Why did Richard stay? - Keeping Up Appearances (1990) Discussion

[–] TimmyAnn 11 years ago

He loved her. Duh.

I do not have attention deficit disor...Ooh, look at the bunny!

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[–] BrooklynNellie 11 years ago

Makes one wonder what she was like in her younger days and how she became who she is...

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[–] joisepeterson 11 years ago

Maybe she was trying to be like her sister Violet, who was married into money. Richard held a good job in council so she started to put on air and graces. Some people are like that.

As Liz said Richard is used to it.

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[–] Kahlidah 11 years ago

I know a couple who I often nickname "Hyacinth and Richard". The wife is so much like Hyacinth and it's a bit of a running joke throughout the husbands family. Yet he loves her. She embarrasses the hell out of him but he puts up with it. I once asked him why he puts up with the way she acts and he told me simply, because she bore his only child and he will forever love her for that, plus she would simply crumble without him (she is very childlike) and that she needs him to look after her.

I like to think Richard loves Hyacinth in the same way

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[–] furienna 11 years ago

Yikes! I didn't know Hyacinth and Richard existed in real life!

Intelligence and purity.

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[–] princecleveland 11 years ago

Wow! That is a real life version of Richard and Hyacinth. That is a plausible reason Richard stayed.

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[–] m_serpina 10 years ago

In Season 5, Richard mentions how she used to find him attractive until Sheridan was born!😊

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[–] furienna 10 years ago

My mother and I have more and more realized something sad: My brother has a similar dynamic with his fiancée as Richard has with Hyacinth. He is totally hen-pecked, has no say in anything and does everything for her without getting as much as a "thank you". If anything, Hyacinth is nicer to be Richard than what this woman is to my brother. Hyacinth will at least care about Richard, even if she is self-absorbed and not interested in sex anymore. But my brother gets no affection at all. Well, at least my brother hasn't gotten into trouble with the police yet...

Intelligence and purity.

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[–] mtczajka 9 years ago

I think in her younger days she was more like she was on the QE2 when Daisy and Onslow win a trip. She's obviously jealous, but then gets past it and goes down and dances with him. She also showed a fun side when they were at Violet's cabin and she was dancing with the neighbor.

The QE2 episode is my favorite. I love when Onslow complains about having to eat with the crew - at the captains table.

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[–] Gemini54 9 years ago

As we are going to see possibly in the new spin off of her younger days!

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] velcronewsletter 11 years ago

i thought he was just resigned to it being his life and saw no way out

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let's not go to camelot, it is a silly place

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[–] TimmyAnn 11 years ago

No, he loved her.

I do not have attention deficit disor...Ooh, look at the bunny!

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[–] loriacerny 11 years ago

When I first glanced at this thread, I thought, "How ridiculous. Of course, it was because he loved her." But the more I mull it over, the more interesting the topic!

Love has to be the primary reason, but it seems that they have a lot in common, too. Neither could ride horses, knew anything about boating, didn't know anything about country life, they have the same ascetic tastes, they're not used to manual labor, both are fastidious, and they both show little interest in cuddling. Richard is shown admiring Rose, but Rose is known for attracting most men.

Richard must have felt proud having a wife who took such care of their home. The house was always clean, well dressed, and in working order. Hyacinth was always dressed well and she kept Richard dressed well, too.

Hyacinth's desire to social climb probably exacerbated over time and in order to compete with her sister; Hyacinth is the oldest and probably felt some inner misgiving that her and her husband were not as well off. It's interesting that Hyacinth never degraded Richard, in fact, I can only recall two episodes in which Hyacinth even slights anyone else as she is usually just pretentious.

Daisy & Onslow are a great contrast to Hyacinth & Richard. Makes me wonder how different the character of Onslow would be if Daisy was more like Hyacinth.

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[–] carrie45 10 years ago

Hyacinth was nothing but a snob and a bully. She certainly insulted Elizabeth about her hair, her clothes and her always dropping things. She insulted the Boyfriend's perfect young ladies. I laugh a lot at the scenes but there are many times, I scream at the TV, "Tell her to go to blazes or better, just ignore her" and just don't go for coffee". I wanted Richard to run away to Tahiti. I can't think of one thing Hyacinth did for someone else that wasn't for her benefit and always turned out badly of course.

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[–] furienna 10 years ago

Okay, I think I have to defend Hyacinth here. I will not deny that she is a pain in the butt, but that still doesn't mean that she's some kind of monster... I do agree with you that she made some really rude remarks about Elizabeth, but it feels like she has no idea that she was rude. Things tend to go over her head a lot of the time, and she does see Elizabeth as her best friend. And I really believe that even though she can be selfish, she still does love her family (especially Daddy and Sheridan).

Intelligence and purity.

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[–] Gemini54 9 years ago

Agree spot on

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[–] Gemini54 9 years ago

Agree spot on

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[–] ola-borecka 11 years ago

He loved her + she wouldn't let him. I mean, what a disgrace! :)

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[–] greenbudgie 11 years ago

In this life a person is either lumbered or lonely. I don't think that Richard minded be lumbered with Hyacinth. He's such a happy-go-lucky soul. He is the ideal husband to Hyacinth. I've known fairly similarly married couples in real life. They are the safest and longest running marriages that I've known.

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] MikeGrossman34 11 years ago

A person like Hyacinth will find someone to control like Richard and a person like Richard who wants to be controlled will find someone like Hyacinth. People get together and stay together for a reason. The attraction may not have been physical, but each must have fulfilled a need in the other. I believe that there are people in the world like Richard who prefer having someone make all the decisions for them.

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[–] parisel 11 years ago

He;s not allowed to leave. For some reason, he thinks he has to obey her. Everyone does, really. Blind obedience works best with her.

I guess it's like looking at clouds. You see one thing and I see another. Peace.

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[–] daedalus32 10 years ago

Love and some people treat their marriage vows as an oath to be kept, not just a pronouncement of words at a showcase ceremony.

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