MovieChat Forums > As Time Goes By (1992) Discussion > When did you start to like this show?

When did you start to like this show?

posted 15 years ago by Yelhsa
23 replies | jump to latest

This is an honest question looking for an honest response. Did you love this show from the start or is it one that grows on you? I finished the first season and I'm not sure if I should continue. I guess i would call this show "nice" but not sure why i should continue for 9 seasons. So is there a turning point that makes you fall in love with the series or is it perhaps not for me?

The only other British shows i've watched are Extras, The IT Crowd, The Office, and Coupling which i love but this doesn't seem to be in the same category.

Don't mention Lincoln! Something terrible happened to me on Lincoln's birthday

[–] pacwarbuff 15 years ago

I started watching the show just a few years ago and my local PBS station was already in the middle of ATGB's run. When the program started back at the beginning, I thought that they took their time in getting Lionel and Jean together and I could hardly wait for the couple to get together. That said, I think the show hits its stride with the second series or whenever it was that Lionel and Jean are living together. I'd say stick with the show and you'll find it will appeal to you more than the first series.

Consilio et prudentia

[–] lisaboothe 15 years ago

By the third season it becomes a truly great show, it snuck up on me I used to watch some other British shows that came on PBS before this and would turn the channel when this came on but once I watched it a few times became hopelessly entranced. You will find it is not like Coupling that's an edgier younger show but it really is worth getting to know some wonderful talent and writing, I watch my box set over and over!

[–] sheltieluvr2 15 years ago

California Carol

Right from the beginning, even more so once Lionel moved in with Jean. I still love it to this day, watch on PBS every week, have the entire series on dvd and watch it over and over. Stick with it!

[–] mogdogcelts 15 years ago

When I first saw the show it was on my local PBS station showing season 3. I loved it right away. It was after seeing most of seasons 3-6 before they repeated seasons 1-2. I have to admit the first season is good but the show definately gets better as the plots develop.

[–] darryl-tahirali 11 years ago

I started watching the show just a few years ago and my local PBS station was already in the middle of ATGB's run. - pacwarbuff

That's pretty much my experience with the show. I'm in the States and had heard of As Time Goes By, and a couple of years ago I decided to catch an episode being shown on my local PBS station.

I couldn't tell you now which series (season) it was from, but I was hooked from the beginning--terrific rapport among the cast, warm and witty writing, and, for someone in middle age now, a wonderfully refreshing outlook on life and that--as is the case in the States--it's not all about the kids. I watched a couple more episodes and decided, hey, I've got to start from the beginning.

So, I started getting the discs in order from Netflix. For me, I like that it took a while for Jean and Lionel to get together and then live together. That seems realistic to me--they may have had a great youthful love, but 38 years is a long time, and it seems reasonable to me that they would cautious and awkward.

I've enjoyed watching the characters and the series develop and mature. Sure, there are some episodes that flag, as does some of the inspiration from time to time, but overall it is still an intelligent, endearing show that doesn't indulge in snarkiness or rank sentimentality.

However, I'm stuck because in my Netflix queue it still says that for Disc One of Series Eight it is a "very long wait," and that has been the case for a few months now. I don't want to seem unnecessarily anal-retentive here, but I do prefer to watch a series unfold in its accepted chronology, and I've got other films and shows to keep me busy.

But the short answer to the OP's question is: immediately. I liked this show from my first viewing.

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"We hear very little, and we understand even less." - Refugee in Casablanca

[–] vranger 10 years ago

Darryl, the last time I looked all the seasons are part of the Amazon Prime video catalog.

EDIT: They are not currently (2015)

[–] darryl-tahirali 10 years ago

Darryl, the last time I looked all the seasons are part of the Amazon Prime video catalog. - vranger

Thanks for the info. The Netflix discs became available--I'm caught up through Series Nine.

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"Music begins where words leave off." - Village wisdom

[–] victorsuk 10 years ago

Its just something ive always watched when it came on the tv, so I have always liked it. Its feel good and relaxing and funny in a subtle way and not so in your face. Great characters in it, and nobody too annoying.

[–] percommode 15 years ago

The first one or two were slightly slow to develop but gradually the more that you watch it, the more the whole thing will absorb you. A little patience is really all that's needed and it will reward you immensely.

I can watch it again and again, as it's just so well written and performed. I don't think many sitcoms can beat it.

[–] Tequila_Eclipse 15 years ago

My parents would watch the show. My dad is British but my mother is Canadian and we live in Canada. I would roll my eyes when they would watch it, as I did when they would watch Coronation Street (but not when they would watch Red Dwarf).

But after many many episodes of me hearing it while using the computer, I started to follow along, and I soon fell in love with the show.

