MovieChat Forums > Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1996) Discussion > Did anybody watch this before LOTR?

Did anybody watch this before LOTR?

posted 20 years ago by genevieve_autumn
40 replies | jump to latest

Hi I was wondering if anybody was a fan of Dom's before LOTR as I remenber watching him in this every week and then him catching my attention when I noticed he was on Monsieur Renard and thinking 'oh look there's Geoffrey' that's when I realised he could act, don't think I didn't think that when he was in Hetty but I remenber thinking he was cute and funny and belivable, in the sense that you could connect with the character, which proves his talent. So yeah was anyone a fan of Dom's before LOTR, as he doesn't get enough attention for these two and he was in Hostile Waters although I saw that after LOTR-he hardly says anything though he certainly is memorable, looks handsome as well, I know he is probably reading IMDB and so I won't go on as actors usually have BIG egos and his is big enough! (I don't think Dom is like that is he?) Well anyway, hopefully with the success of Dom they will put it on tape, look out at shops such as Past Times, they are always putting very old series and I mean some really old ones, on tape that you can't find else where and as Hetty is recent they bound to do it eventually, I am thinking of nagging the BBC as I don't have cable and so can't watch it on mystery, damn! But maybe then they will reshow it, that's if they still have it.

[–] Sniffles_For_Snuffles 20 years ago

i agree with you. I had no idea who Dominic Monaghan was before LOTR but now that I've seen him act very well, and I've realized that he's also on Hetty Wainthropp Incestigates, I'm watching that every week just to get a glimpse of my Dom. But you know, the corny storylines and the sharp remarks from Hetty aren't that bad either, lol. GO HETTY LOVERS!

...across the sea, a pale moon rises, the ships have come to carry you home...

[–] NB2000 20 years ago

I would say that I haven't seen this show before but when I was watching it last weekend I recognized the last scene before the credits. It was the episode where a village is getting poison pen letters. I saw the last scene and realised I'd seen the scene before when I was little (I probably caught the end while waiting for something else.)

Next one to say POTC isn't Disney gets a slap
http://www.freewebs.com/nb2000/

[–] daria-rat 20 years ago

Naturally I watched this first. I love Mystery. Let's hear it for public television. I can remember distinctly the first time i consciously scanned the credits to see the name of the fellow playing Geoffrey. And I said "Dominic Monaghan? what sort of name is that?" and stuck to calling him Geoffrey for a while. Imagine my surprise when I found out all in the same moment some time later that not only were they making LOTR into films, but that my beloved Geoff was to be in it. I was exstatic.

Could you choke on a tictac? Of course, but I wouldn't recommend it

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] Pokeh 20 years ago

I live in the U.S. and I caught the show only once while surfing... but that was after LotR...

~Pokey
Life is like a grapefruit.
Proud member of JD cult est. 03 ~~

[–] melzy_q17 20 years ago

I did! My mum used to watch it, when it was on regular tv, and i watched it with her.When i saw Dom on LOTR i was racking my brains trying to figure out where i'd seen him before, then i relised he was Geoffrey from Hetty Wainthropp!

[–] genevieve_autumn 20 years ago

Yes that is how it was for me too melzy_g17 I won't reapeat myself but I too watched it with my mum and then when I saw LOTR, it wasn't until I looked up the cast that I realised Merry was Geoff, complete shock as I remenbered him on Hetty and Monsieur Reanard and it feels weird as if I know him just because I have watched his career develop, do you know what I mean but I am glad I became a fan of his before LOTR because he must get a bit tired of everyone talking about that with him and none of his previous work, oh well I am glad to see his career geting bigger and that he is getting the attention he deserves and I am impressed that one of you (sorry I forgot your name) met Patricia, lucky you as I think she is wonderful and I am glad she knew just like us that Dom would make it big time, she must be as proud as we are! Awwww!

[–] cascade_ice 20 years ago

I wish that I could answer 'yes', but I can't. Our local PBS started showing episodes on a regular basis after LOtR was released. I am willing to bet money that Dom's role in the trilogy helped get the show started where I live.

