‘EARLY RETIREMENT’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

The first episode of Series 3 of ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ sees Richard on his last day at work before he goes into early retirement. Of course this episode doesn’t focus heavily on his last day at work before he retires, although it is seen in one scene where he sees his manager and he begs to stay on.

Ivor Danvers guest stars as Richard’s boss in the episode. I’m never sure which person is Richard’s boss in the series. It could have been either the committee chairman from the fifth and sixth episodes of Series 2; Mr. Thorgunby from ‘The Father Christmas Suit’ episode; or Ivor Danvers’ character here.

Richard is clearly depressed about having early retirement and to live with Hyacinth all day for the rest of his life. I found it funny when Richard kept avoiding going to work. This occurs when he goes back inside the house and locks Hyacinth out after he kissed her twice on the cheeks, which is funny.

It also happens when Richard is about to drive off in the car to go to work before coming out again, making it seem like to Hyacinth that it’s the end of the day. He also walks the wrong way to work and goes in the opposite direction, which was funny. Hyacinth clearly doesn’t realise Richard is distracted.

Hyacinth is keen for Richard to work on despite having early retirement. Not at his place of work with the council though, but with dead chickens. Hyacinth discusses this with Elizabeth over morning coffee, ending disastrously with Liz knocking the coffee and biscuits to the floor, which was hilarious.

I also enjoyed that scene in Onslow and Daisy’s house where the phone rings in their living room. But Onslow’s too lazy to get up and answer it that Daisy answers it instead. It’s funny when Daisy found the television too loud once she’s answered the phone. She tells Onslow this but he doesn’t budge. 😀

This episode ends with a funny scene as Rose’s new boyfriend Roger can’t move his dog Olive from Hyacinth’s driveway. Roger goes off to fetch a dog to cheer Olive up, but Hyacinth has a good go of moving the dog with Liz’s help. It was funny once Olive ran off with Hyacinth holding onto her lead. 🙂

Jon Glover guest stars as Roger in the episode. Jon Glover has done a number of Big Finish audios of ‘Doctor Who’, including ‘Forty-Five’ with Sylvester McCoy and ‘Death in Blackpool’ with Paul McGann. Robert Rawles returns to play the milkman, having appeared in Series 1 and 2 of the series.

‘Early Retirement’ rating – 7/10