A Fine Romance

I watched this series on TV as a teenager, and loved it. I saw it on sale, bought the first series, watched it, and loved it. I bought the rest, worked my way through it in a few days, and loved it. And I will watch it again.

The the main character's insecurity keep me wanting to know if they will make it, the well-timed one-liners make me laugh, and the mistakes made by the characters make me feel for them. The script is as good as the acting (which, though a bit theatrical, is superb). What the actors don't actually say, we understand from their body language.

As a teenager I fell in love with this story and with Mike, the shy little guy who tries to stand up for himself, and who maybe could be a match for dramatic Laura. Again I feel myself wishing to be in Laura's shoes - but then again maybe not...

If you are thinking about buying this series, stop thinking and do it! If you are an actor: you probably have a lot to learn from Williams/Dench.

This is a delightful British comedy about two people who are too shy and insecure to reveal their true feelings to one another. It's a treat to see Judi Dench a bit earlier in her career. She also gives us a preview to her character in "As Time Goes By". It's a pity that they made so few episodes of this charming series.

This is just the kind of wonderful English comedy that American television would buy and then immediately strip all its charm away by loading it down with sexual innuendo and casting actors wrong for the parts.

Judi Dench is admirable as an actor because she is willing to take on the mundane and see its dramatic possibilities. She has never been a snob about television comedy roles. Her work in it is usually better than 95% of movies filmed. Her husband, Michael Williams, is a master at physical comedy that reveals his character's state of mind. There is even pathos in the series as each character learns that what he or she thought was "settling" is actually a golden opportunity because the other person has valuable qualities.

It's a shame that the world did not fully recognize Mr. William's brilliant comedic talent before his untimely death.

This is one of those TV series you remember fondly from earlier days, due to its two stars and the gentle humour which honestly reflects the actions of two awkward people, each looking for companionship and never expecting to find it. Mike and Laura are made for each other in the eyes of their friends; it really is that obvious, but not to themselves, of course.

Viewers of 'As Time Goes By' may find the show less fun. Perhaps that's due to the late 70s and early 80s being a strange period, especially for those of us who managed to survive it without any scars! I've seen ATGB from beginning to end a number of times and am sure it was partly done as Judi's tribute to Michael. He's one of my three favourite actors, right up there with James Bolam and Alun Armstrong.

Some people have commented on the shortness of the series, but it was and still is common practice in England to produce seasons of less than 10 episodes per year, in order to maintain quality control over the content.

Few series have more ably depicted the complicated communication between two people from different backgrounds who are trying to forge a relationship. Mike and Laura start out associating by accident and then by design. Laura is prickly and easily offended. Mike is well-intentioned but inarticulate. Laura is an intellectual with strong family ties (especially to her long-suffering sister). Mike is a landscaper with no family to speak of. They both feel like outsiders looking in most of the time. This series details their mutual yearnings and blunderings in a warm and humorous manner. By the end, I wanted terribly for these two awkward people to get together. A sign of a successful series.

Good acting, good writing, and good supporting characters. Highly recommended.