Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, once said that claiming to like all British comedies was absurd.  He claimed it was like saying you liked American rock music, especially Van Halen and Donny Osmond.  That never happens because the area is so broad and encompasses so many varies styles.  The same goes for British comedy.  When viewing comedy shows from the UK, we in America have an advantage though; the Atlantic Ocean.  It is a great filter.  The shows that are not popular or have short runs don't make it across the pond, so the US audience is exposed, for the most part, to the cream of the crop.  Unfortunately, this filter isn't perfect, and some shows that did well in Britain just don't seem that humorous when seen from an American view point.  Keeping Up Appearances is one such show.

This show centers on Hyacinth Bucket (Patricia Routledge,) an older lady who likes to think of herself as having a regal bearing and possessing of impeccable taste.  In other words, she's a stuck up snob.  She is a petty, mean and callous not to mention being a neatness freak, to the point of cleaning the empty milk bottles before she sets them out for the milk man.  Hyacinth is always trying to impress people with her formal teas and candle lit dinners.  The only thing, is that no one likes her since she is such a disagreeable person.   Hyacinth's long suffering husband, Richard (Clive Swift,) is a meek, hen pecked man, and her neighbor's Liz and Emmett nervously try to avoid her as much as possible.  Even the milkman sneaks up quietly to her door.

The problem with this show it that it only has one theme, and every episode is hammers on that one topic;  the deflating of a pretentious snob.  Every show concerns a plot Hyacinth has to impress someone, and it always ends with her plans backfiring.  She gets her comeuppance in every episode, but never learns.  It was only mildly amusing for an episode or two, show after show of the same plot wears thin awfully fast.  But it gets worse.  Not only is the single plot recycled, but the same jokes are in every episode.  Every episode Hyacinth corrects someone on the pronunciation of her last name (she insists that "Bucket" is pronounced "Bouquet.")  It is so bad that not only are you able to see how the show will end up a mile in advance, but it's easy to predict which of the stable of jokes the show relies on will be used next.

Maybe I would like the series better if I could relate to one character, but I can't.  Hyacinth isn't supposed to be likable, and her husband is too mild.  If he ever said no to Hyacinth in any episode the plot would crumble instantly.  The neighbors are so timid and nervous it's ludicrous.  Liz is so nervous whenever she enters the house, she breaks something.  But Hyacinth keeps inviting her, and she keeps accepting.  I could probably accept one or two characters that were one dimensional caricatures, but every single person in the show is.  That's just way too much.

This boxed set contains picks up where the first one left off.  It has the last three seasons of the show.  Each disc is also individually.  The contents of this set are:

Disc One:   Everything's Coming Up Hyacinth

All the episodes from season three: Half a Camel, How to Retire Early if You're Not Careful, A Portrait of the Artist as a Hen-Pecked Man, The French Lieutenant's Daughters, How to Go on Holiday Without Really Trying, What to Wear When Yachting, and Violet's Country Cottage.

Disc Two:  Some Like It Hyacinth

Season four: Hyacinth Tees Off, The Nautical Speaker, Indoor/Outdoor Luxury Barbecue and Finger Buffet, Rural Retreat, Beacon for the Best in Hospitality, Please Mind Your Head, and Let There Be Light.

Disc Three:  Living the Hyacinth Life

Includes the following Season Five episodes:  Seaside Fun, The Fancy Dress Ball,  Hyacinth is Alarmed, Riparian Entertainments, Sister, Sister, Country Estate Sale.

Disc Four:  Hats Off to Hyacinth

The end of season five:  General Bucket, A Bon Vivant Buffet, A Craft-Woman Scorned and Scintillating Socializing.
 

This show has a two channel mono sound track, with no subtitles available.  The sound quality is very acceptable.  There isn't any background noise or pops present, and the dialog is easy to discern.  While the show does not have a lot of dynamic range, but then again, it doesn't need it.  A good sounding disc.

Video:

The video quality was also good.  Presented in full frame, the picture was pleasing to view.  The colors were not muted, and the lines were crisp.  This looks better than many of the other BBC comedies I've seen lately.  The digital artifacts were minimal and not at all distracting.

The Extras:

Each disc has a copy of "Hyacinth's Social Register," text biographies of the regularly appearing characters.  There is also "Hyacinth's Guest Book" which gives bio's of the guest stars that appeared on that disc.  Each disc also includes a few minutes or outtakes that are often funnier than the show.

The third DVD, Living the Hyacinth Life, has a nine minute interview with stars Patricia Rutledge and Clive Swift by Pebble Mill from a TV talk show.

The last disc has an hour long special, The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket.   This is a clip show that has some of the best moments of the series.  The premise of the specail is that Daisy and Oslow were accidentally lent Hyacinth's memoirs and are lying in bed reading them.
 

Final Thoughts:

Having lasted for five seasons, I'm sure this show has its fans, but I can't count myself among that group.  The was really only one plot, and it got old really fast.  All of the characters were one dimensional caricatures, and the stories were very contrived.  Skip It.