Rosemary & Thyme

This wonderful "who done it" British TV series lasted only three seasons and was canceled because of budget concerns. As it is, 22 episodes are available on DVD.

Basic plot has Rosemary Boxer (Felicity Kendal) who's been fired from her job as a university lecturer in plant pathology, and Laura Thyme (Pam Ferris) a housewife (and former police woman) dumped by her husband. The two meet by chance and form a fast friendship that leads them to start a business as gardeners. But they get more than they bargained for when they get involved in local politics, family squabbles, and (invariably) in murder.

The two women use their natural curiosity and knowledge of plants to help the cops solve the murders.

The show is notable for never showing the actual violence of murder and for having two women of a certain age who are not involved in relationships or with cutesy kiddies. Another big bonus is the gorgeous location filming at various estates around the UK and a few trips to the continent. The viewer can also pick up bits and pieces of garden lore and tips.

Kendal is of course a major TV star with hit series like THE GOOD NEIGHBORS and SOLO to her credit. Ferris also has a long list of TV credits. They work perfectly together. These women are smart, independent, and funny.

The series boasts a lot of familiar faces as guests like Anthony Andrews, Phyllida Law, Suzanne Bertish, Belinda Lang, Michael Cochrane, Mel Martin, Crispin Bonham-Carter, Margaret Tyzack, Tilly Blackwood, Julian Firth, Murray Head, Diana Hardcastle, Christopher Bowen, and Neil McDermott.

Terrific!

My best friend and I enjoyed every moment of watching Rosemary and Thyme. Before our marriages we traveled together and had many adventures. Laura and Rosemary reminded us of those adventures and now at 80 years of age and without spouses we would love to have a gardening business together and become Rosemary and Thyme! We can live vicariously through them! The photography was fantastic of the gardens in England and European countries. The acting of Pam Kendall and Felicity Ferres was excellent, they were a perfect combination. They had a refreshing relationship of getting along as friends, coworkers and the comradeship of "sisters" as my friend and I, yet with some disagreements and a touch of romance on some of their escapades, showing they were not too old or too busy for romance. A fresh and very entertaining Series. Please continue the Series with the same actresses. Anyone who does not like the Series may watch the more violent and gory reality type Murder Mysteries.

I love this show. This is my Sunday night tradition, Watching Rosemary and Thyme. I have seen them all and a few times over. I had been waiting patiently for a new season only to find out the show had been canceled by an English company. If there is any way to get them to listen, please do. The 2 actresses playing Rosemany and Laura are wonderful. So believable, and fun to watch. The stories are wonderful also. I am an Agatha Christie fan, and these stories are as good. I am devastated, please make some more episodes. I love the gardens, the stories, and the actresses. There are so few good mystery series on TV now. Especially one, like this show, where you can tell care has been taken to have beautiful scenery, likable characters, interesting plot lines, and not a lot of gratuitous violence. I love it.

Okay, so Rosemary and Thyme won't be featured with latest edition of brain busters, but the show isn't intended that way. With such seasoned veterans as it's main stars, both ladies never disappoint. With a touch of warmth, Rosemary & Thyme rate with the staples from Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers. While the mysteries may not be as involved, both ladies help work through the mystery, while making you feel as part of the team. With this show, I have to say you never are left wondering about the obvious clue you missed, because you experience everything with them as they experience it. There's no hidden brother's cousin's sister who arrives five minutes before the murder and leaves and is discovered at the end. The viewer is treated to background mini-dramas of both character's past relationships and lives as they delve in the murder afoot. This series is definitely worth watching and in my opinion worth buying.

Well this may not be to the taste of everyone but it isn't as dreadful as the previous poster says at all. I think the women gardeners who end up being detectives are believable characters, who use intuition, common sense, keen perceptions of character, as well as their knowledge of horticulture, to solve crimes. This is not a blood and cuts, men shooting at men, plot driven macho show. There are so many shows that are completely plot driven, with high tech effects but the character has no basis in real life that make this gentle show refreshing.

I like this, consider myself well read and educated, etc but I can see not everyone will like everything. It isn't necessary to put it down with such rancor. When I see such unnecessary venom on a review, it makes me wonder if the writer were rejected for a job on the show or was dumped by someone on the show.

So, this is light pleasant fare. When it is on public TV on Mystery night, I watch it. There are a lot worse shows on American TV, no need to dump on this if it isn't to one's taste. And if you like gardening, it is fun.

And I love the way British TV has realistic, believable women who aren't babes in leads.