As Time Goes By, Vol. 1

Starring the multifaceted Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer, the BBC's charming comedy As Time Goes By is a refreshing change of pace from the bland Gen-X comedies of network TV. In the early 1950s, Jean and Lionel shared a short but passionate love affair, before Lionel was shipped out to Korea. Thirty-eight years later, the two run into each other again, only to rekindle what had been started so long ago. This series follows the two, plus Jean's twice-divorced daughter Judith (Moira Brooker), Jean's assistant Sandy (Jenny Funnell), and Lionel's young trendy publisher Alastair (Philip Bretherton), and takes a wry look at love among the youth and the more "mature" (when Judith originally plans a date with Lionel, not knowing that he and her mother have a past, Jean tries to discover the gentleman's age: "Old?" Jean asks. "Mature," Judy says. Jean smirks and says, "Old." Judith replies, "About your age," to which Jean responds, "Oh, mature"). The first three episodes of the series, included on volume 1, introduce the slightly cantankerous yet vibrant characters, set up their history, and lay the groundwork for Jean and Lionel to tentatively circle around each other, trying to decide at what level they should continue their friendship, that is, if they should even continue being friends at all. Mixing modern romance with nostalgia for yesteryear, writer Bob Larbey and director Sydney Lotterby create a delightful comedy and a touching love story. --Jenny Brown Amazon.com

Lionel and Jean finally admit they remember each other

I actually have a complaint about "As Time Goes By," the British comedy about a second chance at love and laughter starring Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer. I cannot stand the laugh track. In the opening minute of Episode 1 the laugh track is employed several times and I am wondering what I missed that was so funny. On more than one occasion in my life I have been the only one laughing in a theater at something, and I laugh all the time while watching shows on television alone down here in my little office, so I do not need to be prompted on when to laugh at something. For a while I thought maybe I did not appreciate the British sense of humor as much as I thought I did, but I am pretty sure that is not the case. The bottom line is that "As Time Goes By" does not need the bloody laugh track.

The premise of the show reminds me a bit of "Love Among the Ruins," except that Dench and Palmer are not nearly as old as Katharine Hepburn and Laurence Olivier. During the Korean War a dashing young British Army officer and a lovely student nurse fell in love and then he was shipped off to the war. Lionel and Jean were star crossed, at least as far as the mails were concerned, and for forty years they have been wondering why the other one did not respond to their love letter.

Volume 1 offers up the first three episodes of the series from the 1993 season. Episode 1 has Lionel, now a divorced coffee planter, taking up residence at a London hotel to finish his memoir about his life in Kenya, entitled, "My Life in Kenya." He needs a temporary secretary and hires one from a local agency, never suspecting that it is owned by his former sweetheart, the now widowed Jean. However, Jean's daughter Judith (Moira Brooker) is able to figure out enough to put two and two together. That becomes Jean's primary concern in Episode 2, as she does her best to play matchmaker for her mother and Lionel. At least the two end up actually spending time talking to one another. Episode 3 finds Jean and Lionel spending the day together revisiting the romantic places of their past. Of course, nothing is the same after forty years.

"As Time Goes By" is a romantic comedy where the best comedy comes out of the romance, even if at this point it is simply memories of a romance long past. The supporting characters are mostly comic foils and minor impediments to Lionel and Jean trying to rekindle their old magic. But writer Bob Larbey and Producer/Director Sydney Lotterby are in no hurry to rush this renewed relationship or our enjoyment of it. Do you think that someday if this was put out on a DVD it could have an audio option that would ditch the laugh track? February 10, 2003

You'll get hooked

This is the very beginning of a series that will knock your socks off. Dame Judi Dench plays Jean, a very strong, witty, and sexy older woman. Geoffrey Palmer portrays Lionel, a frustrating but lovable older man with a quick sarcastic wit. If you like British sitcoms, light comedies, soap operas, and good story lines, then you will like "As Time Goes By". Volume 1 sets up the series and gives you the premise of the story. The series gets increasingly better, and draws you in. It's really refreshing to see lovers that are older and realistic. Give this a try, you won't be sorry. May 20, 2002

Britain's Best Export In 30 Years

Witty, erudite, sensitive and incredibly funny, Dench and Palmer are perfectly matched in this "real people" British comedy. "Frasier" fans will love it. March 27, 2002

As Time Goes By : Volume 1

I so enjoy this show , I first seen this on the BBC I thought
it was very refreshing and enjoyable and funny , I think the
acting is great . I love Judi Dench as Jean and Geoffrey Palmer
as Lionel they are great together . Most of the time there
nothing good on TV so I just put in As Time Goes By and watch
it over & over . Yes I plan on buying volume 2 & 3 and so on.
I just hope in future we will see more of Jean & Lionel . March 17, 2002

Mature Love

Leave it to the BBC to cover a subject in a sitcom that American TV probably wouldn't consider (or do well), a romance between a couple over fifty years of age. I like the fact that the couple reunited after discovering they parted due to a misunderstanding years before. The show doesn't depend on a lot of flash to get by; it's just a smart, gentle comedy. December 21, 2001

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