As Time Goes ByTwo lovers are reunited after decades apart following a mutual misunderstanding.
DirectorSydney Lotterby
WriterBob Larbey
You Must Remember This
Jan 12, 1992
We meet the two main characters: Lionel and Jean. In the pilot episode, Lionel is in a hotel cafe giving a waitress a hard time. He is scathingly sarcastic. Jean is, similarly, seen being brittle and unbending. Lionel is working on his book "My Life in Kenya" about his life in Kenya. (This joke comes up in numerous episodes.) He requires a secretary to help with the revisions. That's where Jean's secretary service ""...Type for You"" comes in. Judith, Jean's daughter, meets Lionel at his hotel to apologize for the terrible secretary. Lionel asks Judith out. When he arrives to pick her up he is introduced to Jean. After about two seconds Jean and Lionel both independently figure out who they each suspect the other person to be: a lover last seen in 1953.
Getting to Know You --- Again
Jan 19, 1992
Jean and Lionel look no closer to renewing their relationship when Lionel checks out of his hotel without telling Jean. However, Lionel's publisher, Alistair, convinces him to go to a party tonight to meet some 'faces', people who can help in the sale of his book. He checks back in, and, after a walk in the park, Lionel asks Jean to go to the party with him.
The Copper Kettle
Jan 26, 1992
Lionel is about to go on a lecture circuit, so he invites Jean for a day out. The revisit some old haunts, only to discover that a lot has changed. However, after a trek through an overgrown field, they find 'The Copper Kettle', an old place which Lionel and Jean were quite fond of.
Surprise, Surprise
Feb 2, 1992
Judith persuades Jean to surprise Lionel by going along to his lecture in Nowrich. However, it is Jean who gets the surprise when she finds that Lionel already has a lady friend to stay with. While Lionel attempts to deal with the embarrasing position he is in, as well as his new found reputation as an elephant killer (thanks to Alistair's hyped-up blurb), Jean faces the romantic advances of Alistair.
Relationships
Feb 9, 1992
The trip to Nowrich has changed Jean and Lionel's relationship. While Alistair still continues his romantic overtures to Jean, Lionel attempts to smooth things over with Jean. Alistair also gets Lionel to attempt another revision of his book, and Lionel becomes frustrated with the entire project.
The Picnic
Feb 16, 1992
Jean and Lionel are both flattered by the romantic attentions of Alistair and Judith, but decide that things cannot continue as they are. Jean bets that if all four of them go on a picnic together, Judith and Alistair will hit it off. But perhaps it will be Jean and Lionel who grow closer...
Peter McGinn
@narrator56
This long-running show also stars Dame Judi Dench. This time she is paired with Geoffrey Palmer, an excellent actor we first noticed in yet another nearly perfect Britcom: Butterflies. In this series the two main characters were involved when they were much younger, but the Korean War and a misplaced letter caused their separation. Now, decades later they meet by chance. Dench’s character has two daughters who, along with a boyfriend played by Philip Breatherton, help carry the show. However, like most British shows, there are a plethora of strong character actors to form this wonderful ensemble cast. To mention only a couple: Joan Sims and Frank Middlemass. When I think back on this show, I remember several funny or touching moments, but I realize it ran for many years and for over 65 episodes, which means I need to go back and watch it all again and see all the subplots and moments I don’t remember. This show ran 20: years ago, but it still enjoys a strong following, and for good reason.
