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As Time Goes By

Alistair's Engagement

Season 6, Episode 5, Aired Jun 15, 1997

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9.4

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Alistair surprises everyone by announcing his engagement to someone he just met named Mercury. Judy's new boyfriend Paul lies to her and Lionel is the one who breaks the news. Jean wishes Alistair and Judy would get back together.

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Michael Fenton Stevens

Paul

Geoffrey Palmer

Lionel Hardcastle
Judi Dench

Jean Pargeter
Philip Bretherton

Alistair Deacon
Moira Brooker

Judith "Judy" Pargeter-Deacon
Jenny Funnell

Sandy

Fan Episode Reviews (1)

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Jean and Lionel find a surprise; the group get a surprise from alistair, and Lionel surprises Alistair with an observation.

8.0

"Great"

By VerityJackson, Dec 02, 2005

This is one episode where the Judy/Alistair relationship gets center stage, mostly. What is going, or not going on, between them is talked about and sides are discussed and taken. Though it's never vicious, which is a blessing nowadays.

The lead-up to meeting Mercury is great writing and spot-on acting by Moira(Judy) and Jenny(Sandy)! Judy's going to the meet solo had the right balance of 'Sod him' and 'What should I wear?' Sandy, as the Good Friend, has the right tone of 'So?', as any good friend will, helping a pal through a tricky time.

The actual meeting with Alistair is wonderful and very much characteristic of the series' writing as a whole. The last scene between Alistair and Lionel is a big reason why I like both men. They know each other and trust each other and it shows. I could go off on how they fill a niche in the other's life, but that's for another forum!

Needless to say, I highly recommend this episode!moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (2)
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- Jean: (to Alistair, about meeting Judy's date) We took right to him. Lionel: We did?
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- Mrs. Bale: ( Warmly, as Lionel and Jean are leaving) You were no trouble. Lionel: Good. Mrs. Bale: I didn't mean you.
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ALLUSIONS (3)
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- Lionel: I'm not Mystic Meg.--refers to the Sun's astrologer!(The Sun being a London paper.)
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- Judy: ...makes Claudia Schieffer look dowdy.-- refers to the supermodel, often considered one of the most besutiful women in the world. Judy was worrying that Mercury would be more than drop-dead gorgeous.
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- There are several mentions of Alistair sending a herald and showing up at Lionel & Jean's in a knight's suit of armor; it's a reference to the episode, The Dinner Party, and ,essentially, Alistair's gestures bookend the episode!
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