over the top as many British comedy series end up being. I'd watched a handful of episodes on PBS over the years, but never in order from beginning to end. So, my wife and I made a concerted effort a while back to do just that.
The basic premise is: two true blue lovers find each other decades later, each thinking they were abandoned by the other, when in reality it was just Murphy's Law, for the most part. A lot of gentle chuckles each show, held up well by the script writers, as well as the good on-screen chemistry between Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer. Much of this is two people finding their lover's feet with each other again, later in life, with all the complications that brings. The other main bit is her daughter and the bumbling ideas of her yuppie boyfriend's positive thinking.
And, I really do have to hand it to the writers, as they find all kinds of ingenious ways to breathe life into the formula for nine seasons and three specials. 67 episodes total. I see that Time Goes By is ranked No. 29 in Britain's Best Sitcoms, and I think that's just about right.
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Movie Reviews
A great buy on a great series for those who waited
Eric Pregosin | New Carrollton, Maryland United States | 06/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Since I just ordered Series 8 and 9 (which will be released the same day), have previously ordered 6 and 7 from here, and bought 1 through 5 on my first trip in years to Ohio a few years ago. I do not need this well priced collection (and it IS well priced). However I should include a review, as this is one of my favorite britcoms, else I wouldn't be buying it on disc. You get 11 discs (2 of which will be released as 1 set on the same day as this collection). From what I see on the picture of the "Series 8&9" 2 bagger just displayed today, the Series 9 will also contain the retrospective "You Must Remember This" which previously released separately (between the releases of series 5 and 6) and included 3 other episodes (1 of which was the finale of series 6 which at the time was not on DVD). Thus making the separate disc of "You Must Remember This" nothing but window dressing. Of course, until the 8&9 set was announced, there was no way to know, so most of us (me included) bought the other disc, but once I get my copy of 8&9, I will give the "12th disc" away. So if you have not gotten any of the series, buy this collection, and you will get it all at a great price. If you are only missing a few installments, buy the ones you are missing, but skip the separate "You Must Remember This" disc, as the episode will be included on the last disc. Update: After you buy this set, if you haven't already done so, buy "Reunion" on the PBS label and OFFICIALLY complete the series."
A Timeless Collection
Judith A. Brodnicki | Omaha, Nebraska | 10/23/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"We could have purchased each of the seasons of "As Time Goes By" separately, but my husband and I waited until this complete collection was available so that we could have the entire set in one neat box. We've been watching the episodes from the beginning -- enjoying those we've seen before and discovering the ones we'd missed along the way -- and it has become a special part of our evenings together as we watch 2 or 3 at a time. It's so nice to have them on DVD to watch at our convenience. Public television plays them fairly regularly, but often at a time when we're not free to sit still and view the program.
Of course, we love this series. Even though we're younger than Jean and Lionel, we see ourselves in them. It's such refreshing writing for a comedy series as it finds something amusing in our human interactions as opposed to inventing impossible situations for the sake of a laugh, relying on bathroom jokes, or resorting to insults."
Time Well Spent
Smash B | USA | 12/06/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is truly a series not to be missed. Rarely does a comedy come along with such gentle sweetness that it touches our hearts forever. And that is exactly what this series does. Join Lionel and Jean, who fell deeply in love once upon a time, and accidently rediscover one another 38 years later. The love and hilarity that follow will make you both laugh and cry. Follow the rocky love adventures of Judith, Jean's daughter, and her friend Sandy. And speaking of rocky, don't miss Lionel's hilarious, eccentric father, Rocky and his darling bride, Madge. There's also Mrs. Bales and her constant weather forecasts in the Channel, Alistair and his flash ways, and Jean's sister-in-law, Penny, and her husband, Stephen, all of whom provide much enjoyment and many delights along the way. The acting is so well done and the characters so well developed that they will become your friends and your family along this pleasant journey. This is truly a show that you will want to watch and watch and watch again... as time goes by.
This complete series is contained on eleven discs. If you buy this set, or season 8 and 9, you won't need the additional DVD entitled, "You Must Remember This," as it is contained in both these sets. This is a great price for the entire series at one pop. Also, don't miss the "Reunion Special" that was subsequently released.
So once again, if you're looking for a show with plenty of love, laughter, and charm, then this is definetly the one to try. Go out and get a copy today; you won't regret it.
Smash B"
Funny And Unique.
Steve Guardala | ????? | 05/03/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This was unlike any series during the decade that it graced our televisions. I can't remember any shows airing on American TV. at that time having a unique story of two long lost loves meeting after decades apart? A lost letter separated them during the Korean War and their lives took very different directions. When they get reacquainted the rich characters are flushed out with some deep laughter. The awkward courting of Jean by fumbling Lionel, the match making of born romantic Judith who wants to see her mother with Lionel, the vivascious book publisher Alistair driving Lionel crazy, the perky secratary Sandy, and Lionel's lively, eccentric father round out an excellent cast of characters. Each one adds a blend of qualities that are opposite the others yet compliment each other. EX: Lionel's dour caution and Alistair's positive can do spirit. Jean's worrying and Judith's follow your heart above all else made this show humorous and unpredictable. For me the best show from English TV. since the frenetic Fawlty Towers."
As Time Goes By - Complete Original Series - WOW
Cheryl A. Wasserman | East Coast, USA | 03/19/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am so enjoying the opportunity to see this wonderful series from beginning to end once again. The acting is superior, the language exquisite, and the humor, dry and biting as I like it. The ensemble is excellent and their characters so well developed, and Dame Judi could spit on toast and be delightful. Here she shines and uses the twinkle in her eye to grab your heart. I know she doesn't favor herself an intellectual, but charming she is!"