Autumn in August: As Time Goes By

I’m trying not to get ahead of schedule, but I’m really excited for autumn. In fact, I’m ready to deck this entire blog out in cable-knit sweaters and brown plaid!

On one hand, maybe I should pace myself. But after another week of being sick, I don’t have a lot of shame in indulging the cozy vibes. Luckily, another show has come into my life at just the right time, and is proving to be the perfect way to gradually usher in the new season: As Time Goes By.

As Time Goes By is a British sitcom that stars Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer. Their characters, Jean and Lionel, met and fell in love in 1953, but were separated when Lionel was sent to war in Korea. They reunite by chance 38 years later, and the show follows their story as they rekindle their romance. We also get to know some of their relatives and friends along the way, which include Jean’s daughter, Judith; Jean’s secretary, Sandy; and their respective beaus, Alistair and Harry.

I always see the commercials for the show on PBS, but I’m never watching TV around the time it’s on. It only recently occurred to me that our local library might have it, and lo and behold, they had seasons 7-9 (and the reunion specials) on DVD! I just have the reunion specials to see now. I've been having such a good time that I decided to buy the whole series (thank you, Amazon return credit!), so when I’m done with this first “half-watch,” I can go back to season one and see how it all began.

Despite being a modern show, As Time Goes By fits nicely into the world of Living Mostly Vintage. It’s funny, romantic, and sweet, but it also scratches some other itches. I don’t have a lot of patience these days for shows that introduce new characters almost every episode. I like that Jean and Lionel’s circles are relatively small, with only a handful of recurring characters popping up. The same goes with the love interests— While there’s still a bit of “will they, won’t they” with Judith’s and Sandy’s respective romances, they’re not each dating a different guy every time we see them. There’s enough to keep us guessing (no spoilers!), but it never feels like their relationships with Alistair and Harry are in any real danger. Admittedly, I’m a little nervous to start the series from the beginning, because while everyone seems settled into their routine by season 7, I’m not sure what it took them to get there! We’ll see, though—I still appreciate that, for the most part, the cast of characters stays consistent throughout the show, even if the dynamics may shift a bit.

I love Judi Dench in this. Upon reflection, it’s actually the first time I’ve seen in her a light, comedic role, but I didn’t even realize it as I was watching, because her humor and comedic timing seem to come so naturally to her. There’s a bit of a Lucille Ball-quality to her character, in that she’s always getting into antics or meddling in other people’s business. Geoffrey Palmer is also hilarious—his one-liners and dry delivery make me laugh nearly every time he opens his mouth. I also adore Jean and Lionel’s house. I would love to just make myself at home in that kitchen and never leave!

I’m looking forward to spending more time with this found family in the coming weeks. I have a hunch that As Time Goes By will become my new autumn show—a gentle world I can look forward to escaping into while nestled on the couch with blankets and a cup of tea. As we get further into fall (or as close as one can get in Florida), I’ll update y’all on my adventures with the Hardcastles. Until then, if you’d like to watch along, you can watch with a Britbox, Roku Channel, or Amazon Prime subscription, or find the DVDs at your local library!

What’s your go-to cozy autumn show? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear what you’ll be relaxing to when September rolls around (or even now)!

I hope you're all having a lovely weekend!

Keep living (mostly) vintage,

Becca