The Darling Buds of May

If there was ever a television family that I would want to be a member of, the Larkin Clan would be it. Led by Pop Larkin (David Jason), a man of unquenchable good nature who does not believe in paying taxes but is more than generous with his money (which he seems to fall backward into), they make Kent seem like the modern day garden of eden. Half of the scenes in any particular episode involve either eating or food preparation. The family liquor cabinet resembles a shrine and plays "What do you do with a drunken sailor?" each time it is opened (a frequent event).

The luckiest character of all is the tax man who is sent to find out why Pop has never paid taxes and ends up never leaving. If you knew why, you'd probably be as jealous as I am. In the frequent words of Pop Larkin...Perrrrfec!

I purchased the whole series "The Darling Buds of May" a few years ago and then watched the whole series within a few days. I grew up in the UK in the early sixties and this series reminded me so much of what life was like in England when I was growing up.

It is the best and purest form of escapism it fills one with a sense of longing for how life once was. The scenery, the lifestyle, the family and of course the farm are just "perfec" my favorite episode is the one called "Christmas is coming" (series 1 episode 7).

Even now, years later, I still find myself humming the opening theme song. It is one of the best feel good series that I have ever seen and the characters are so well played.

If you haven't seen the series do yourself a very big favour and go out and buy, borrow or steal it and then sit back and be prepared to be taken back to a time, long before laptops, iPhones, mobile phones and emails, where life was simple and almost idyllic.

This is a reply to Annoymous-007 who considered the film better than the TV Series. Does this person know that the the film relocated the original setting from Kent to the United States of America. The TV Series was based on the actual books and filmed where they were set. Annonymous-007 has missed the point - the theme of novels is the rejection of control and the concept of Romanticism and the free individual. That is why HE Bates alluded to the idea of Marriette being pregnant at the start of the first story (which she is not). There is a great connection to Jane Austen and the Brontes in the opening episodes, based on the first book: this is indeed a love story worthy of mention alongside Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre.

There's something very endearing about The Darling Buds of May. The bright English country side coupled with bright and life filled characters made this show very heart warming and easy to watch. I remember watching it with great interest as an adolescent and it's something that's stayed with me into my adulthood.

For it's time, The Darling Buds of May was showing a different side of British society. Although the Larkins weren't nessicarilly "wealthy" they were happy and they were very supportive as family. It's a breath of fresh air to watch such characters and the situations they get into.

I recommend watching this show, it's heartfelt, touching, the characters are very real and the scenery is breath taking.

Big relief here that Bates's modern classic has not only survived its transition to the big screen but has actually been enhanced by it. It's difficult to find anything in this made-for-television adaptation that is at odds with the book of the same name. The characters are well cast, in particular David Jason as Pop Larkin and Pam Ferris as Ma, who live life with abandonment and cavalier disregard for society's expectations. The conversion of Charlie, a most challenging task in story and film, is accomplished with care and precision, Catherine Zeta Jones as Mariette providing the required enticement. This is a highly entertaining and deeply satisfying adaptation, and richly captures the life of post-war Britain. Perfick!