As Time Goes By, Vol. 1 [VHS]
Starring the multifaceted Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer, the BBC's charming comedyAs Time Goes Byis a refreshing change of pace from the bland Gen-X comedies of network TV. In the early 1950s, Jean and Lionel shared a short but passionate love affair, before Lionel was shipped out to Korea. Thirty-eight years later, the two run into each other again, only to rekindle what had been started so long ago. This series follows the two, plus Jean's twice-divorced daughter Judith (Moira Brooker), Jean's assistant Sandy (Jenny Funnell), and Lionel's young trendy publisher Alastair (Philip Bretherton), and takes a wry look at love among the youth and the more "mature" (when Judith originally plans a date with Lionel, not knowing that he and her mother have a past, Jean tries to discover the gentleman's age: "Old?" Jean asks. "Mature," Judy says. Jean smirks and says, "Old." Judith replies, "About your age," to which Jean responds, "Oh, mature"). The first three episodes of the series, included on volume 1,  introduce the slightly cantankerous yet vibrant characters, set up their history, and lay the groundwork for Jean and Lionel to tentatively circle around each other, trying to decide at what level they should continue their friendship, that is, if they should even continue being friends at all. Mixing modern romance with nostalgia for yesteryear, writer Bob Larbey and director Sydney Lotterby create a delightful comedy and a touching love story.--Jenny Brown