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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mel O&#039;Drama" data-source="post: 77691" data-attributes="member: 23">Last night I finished the series proper of Keeping Up Appearances, although the wrong placement of episodes in my box set means that I still have the '93 and '94 Christmas specials to watch in addition to the '95 special (I knew the chronology had gone wrong somewhere when Hyacinth mentioned having sailed on the QE2 without me having seen that episode).I'd say the quality of the episodes has been consistently high, with every episode containing several moments that feel like "comedy classics". I've enjoyed little variations on running gags, such as the "barking dog in the car" gag. One of these variations had the dog barking at Hyacinth from Onslow's Cortina at the church car park; another had a tipsy Hyacinth attempting to play the dog at its own game by poking her head into Onslow's old front lawn Avenger and barking, only to be surprised by an old lady inside the car barking back.That said, I do feel that things were slightly weakened in the latter episodes by having too many characters in collusion. In the early episodes, Emmet might bemoan her singing to Elizabeth in the privacy of their living room. The Vicar and his wife might talk in hushed whispers about "the Bucket woman" behind closed doors. Onslow may talk to Daisy about wanting to rescue Richard as they lay in bed. But in public there was censorship. Everyone was too polite - too British - to say the words out loud, which explained how Hyacinth got away with her behaviour. In keeping with the series' themes, it's all about etiquette, social politeness and British stoicism.Seeing Richard trapped in that world with no lifeline filled me with sympathy for him. In early episodes, there were scenes between Richard and Elizabeth where it was felt they were sympathising with each other, but it was all unspoken and vague which is exactly what would happen with stiff upper lip British WASPs. But in the last couple of series there were some scenes where everyone but Hyacinth - Richard, Elizabeth, Emmet, the Vicar and his wife and Onslow - had all shared with each other their disdain about her domineering ways. This brought with it an element of support that diluted the awkwardness and made it less funny. Their overt empathy with each other somehow diminished the empathy I felt for them as a viewer. The sheer numbers of people making little comments under their breath so that others could hear or exchanging sardonic looks behind Hyacinth's back at times had the opposite effect, making them seem quite unpleasant and shaming and giving me sympathy for Hyacinth. Maybe that was the idea.Series Five had a scene where Richard did the previously unthinkable and raised his voice at Hyacinth. In public. With Elizabeth present. I suppose that had to happen but once the series has dipped its toe into this territory it's hard to backtrack, so it's only right that it should happen towards the end.The other changes towards the end were Daddy talking and Violet appearing on screen. Personally I'd have preferred Daddy to remain silent for the entire run (though I do feel a little happy for the actor playing him that he got a bit more to do). Violet worked really well, though. She was well cast and the scenes in which she appeared all worked well. I liked the "mystery" element early on, but I felt I was ready to see her. Again, I'm glad they held off on this for as long as they did.</blockquote>

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