The casting of the four leads is pitch perfect with Richard Briers' Tom warm and quick to laugh at the ludicrous society around him, Felicity Kendal's Barbara captures the steel resolve behind a cute demeanour, Paul Eddington's Jerry is the reliable friend who sees the preposterous around him but will do anything for a peaceful life and Penelope Keith's Margo epitomises the absurdities of middle class values with perfect comic timing.
This is nostalgic television which is gentle and funny with a marvellously delicious sense of satire towards the conventions of middle class society.
Below is a full guide to the 30 episodes that where shown over 4 series between 1975-8.
Please use the link in the episode title to watch/download the episode for free.
Episode 1 [S1E1] - Plough Your Own Furrow (1975)
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| Freedom! |
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| Kiss Kiss |
His neighbour and colleague Jerry understands the inconsequential and often absurd nature of their work but can offer no help as he is caught in the same trap albeit in an office on a "higher floor".
That night Tom reflects on his lot with his wife Barbara and finds a path out of the system. After some consideration she agrees to set them selves free and become self-sufficient.
Margo Moment: Although you are not introduced to Margo in this episode you do get to hear her telling off Jerry as he"flops down" on the bed.
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| Will they Lay? |
Tom and Barbara are starting out on their new life with the car traded in for a Rotavator and the addition of a dozen chickens and a goat to the family. They are getting their hands dirty converting the greenhouse into a henhouse and churning goat butter to varying levels of success.
Meanwhile Margo and Jerry are genuinely concerned with the "mad" behaviour of their neighbour (such deviation from the norm) and hatch a plan to get Tom back in the fold by inviting them and his former boss to dinner.
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| Ah Magnificent |
Some gentle rivalry between the couple leads to a showdown over of who can create the best alfresco dinner.
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| "Lovely...but Pathetic" |
Margo Moment: That hairdo and description of Barbara as "lovely ... but pathetic".
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| All gets a bit too much |
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| "Thats right, look at me when I'm talking to you" |
It all becomes a bit too much and tempers fray. Meanwhile Margo and Jerry are not fairing any better as a squabble over who contributes more leads to raised voices.
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| "Either you take down my dress or I shall call the police" |
Margo Moment: The Red Leclerc dress.
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| Where are Pinky and Perky? |
However this is only a minor skirmish and peace will return to Surbiton, perhaps over a glass of peapod "burgundy" wine.
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| Peapod Wine |
The eponymous thing in the cellar is a methane powered generator that Tom has invented now that the electricity has been turned off, and isn't he proud of his self-sufficiency. However pride as they say comes before a fall.
Margo Moment: In the Good's house alone with an amorous Jerry.
Margo Moment: In the Good's house alone with an amorous Jerry.
Tom's former employer, instructs Jerry to invite the Good's to a dinner party. Andrew tries to entice back to work by offering freelance work. After initially saying no Tom reconsiders the offer in the wake of an intimate discussion with Barbara. Tom scheming nearly comes undone as Barbara discovers part of Tom's secret and what it will mean for her.
The Leadbetters go on holidays just as twin disasters of Tom injuring his back and extreme weather conditions threaten the Good's dream of self sufficiency to the test. Their first harvest is due to begin any day and Barbara tries to deal with these almost insurmountable problems.
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