‘HYACINTH TEES OFF’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

In this ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ episode, Hyacinth and Richard are invited to a golfing weekend by Peter Cellier as the Major, who appeared in the series’ very first episode from Series 1 – ‘Daddy’s Accident’. Apparently the Major’s surname happens to be Wilton-Smythe, which is pretty intriguing.

Peter Cellier also briefly appeared in the ‘Doctor Who’ story ‘Time-Flight’ with Peter Davison. The Major was meant to come for the weekend away with his wife (whom we never see in this episode or at all in the series). It soon turns out the Major isn’t planning on playing golf over the weekend. 😐

This was where I realised that the Major had romantic intentions towards Hyacinth in the series, even though she was already married and he seemed to be married too. It’s amusing when the Major makes advances on Hyacinth as they drive out in his two-seater. She’s very appalled with him.

Richard isn’t very keen to play golf, but Hyacinth is insistent that he does. It’s intriguing how Hyacinth tries to set up higher class standards for her and Richard in order to improve her status. One wonders how and where she got this line of thinking and did she receive it at such a young age?

This episode has a nice change of tone and atmosphere compared to previous episodes. Here we have Hyacinth and Richard away from their home and on ‘holiday’. It was nice to see them in a hotel setting and it is funny how Hyacinth behaves. Elizabeth and Emmet also don’t appear in the episode.

Soon, Onslow and Daisy come to the Chesford Grange Hotel to pick up Rose, as she’s been staying at the hotel with a gentleman friend in Room 210. Hyacinth discovers it’s Rose who’s been staying in Room 210 and she’s shocked and embarrassed. It seems Hyacinth can’t get away from her family! 😀

I liked the episode’s guest cast. There’s Bernard Archard and Dinah Sheridan who play the married couple staying at the hotel. Bernard Archard was in the 1971 ‘Dad’s Army’ movie and he was also in the ‘Doctor Who’ stories ‘The Power of the Daleks’ and ‘Pyramids of Mars’. Amazing to see him here!

Dinah Sheridan was also in ‘Doctor Who’, playing Chancellor Flavia in ‘The Five Doctors’. I enjoyed how the married couple, who don’t have names in the episode, tried to get away from Hyacinth once she made conversation with them. I wouldn’t like to be in their position talking to Hyacinth. 😀

‘Hyacinth Tees Off’ rating – 8/10