For anyone thinking of watching: AWFUL SERIES (spoilers?)

I really hate to say this, but here goes. Anyone who thinks that this show is bad, clearly lacks the intelligence or clarity of mind to understand it. The fact that you didn't know that Geraldine McEwan's background IS the stage, betrays your lack of the required background to appreciate this show.

I was watching a rerun of that series while a very dear friend of mine was dying of cancer. She, like Miss Farnaby, was at one point given three months to live. She lived barely two more weeks. During the time when I knew she was terminally ill - after over a year of diagnosis and therapy and emotional highs and lows - I watched the episode where Mulberry "dies" and Miss Farnaby asks him at the end of the episode what it's like to die. That was the only time during that utterly awful year when I actually broke down in tears. If you can't see through Geraldine McEwan's mannerisms to the sensitivity of her acting, you're missing a great experience. There's a reason why that lady is considered one of the great British actresses of the 20th century. If you can't appreciate the sensitivity of the writing of that series in the way it approaches the subject of death with thoughtful and understated humour, you're missing some of the best of British TV writing. That series had depth to it which perhaps some people aren't equipped to appreciate.

While at times McEwan's mannerisms might seem a bit broad for television(e.g. at the football game), I know from experience that is likely the director's fault and not hers, she probably was following a direction. The other poster's explanation of the deep sentiment and depth of her portrayal of Rose at other times is just heart wrenching . .the rivalry with her sister Adele--how it makes her feel like nothing, the scene wherein she talks about George's proposal and why she refused him, so very poignant. The flying of the kite, so lovely.

And I too for one perfer a good chuckle and sly repartee to some of the outlandishness on today's comedies mostly surrounding some sexual innuendo.

Love this show, admittedly I grew to love this show. Same thing happened with Red Dwarf. I hated Red Dwarf when I started watching, but I grew to love that show too.

Mulberry just started running on our local PBS station and I caught the last few minutes tonigh. I was sorry to miss it. I have the show on dvd, but it's such a treat to see it running on a station.

It's a different series from those you mentioned. The tone is softer and the jokes not as broad nor as bawdy. While I'm a fan of those other shows, I do appreciate Mulberry. It's a great show, and it does grow on you.

Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion. Then I read something like the OP and can't help but wonder if that right should be all inclusive.

I guess it's like looking at clouds. You see one thing and I see another. Peace.

For some reason, I have to watch BBC comedies more than once to really get them. They are unhurried and the humor is lost on some viewers, especially the young. Mulberry is for the "As Time Goes By" and "To The Manor Born" crowd, it's not Dr. Who. I'd watch Geraldine McEwan in anything. What a wit.

The show was mostly awful. Tony Selby is the biggest HAM of all hams of all time. He's like, Mr. Hammy. I've seen Selby in Doctor Who and The Good Life, his performance was cringeworthy in both of them. He's not even an amusing ham. He's a "its so painful, I can't watch anymore" ham.

But that's not what really made me cringe at this show. Now this comment is going to be cruel but I really can't do anything about it. We heard over and over and over again that Mulberry's mom was "springtime" with all the connotations that brings. Springtime... youth, beauty, vitality, renewal, growth. Yet (and this is what bugged me) when we finally meet Mulberry's mother, she's played by a (may all the heavens forgive me) middle aged, dowdy, unattractive woman dressed like a mannequin from a department store! Excuse me?!? The elemental personification of spring... looks like an uglier version of Hyacynth Bucket (pronounced 'bouquet')?!?

Yes, yes, I can hear you all now. "what did you expect, some young nubile supermodel with hardly a stich of clothing on?!?"

YES! She's springtime, dammit! She should have looked like instant chub material. Even if she was portrayed by an older actress (I notice that few young people are ever allowed to appear in Britcoms) she could have been at least portrayed by someone like Rose from "Keeping Up Appearances."

Anyway, this show was so god-awful, I've never forgotten it! Well, I guess that's one way to get immortality. And the Crowning Moment of Awfulness was when Mulberry meets his mum and she looks like the woman from the Stephen King movie "Mercy". Springtime? More like Lametime.