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Original poster

Programmes that have aged poorly and programmes that have aged well?

510 replies

HaveYouHadYourBreak · 05/04/2026 16:13

What programmes that you loved have surprised you on rewatching?

I've just finished the first series of This Life and was surprised at how well it has aged for the most part (but so much smoking!). It was refreshing to see people with imperfect teeth and pubic hair and wobbly bums living in a grotty house share past their early 20s. I'm re-living my youth with the music too.

But Coupling! Oof! I remember it being really good but some clips I've seen (like making sex videos without consent and the way women are talked about) demonstrate exactly why I've never seen any re-runs.

OP posts:
StrawberrySquash · 06/04/2026 18:45

Enko · 06/04/2026 08:58

Absolutely fabulous has not aged well. The drinking driving under the influence (the one where they get rid of the chauffeur) blaming her mother and expecting Saffy to mansge it all. Yet I recal loving it and watched it religiously.

For me Vicar of Dibley is my ultimate comfort watch I think it has aged ok.

But the point was it wasn't realistic. I don't think I wanted to become an alcoholic or thought drink driving was okay because of them. It was meant to be outrageous and ridiculous.

godmum56 · 06/04/2026 18:37

I indrstand that "Till Death Us" was supposed to portray Alf in a bad light, similar to Les Patterson, but too many people agreed with him

Differentforgirls · 06/04/2026 18:37

godmum56 · 06/04/2026 18:35

I wanted to.

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There’s a second series coming out. Maybe you could try again? It really was good.

KatiePricesKnickers · 06/04/2026 18:36

Seabubbles · 05/04/2026 21:31

Don't know if they count but I cannot stand the Carry On Films

Love the Carry On films.

godmum56 · 06/04/2026 18:35

Differentforgirls · 06/04/2026 18:24

I loved it!

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I wanted to.

Differentforgirls · 06/04/2026 18:24

godmum56 · 06/04/2026 17:50

I don't mind swearing if its creative. I canned Department Q because although it looked promising, it was all "Fuck fuck fuck" which just got repetitive and boring

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I loved it!

JustbrotherscarlenaNsoul · 06/04/2026 18:08

BakedBeansforabrain · 05/04/2026 18:19

Till death us do part and Love thy neighbour definitely haven’t aged well

Used to love both as a kid Alfs rants and his wife's put downs was far too young to understand the racial content of either programme.
Looking at it now through adult eyes it was bad particularly love thy neighbour.

godmum56 · 06/04/2026 17:56

Valeyard15 · 06/04/2026 17:53

Although Andrew Lincoln's delivery of "It's not funny, actually, it's art" will never not be hilarious.

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also Bill Nighy and Gregor Fisher

Valeyard15 · 06/04/2026 17:53

Octoberfest · 06/04/2026 16:29

I know it's a film not a programme but I was amazed at how dreadful Love Actually was (watched it for the first time this Christmas). Male sexual privilege on steroids, and crap plotlines. I can't quite believe it was made and that no-one called out the dreadful way that the female characters were portrayed.

Although Andrew Lincoln's delivery of "It's not funny, actually, it's art" will never not be hilarious.

godmum56 · 06/04/2026 17:52

A film which is now kind of contemporary again and is still good is The Dish

godmum56 · 06/04/2026 17:50

HaveYouHadYourBreak · 06/04/2026 14:37

I do agree that the amount of unnecessary swearing makes some things much less funny/watchable. Case in point - the first series of Schitts Creek. The name put me off and then I almost stopped watching it because of the amount of swearing. Luckily they toned it down for later series.

And very few programmes are improved with sex scenes. You can make it clear characters had/are going to have sex (and even the type of sex) without showing naked people writhing noisily.

I don't mind swearing if its creative. I canned Department Q because although it looked promising, it was all "Fuck fuck fuck" which just got repetitive and boring

Differentforgirls · 06/04/2026 17:35

I’m now watching “Yes Minister” again because of this thread. Thanks OP 😊

PuppyMonkey · 06/04/2026 17:26

Octoberfest · 06/04/2026 16:29

I know it's a film not a programme but I was amazed at how dreadful Love Actually was (watched it for the first time this Christmas). Male sexual privilege on steroids, and crap plotlines. I can't quite believe it was made and that no-one called out the dreadful way that the female characters were portrayed.

Yes I watched this at Christmas and was quite amazed at how badly it has aged. Even the Emma Thompson bit seemed really crap. Don’t ever need to see that again. And yet I can still watch Four Weddings through quite happily time after time.

godmum56 · 06/04/2026 17:14

QuintadosMalvados · 06/04/2026 16:13

Just Good Friends remains a very good depiction of the struggles a woman faces when meeting the ex who broke her heart again, however, it's of a different time.

In those days it was just accepted as normal that guys who were a bit cocky, cheeky and confident (but not violent or nasty) were what women were attracted to, now it would be seen as politically incorrect.

