Lovejoy

Having moved from the UK to Asia approximately 10 years ago, I have found myself collecting quality British TV series on DVD, most of which I had grown up with during my school and college days. These are great to while away an hour or so on a Sunday evening when pangs of homesickness occur. Series like Fawlty Towers, Only Fools and Horses, Men Behaving Badly, Auf Weidersehen Pet and of course ... Lovejoy!

These series bring a smile to the face, a fair number of laughs and that warm fuzzy feeling like putting on a pair of comfortable shoes.

I had almost given up hope that Lovejoy would be released on DVD and while back in the UK on a business trip last week, was overjoyed to find that the first three series were already on the shelves (and had been since Spring 2004). I bought all three!

On first impressions, I wasn't all that enamoured with the image quality, as it comes across as quite grainy. This is a shame and can be a little distracting at times (especially during night scenes). By comparison, I had a totally different experience when I purchased the first series of Cheers on DVD with an amazing remastering job done on the image that just takes your breath away. The sound is also a bit touch-and-go and it can be difficult to hear some of the lines being delivered, particularly if the character is facing away from the camera.

The three-part interview with Ian McShane comes across as a little amateurish, although the effort was appreciated.

The real winner though is the show itself. As the series is set in the English countryside, it is fairly devoid of fashion, technology and modern cars. The result is that there's very little to date it. Only the occasional blast of background music gives the game away. At the end of the first episode, I had a smile on my face and a satisfaction that Lovejoy is back in my life.

I saw Lovejoy here and there when it was first on. I enjoyed it then and wanted to see more. I am enjoying this run through. I think I liked the first season best when the stories were smaller and they focused more on the world of antiques: identifying or faking. Later seasons that brought in international stories such as Venice, Russian etc I didn't enjoy as much: some of them turned into thriller type stories but had to be brought down to the lighthearted Lovejoy universe in the end which was jarring. And at least a couple in the fourth season, for example the billiard table one in particular or maybe the flag one, I found put on far too much an added spectacle somehow that wasn't as enjoyable. Another thing with the early seasons that I liked was the run ins with other antique dealers, as small time adversaries. These fit the scale of light hearted Lovejoy universe at its best.

I saw an interview with the actor that played Tinker. He commented on why Phyllis Logan left: they had all got tired of how in later seasons everything was written to make Lovejoy ALWAYS successful (unlike how the show started) . He always got the antiques right. He always came out on top. He always got the girls. That was insightful for me as to why I found the later seasons more boring. While they added seemingly more exciting international or complex plots, the overall effect was more boring. That's a lesson for any writer I would say.

I also liked the 80s firmly in the first season: not only the popular music but also the ambient music and sound effects. Then we had 90s fashion with the high waisted light coloured jeans cinched with wide belts...yuck! And shoulder pads for everyone. And the suits! Ha ha.

The "ethnic" episodes were cringy. And the casual sexism was there complete with calling the new character auctioneer as having ice in her veins for behaving like a professional - her behavior no different from other male characters on the show. But the male professional characters don't get labels that allude to being frigid. Both of these aspects fit the time frame being filmed though.

The new characters in season 5 were good and they gave the series a real boost. ( ...but not the stupid South Carolina episode which I guess was tables turned on American portrayal of England).

Season 6 starts with the unfortunate theme again of "Lovejoy is always right". The show was better when it didn't set him up to be the victim rather than the victim of his own choices and not always coming up on top. Season 6 gave us token episodes to focus on Tinker or Charlotte or Beth but they were really about Lovejoy being right. Season 6 showed the series was wrung out in general.

Props to not having a "happy" ending to the series though. They left it open to return to. And I think I read recently that they are thinking of filming more (not a reboot)..how??? And as usual...why??? It was and is (despite flaws) an enjoyable program but don't people have a creative thought these days?

Overall I really enjoyed this series, critiques aside, but the first half of the series was best.

This TV series brings back fond memories of the late 80's, early 90's. Happen to have an interest in Antiques but this was completely unnecessary in order to enjoy the series. Lovejoy the Antiques dealer was an interesting combination of amateur Detective, righter of wrongs, incurable romantic/ womaniser (!), and occasional con-man which gave him a slightly dark edge - though he would generally only con other con-men or unsavoury wealthy types with so much money they would hardly notice it. This was a programme which at the time seemed to out-shine all others. The first series in 1986 was separated by a five year gap to 1991 for the second series. It only returned due to huge public demand in the UK. In the end six series were produced though some of the old characters had sadly disappeared by the last series. Why do I think Lovejoy was so good? Because it was refreshingly innocent - there was no 'body count' (well a very occasional murder), lots of good-natured banter between friends and very varied story-lines. Plus Lovejoy seemed to lead a rather enviable life, sometimes struggling financially, other times with a wind-fall but always surrounded by good friends and enjoying the hell out of life. And what country-side - the beautiful green fields and villages of England's East Anglia! There were 71 episodes to enjoy, and it does get repeated here and there - but only a few episodes have been released on VHS. Where Oh where are the DVD's??? If you haven't seen it yet and get a chance to see it - do so - it'll leave you with a feel-good factor you won't forget.

I have to credit my Ex-Girlfriend, Wendy for one thing... She broke up with me and forced me to move back in with my mother for a time just in time to catch this series on A&E back in 1995! Ian McShane is possibly one of the finest character actors ever to have a lead in a series, and the writing for this show certainly didn't hurt. Of course, it didn't stay on A&E very long, as they seem to prefer British series based on famous literary sleuths (Holmes, Marple, Poirot, etc.). Nonetheless, for an estranged Doctor Who fan (The local PBS station had just announced it's demise and their intent to cease carrying the series) that was jonesing for a fix of cleverly written British comedic drama, this show was a godsend. The stories were rich and enthralling, the supporting cast was wonderful, and McShane's characterization was brilliant. An honorable rogue with more than his share of brushes with Murphy's law made him so enchanting... More Rockford than Rockford, more Magnum than Magnum, and a gentleman to boot. My only regret is that i have no idea how to acquire NTSC copies of the show. I can only hope they start showing it again on PBS or BBC America some time.

I am so excited that Lovejoy has finally come to DVD. I used to love the show, but hadn't seen an episode since the A&E network stopped running it some years ago. So as I put the first DVD in the player, I was ready for a huge letdown. But to my surprise and delight, the show is just as good as I remember - a good mix of mystery, action, and comedy with some interesting, fun characters and just a dash of history. Lovejoy is old-world British charm meets modern day realities and cynicism. Watching Lovejoy is akin to wearing an old pair of shoes or a favorite sweater - it's comfortable. It's always been the kind of television that works best when I curl up on the couch late at night. And making the show so special and enjoyable is Ian McShane. I've yet to see him in Deadwood, so I am most familiar with McShane in this role. And what a pleasure to watch he is. He makes Lovejoy a carefree, smart, sly, resourceful character not above doing something underhanded especially if it will help out a friend. He's the kind of guy you want on your side. He is ably assisted by a terrific supporting cast that includes Dudley Sutton as Tinker Dill, Chris Jury as Eric Catchpole, and Phyllis Logan as Lady Jane Felsham. Together, they're wonderful. While the easygoing style and subject matter of Lovejoy may not appeal to those wanting a thrill-a-minute and MTV style editing, it suits me perfectly.

I can't wait for Season 2!