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

[HaveYouHadYourBreak]

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.

I absolutely adore that programme and the book is one of my favourites. 😊

Keeping up Appearances reminds me of my late Mum! The "just been to the hairdressers for a shampoo and set" look was exactly her. She also airs and graces and an element of snobbery! (But she certainly didn't hen peck Dad nor terrorise the postie!!).

I enjoyed it at the time; however the writing wasn't strong enough to back up some of the very well-thought-out situations. Wasn't the writer only about 16 or 17 at the time? Yes, she was amazing for her age; but I think it would have benefited from having an older, more experienced writer or two in addition to her youthful brilliance.

Reminds me of my late mom as well. There was a strong facial resemblance and definitely the same hairstyle. Mom also had some airs and graces but not as many and could be quite snobby. Probably a generational thing. Never hen pecked my dad who resembled a young Eric Morcombe. My dad died quite young though

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.

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?

It was called Nanny or The Nanny

Dolly Partons Butterflies. I was never a fan of Carla Lane but I watched this because I wanted Rhia to dump boring Ben and get with Leonard 😅

I've just seen you can get the DVDs on Amazon - £24 for each of the two series!!

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!

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

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.

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

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.

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...

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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

its on now TV if that helps

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.

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

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