I wish they'd repeat it on i player.

its on now TV if that helps

Differentforgirls · 06/04/2026 17:13

Octoberfest · 06/04/2026 16:29

I know it's a film not a programme but I was amazed at how dreadful Love Actually was (watched it for the first time this Christmas). Male sexual privilege on steroids, and crap plotlines. I can't quite believe it was made and that no-one called out the dreadful way that the female characters were portrayed.

I have never been able to watch it. I’ve tried but every single time I’ve got bored after the first few scenes.

Daleksatemyshed · 06/04/2026 17:02

60andcounting · 05/04/2026 20:59

I watched last night. Some really good acts. I didn't like it when younger.

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Neither did I, or I wouldn't admit it, absolutely not teenage watching 😄

Octoberfest · 06/04/2026 16:29

I know it's a film not a programme but I was amazed at how dreadful Love Actually was (watched it for the first time this Christmas). Male sexual privilege on steroids, and crap plotlines. I can't quite believe it was made and that no-one called out the dreadful way that the female characters were portrayed.

QuintadosMalvados · 06/04/2026 16:13

Just Good Friends remains a very good depiction of the struggles a woman faces when meeting the ex who broke her heart again, however, it's of a different time.

In those days it was just accepted as normal that guys who were a bit cocky, cheeky and confident (but not violent or nasty) were what women were attracted to, now it would be seen as politically incorrect.

I wish they'd repeat it on i player.

WalkDontWalk · 06/04/2026 15:44

Enko · 06/04/2026 08:58

Absolutely fabulous has not aged well. The drinking driving under the influence (the one where they get rid of the chauffeur) blaming her mother and expecting Saffy to mansge it all. Yet I recal loving it and watched it religiously.

For me Vicar of Dibley is my ultimate comfort watch I think it has aged ok.

I don't think AbFab has aged badly at all because, even then, we weren't supposed to approve of their behaviour. The whole point is that they acted appallingly in every situation, and we were invited to laugh at them because they were immature, irresponsible, shallow and selfish. Jennifer Saunders wasn't suggesting that drink-driving was amusing. She was suggesting that their total lack of consideration for others was so extreme it was funny. She was ridiculing them.

And that's still true. Which is why it's still funny.

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 06/04/2026 15:38

HollyGolightly4 · 06/04/2026 15:30

Pleased to have found a fellow fan! Think it might be on prime now? Take it it's gone off iPlayer?

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Thank you!!! We have Amazon Prime, but I only ever think of it as for the speedy postage benefits and never actually think to look at the TV... but I will be doing now!

Valeyard15 · 06/04/2026 15:34

Would agree that Frasier has aged very well, although could see how some of the more 'gay panic' moments could raise an eyebrow today.

I would give anything for someone to make Allo Allo today...

Valeyard15 · 06/04/2026 15:31

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 05/04/2026 20:11

Right! Less sexist than the other guys but yes there are some fairly ooh that's not ok moments with CJ. I can't quite remember them clearly but I noticed last rewatch.

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The West Wing Weekly podcast is worth a listen - they pick up on quite a lot of 'what the hell' moments which have aged poorly.

HollyGolightly4 · 06/04/2026 15:31

QueenOfHiraeth · 06/04/2026 15:17

I understand that things become uncomfortable or jarring when we are conflicted but am amazed at people who cannot watch things with an understanding that times and attitudes have changed.

Reading this thread reinforces why there are so few good new programmes now, because everyone is so ready to be offended and the list of things that cannot be said has grown so long there's hardly anything left!

This just isn't true- hyperbole at its finest.

WalkDontWalk · 06/04/2026 15:31

Foxesinthesnow · 05/04/2026 17:36

The Good Life is almost unwatchable now. Tom was supposed to be happy go-lucky, but the way he rides roughshod over Barbara’s feelings and how seedy he is towards Margot just makes it skin crawlingly awful.

Yes Minister could have been filmed yesterday (aside from the drinking in the office, and his wife reaching for a Valium because they’ve run out of cigarettes 😂😂😂)

Vicar of Dibley, To the Manor Born and Jeeves and Wooster are other favourites.

Richard Briers didn't think that Tom was happy-go-lucky at all. He thought he was selfish, obsessive, insensitive and facetious, and that's how he played him.

Apparently he got it right.

HollyGolightly4 · 06/04/2026 15:30

AntiqueBabyLoanSmurf · 06/04/2026 14:39

The Other One was outstanding - so astutely written and hilarious, as well as having multi-dimensional characters who inspired sympathy and dislike at the same time. Also an ensemble of strong, interesting female characters, with only a few very minor male characters on the periphery.

I looked for it only a couple of days ago, but I couldn't find it anywhere to watch - does anybody know where it might be available?

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Pleased to have found a fellow fan! Think it might be on prime now? Take it it's gone off iPlayer?

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