Les règles de l'art

Very few series anymore give me a warm feeling. You know, the feeling you get when you're watching a show that 'feels like home'. Lovejoy was a show like that, it really made me feel comfortable.

Unfortunately, I don't think there will be shows like Lovejoy anymore. There are few newer series that have come close. One of them is Frasier, although they don't make it anymore either. Maybe I should just watch the older series over and over again, shows like Jeeves and Wooster, The Prisoner, Red Dwarf, etc.

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.

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.

Excellent series full of humour and wit. Stories well written. Deals with the 'life and times' of an antiques dealer with a problem with commitment except to friends. Terrific supporting cast who play their roles with a joy and bring depth to their characters. Wonderfully interesting stories - I especially enjoyed seeing the 'J. Arthur Rank gong' again after an absence of many years - I hope that it has now found its way into a museum for safe keeping! I wish that a new series would be produced but, and here I compliment the BBC, the production company know when to end a series - that is, while it is still excellent!

I have all the episodes but not in the right order. ( Yes Sad I know)This is a great series about a roguish but lovable antique dealer, a role that Ian McShane was born to play. Apart from Lovejoy my favourite has to be Tinker...What a character. The rest of the regular cast, especially Phyllis Logan is excellent