I still have yet to see all the episodes and reunion specials.

[–] BrunoPonceJones 15 years ago

I use to hate this show...well hates a strong word I never gave it a thought. It was just a show that came on before all the good Brit comedies came on, on my PBS. But one day PBS had a marathon on and OMG I fell in love. I have honestly seen the whole series at least 6 or 7 times really probably a lot more and I still watch it every saturday and sunday night. It really is my favorite tv show. So you should def give it another chance. Like you I watch The IT Crowd, and love love love AB Fabulous and this is probably the farthest thing from those shows but you should give it another chance it really is great. I like it because its just a genuine wholesome tv show.

We're in the eye of a sh_tacane ~Mr.Lahey

[–] dancetildawn 15 years ago

I used to petsit for my neighbors when they were out of town. They had a weird satellite system and PBS was one of the only good channels I could find. This show was often on while I was over there. I started watching it because I was amazed to see Dame Judi Dench in a sitcom. That kind of thing would never happen in the US- an actress of her caliber in a sitcom, especially not ten years ago when I discovered the show. I started watching it out of curiosity to see how Judi Dench was in it. She seemed really down to earth and not at all like the image I always had of her. I think I pretty much liked the show right away. I've always loved deadpan humor and Geoffrey Palmer is a master of it.

[–] brandy5 15 years ago

Have you sen Dame Judi in 'A Fine Romance' in which she stars with her real life husband, Michael Williams? I think it's great and have watched it many times upon finding at the Library. I now have my own DVD's.

[–] grendelkhan 14 years ago

I took a shine to it immediately. My local PBS station was showing a succession of first episodes of different programs, as a kind of survey of the audience. They had been showing Are You Being Served? and were looking to change things up; so, they had a different pilot episode each night. Some I had seen befoe, like Yes, Minister, but not As Time Goes By. I loved it immediately. The acting is more than first rate and the storyline was intriguing, sparking the romantic in me. It could have easily have been cliche, but there is such a warmth there and the characters are so true. The chemistry between Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer alone was enough to convince me that I wanted to see more.

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."-Groucho

[–] etodd-4 11 years ago

I live in the United States, Los Angeles to be exact. I started to watch the show on PBS. At first I had a hard time understanding what was being said because of the british accent of the characters, but the show grew on me. The characters are well written which make them almost true to life people. You grow to adore each personality. I never tire of watching the show even though I seen each and every episode many times.

[–] vranger 11 years ago

My wife and I had a similar experience to most. We stumbled across it on PBS in the middle of the series and thought it was charming. After looking it up to discover the premise, we were eager for it to "wrap around" back to the start to see how it all got started. I'm not sure how long we've been watching it now, but we're just going through the last episodes for the second time. As the entire series has just shy of 70 episodes (and it is sometimes skipped for fund-raising specials) we've probably been watching it for just over two years.

We haven't decided if we'll go back through it again yet or not, but we do enjoy it. It's grounded and relaxing with an intelligent brand of humor ... most of the time. :-)

[–] MercurialAquarian 12 years ago

Maryland Public Television (MPT) has aired ATGB as part of its "Afternoon Tea" schedule for quite some time. It's taken a couple of cycles (repeating the series over and over again) to get comfortable enough with the story and characters that I can really appreciate it. I usually gauge the programs I watch by whether or not I'd like to 'hang out' with the cast of characters involved. Having spent enough time with Jean, Lionel, Alistair, Judith, Sandy and the other (odd) lot, I can honestly say that I welcome them for afternoon tea every weekday and enjoy their company.

[–] Htos_Drol 12 years ago

I started watching ATGB thanks to a lead-in from Keeping Up Appearances on our local PBS station. It was in the middle of the run when I began viewing and it took me about 6 episodes to really start to like the show. Even then I did not like Alistair very much. At first, he reminded me of Peter Scolari's character on Newhart. However, Alistair eventually became my favorite character.

As a side note, I began watching this series when I was going through a rough patch in my life and it became a very calming force in my life. During that time, I was wracked by anxiety and found it hard to sleep. ATGB gave me a safe escape from my neuroses and the time I spend with Jean and Lionel was very soothing to me.

[–] contradad-1 11 years ago

I loved it the first time I saw it years ago.
This show has warmth, depth, honesty, charm and humor like nothing else I have ever seen. I am an American and prefer this show to any American comedy. This show is a treasure.

[–] trazey34 11 years ago

I remembered it vaguely from when I was a kid, and saw it again recently - I had to get the whole series and watch the lot !

I loved it, I wanted to go and live with Jean & Lionel, always something going on LOL and so much toast! and tea and coffee and drinks, ha ha it was really sweet