Afterword

The memory cheats - in more ways than one! I had thought that I had mentioned in my Introduction to these pieces that I loved the first two series and the opening and closing episodes of the third series, but was much less keen on the remaining episodes of the third when the commune was in full swing. I must have written it elsewhere because I've just had another look at that Introduction, and it isn't in there! However, the truth is that whenever I watch the series in order, I usually skip those 5 episodes of the third series.

So when I started working through these epsiode analyses, I was honestly not looking forward to doing the third series, and thought I was really going to struggle. What could I find to write about episodes that a) I was fairly unfamiliar with and b) didn't feel inspired to view and write about? Well, this is where the memory cheats a second time - because I found that they were much better and much more watchable than I had remembered - the second episode in particular being especially good.

I must admit that Reggie in charge of the commune isn't as compelling as Reggie stuck in a rut at Sunshine Desserts, nor as the master of his own Grot empire. But again I had completely forgotten that the third series had some nice continuity touches by briefly bringing back Seamus Finnegan, Colin Pillock and Mr Pelham from the second series, and also by introducing us to Jimmy's nemesis Clive "Lofty" Anstruther.

I think my main problems with the third series is that characters like C.J. worked so much better in an office environment than in the commune, and the catchphrases of the regular supporting characters became a little too over-used and over the top. David and Tony really suffer too - Tony for bringing in the tiresome "X City, Arizona" catchphrase (Knockout! was so much better) and David for marrying him off to Prue - I felt he worked better as the weak willed, unconfident single man. Tom suffers from being recast - as good an actor as Leslie Schofield is, Tim Preece had made the part his own, and in an ongoing series like this that drew some of its strengths from its superb supporting cast, it does jar to have one of them suddenly change his appearance!

Those quibbles aside though, overall I enjoyed the third series this time around much more than I'd ever done before - maybe analysing the episodes rather than just passively watching them made me appreciate them more and pick up certain nuances. And maybe the fact that modern sitcoms rarely engage me - the recent Green, Green Grass being an obvious example - means that the third series still knocks spots off many other comedy series. One thing's for sure - for future viewings of the series, I shall no longer skip those 5 episodes!

Since starting this episode guide, I have purchased the omnibus of the three books - a hefty, near 900 page tome which I shall get round to tackling one day (other things being ahead of it in my "to read list") and one I look forward to reading. Having skimmed through various sections, there are some intriguing differences to the televised version - the ones I've spotted include the actual appearance of Elizabeth's mother, further visits from son Mark and a rather touching scene where Reggie is busy thinking out loud while stroking Ponsonby (something you do see on screen) but touchingly noticing after a while that Ponsonby had died on his lap. So luckily I haven't yet finished with the world of Reginald Iolanthe Perrin...