By the way, when I first saw this series, I remember looking at Dom and telling my mother, "Hey, it's a hobbit!!" Joking, of course. :P It's great to see what he started with, and how far he has come. Congrats to him!

But of course, Patricia Routledge is due her fair share of credit. She's a brilliant actress and it's been a joy to watch her in her many roles.

[–] palaffin 20 years ago

I saw Hetty before LOTR on PBS. I never really noticed that Merry and Geff were the same people until this summer when I watched the credits of the show.

[–] Lady-Watson 20 years ago

Yup, I used to see it long ago.

[–] misschicken 15 years ago

When I saw Merry for the first time I said to myself "That's Jeffrey from Hetty Wainthropp".

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] w_benton 20 years ago

I use to watch this show because I had a huge crush on Dom. And then it went away, and I moved on. Then the first three or four times I saw the fellowship of the ring I couldn't figure out where it was I knew him from. And then "AH! It's my Jeffery!" My crush quickly redevolped.

[–] unionjgirl 20 years ago

i saw hetty every week for a while on pbs. i loved dominic, and then i was happily stunned when i saw him in lotr.

[–] daizymouze 20 years ago

I used to watch it with my grandmother, she's got a thing for Mystery shows, and she got me into them.I was intrigued by who played Geoff and as well as the other actors.Then when LOTR came out, I was thrilled to see my mystery solving Geoff as a hobbit in one of my favorite book trilogies.So yes, I did watch it before LOTR.And I still watch the re-runs on PBS.

[–] zythman 20 years ago

Yes, I was a fan of his as far back as 1996 and still am although not due to LOTR. I watched most of the Hetty Wainthrop Investigates English detective series on PBS, even recording several episodes on video (sorry Hetty and Dom fans - they aren't for sale nor do I make copies!). I really came to enjoy the chemistry of the detective team Hetty and Geoffrey. Geoffrey seemed intelligent and willing to offer his brilliant and insightful help in uncovering important details for Hetty (played by Patricia Routledge). She may have been the starring master detective of the series but he was very sharp and never missed any details. I became interested mainly because this was a great detective series, which the English are much better at producing than anyone else, and because I had enjoyed Patricia Routledge in "Keeping Up Appearances". Hetty Wainthrop was a much better series. The Hetty Wainthrop detective series caught my attention early on, when it was still new. I haven't seen nor do I care to see LOTR (sorry, LOTR fans, but I'm particular with what I spend my time watching), but I can't help but notice that Dominic Monahan has created quite a cult following for himself. I imagine that after the lull dies down, Monahan will likely return to English Mysteries and become an old master detective himself. As his huge fanclub ages with him, it should always be easy for him to attract a sizable audience. (BBC -are you listening?) I'm quite sure his loyal LOTR fans hold higher expectations for him, as in high paying Hollywood movie roles, but a staring role in an English detective mystery is quite an honor to bestow upon any English actor. In Great Britain, honor holds higher esteem than wealth alone. Wealth is simply the vehicle to obtain honor, not the goal itself as it seems it is in America. So yes - I was indeed a fan of Dom's before LOTR.

[–] TuppenceBeresford 20 years ago

Yes! I watched every episode when it first aired on our local PBS. I was 13 or 14 when I first saw the show and immediately developed a crush on Dom! I watched the credits find out the name of the adorable Geoffrey. Have been Dom fan ever since.

I love Britsh comedies, mysteries, and Dominic! "Hetty" was a great show.

I first found out that LOTR was going to be made into a movie when I was searching for info on Dom. I read the book then to find out about Dom's character.

Can't wait to see him in Spivs and/or Purifers. I hope they are played in American movie theaters.

[–] Linaw50 20 years ago

I always remembered his character from Hetty Wainthropp - v good. It suddenly clicked who he was when I first saw LOTR.

[–] pjisdaman 19 years ago

Was just watching old eps of hetty and wondrin where da hell id seen "Geoffrey" before. After about half an hour of this pissing me off i finally had to look it up on the net! Was kicking myself when i realised it woz Dom! wot an idiot... bit he reali wasnt gud lookin back then sorry guys.