‘THE COMMODORE’

Please feel free to comment on my review.

This episode has Hyacinth meeting a Commodore. However, it’s right at the climax of the episode that the Commodore makes an appearance. The Commodore is the guest speaker for a ladies’ meeting and Hyacinth volunteers to collect him from the train station. But this doesn’t work to plan.

I was delighted to see Geraldine Newman as the chairlady in this episode since she played Hilda Hughes in the BBC TV comedy series ‘Ever Decreasing Circles’. There’s Ann Davies, Richard Briers’ wife, who played a lady at the luncheon in the episode. She was also in ‘The Dalek Invasion of Earth’.

John Barrard makes an appearance as a homeowner in the episode when Onslow meets him at the door, helping Rose out to deliver her jewellery. I recognised John Barrard from playing Anatole in Series 1 of ‘Jeeves & Wooster’. It was funny to see John Barrard scared by Onslow’s physique here. 🙂

There’s a funny scene in the episode where Hyacinth entertains Elizabeth, Emmet and Richard over morning coffee. In the build-up, Hyacinth tries to sing a song from ‘The King and I’ but it turns out to be from ‘South Pacific’. Emmet also drops his coffee cup instead of Elizabeth for a change. Hilarious!

Hyacinth and Richard go to the railway station to pick up the Commodore, but he doesn’t turn up as his train is delayed. Richard’s car also gets clamped on an illegal parking space, which gets him annoyed. Hyacinth and Richard get help as they have a lift with Jeremy Gittins as the Vicar in his car.

Nigel Davenport guest stars as the Commodore in this episode. You may recognise Nigel Davenport for being episodes of ‘The Saint’ and ‘The Avengers’ and the film ‘Chariots of Fire’. The Commodore has an eye for the ladies, being an old sea dog. Hyacinth is so unprepared for the Commodore’s attempts of seduction.

As they ride to the train station in the Vicar’s car, the Commodore tries to seduce Hyacinth. This shows how very naïve Hyacinth can be with people. I like how the Vicar shows concern for Hyacinth’s well-being when he notices that the Commodore is attempting to seduce her in the car. 🙂

There’s also Donald T. Allen as the stationmaster, Linda James and Liz Edmiston as committee members, Irene Sharp as a lady at the station, Gordon Peters as a ticket clerk and Leonard Lowe as a passenger. Incidentally, Rose’s jewellery subplot didn’t go anywhere whilst watching this episode. 😐

‘The Commodore’ rating – 8/10