prylands-389-567480

This seems to be a series of cliched gags stretched out and aimed at an audience who know little of Shakespeare. It is Blackadder Lite - and either there is a random laughter track added to this or there was an audience present who seems to find any sound amusing. I don't blame the actors - it is the weary script that pretends to be clever that irks me. Nuggets of information are added to what is essentially fodder for halfwits but there is little quality to this pap and I am amazed it has gone on for so long. Please let it die a sweet death now and we will say no more about it. This low quality nonsense is simply embarrassing - hackneyed jokes and not a jot of originality...

I am male and getting long in the tooth but I enjoyed this series very much. Other reviewers have focused upon whether it is realistic or not - this question did not intrude on my enjoyment.

Firstly, it is thoughtful and beautiful to look at. It takes some nerve these days to offer a slow narrative but this is all the better for it. There are a lot of things left unsaid which is a joy when most series these days spoonfeed the audience. We never truly know why Penelope heads off - she does not know why herself. But whatever is driving her is something we can probably all relate to - wanting a place to belong. The script is meagre but Megan Stott is very believable and does a great job. The directing, music and pace of the series are all excellent and I was pleased that there is much left unresolved at the end to me, this seems very realistic.

It was good to see that the mayhem hadn't let up in the. Brockman household and to see the kids now older was rather touching. There was a degree of reality introduced to the story and it rang true to me. Alas the the lesser characters (Jane, Rani and Zara) did not really fit into the piece too well. There was some pathos here though and rather than the previous chaos of young children, we are treated to glimpse of more rounded and mature children - well, young adults.

The series has always worked via wry humour and this was very much evident here. The episode was a snapshot of how things have changed - I would be very pleased to see more of it. Very enjoyable!