I've Had a Few Harrassments (Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em - The Complete Second Series (DVD))

Member Name: MI9to5

Product:	Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em - The Complete Second Series (DVD)
Date:	18/09/09 (60 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A softer side appears

Disadvantages: Some won't like the slapstick

Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em is a British comedy series that was broadcast between 1973 and 1978. In a BBC poll in 2002 to find Britain's best sitcom the show was voted number 22 - just ahead of Likely Lads and My Family but below to the Manor Born and Are You Being Served.

== What is Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em? ==

The premise for Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em is very simple indeed. The show follows the antics of accident-prone and extremely naïve yet well meaning and optimistic Frank Spencer (Michael Crawford) and his ever tolerant yet increasingly frustrated wife Betty (Michele Dotrice). Everything that occurs within the series revolves around Frank's incapability to hold down a job, do any sort of DIY, talk to people or go on a trip without it all ending in disaster. Most of these situations spiral perilously out of control and frequently result in the destruction of property, someone else's mental breakdown or a series of spectacular stunts, all performed by Crawford himself.

== The Characters ==

The character side of this show was very simple because the only constant characters were Frank and his wife Betty. Other characters made a couple of appearance here and there but as one run in with Frank is more than enough very few of them return.

Frank Spencer (Michael Crawford) is an iconic character known for his constant wearing of tank tops, berets and trench coats. Frank views himself, as a harassed man but is in reality simply a bit clueless and exceptionally useless in some many ways. He has the uncanny ability of being able to infuriate everyone generally because of his inability to do most things and this leads to the frustration of others and a general air of chaos. Despite all of this though Frank is a rather warm hearted person that just wants to succeed and inspires affection from the audience, as we genuinely do believe that he adores his wife and will do anything for her. It is worth noting here that the catchphrase commonly associated with him "ooohhh Betty" was never actually said on screen and more common phrasing includes: "I've had a bit of trouble" and "I've had a lot of harassments lately".

Betty Spencer (Michele Dotrice) is in many ways just as iconic a character as Frank. She has the patience of a Saint when it comes to putting up with the chaotic world that she shares with Frank. Some view Betty as a bit of a wet and a little bit stupid but she is much more than that. She's a supporting wife that simply loves her husband despite his many faults and I suppose in this way she is a beacon for those that see true love as something to do with intellect. No matter what he does Betty knows that Frank loves him and is always there to care for him when he needs it too.

== Series Two DVD ==

The Series Two DVD of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em contains all six episodes from the second series giving you 2 hours and 50 minutes of entertainment. Unfortunately however the DVD contains no speical features, which is a bit of a shame. On top of this none of the episodes come with subtitles, which is always a downer for me.

== Episodes ==

Cliffhanger - With Frank's new job comes a compnay car and to celebrate he and Betty take a drive to the seaside. Not being able to get the car running properly near a cliff edge though isn't something either of them planned for.

The RAF Reunion - Frank is attending the annual RAF reunion and whilst their memories of his short but somewhat eventful time in uniform come back to him.

The Public Relations Course - In an attempt to better himself Frank attends a resedential PR course but a fight in his dormitory and a walk out by the other students leaves Frank being chased off the premises by the insturctor.

Frank and Marvin - Frank wants to become a bluecoar and tries to start a ventriloquist act with Marvin the Monkey. This in itself is eventful but on top of a singing rendition all ends in fireworks.

Father's Clinic - In preperation for fatherhood Frank takes Betty's neice rollerskating but ends up skating out of the rink and onto the open road.

The Baby Arrives - After numerous false alarms the hospital are fed up of Frnak Spencer but the next time he rushes into the hospital it's the real thing - he really is about to be a father.

Like most comedy series' all of the episodes can be watched as stand-alone pieces but in doing so you do miss some of the more subtle jokes that pass amongst the characters and that reoccur in future episodes and series'.

== Episode Opinion ==

All of the episodes in this series are fantastic to watch and really build upon the characters that blossomed in the previous series. What I like particularly about this series is that we get to see different sides to the two main characters. It is the premise of parenthood that causes these changes and from the moment we know Betty is going to have a baby we seem to somehow prepare ourselves for all eventualities. When it actaully comes to the birth however everything is very plesant and enjoyable viewing. In my opinion 'The Baby Arrives' is a brilliant episode and lets us see a compeltely different Frank.

== Humour ==

The comedy in this series is a blend of subtle and slapstick humour although as you might have imagined because Frnak is so accident prone, the majority does fall into the slapstick category. In my opinion however although the events that occur are themselves ludicrous the programme never seems to go to far. What makes the programme so enjoyable to watch however is the fact that Crawford himself did all the stunts within the programme and therefore it is more visual than it would otherwise have been. The fifth episode 'Father's Clinic' provides us with one of the most popular and memorable television stunts as Frank skates through traffic.

On top of this is the way that the series has cleverly used some wonderful comic scripting, that usually plays on Franks naivity or simple stupidity, in an attempt to break away from the more common slapstick sketches. This use of comic phrasing gives the show more depth and makes the characters more realistic and grounded than those in plain slapstick sketches often are. Furthermore the introduction of the parenthood premise leaves the show open for more pressing comedy that is also not without it's poignent moments.

== General Opinion ==

I adore Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and have done for quite some time. I think that it is one of those programmes that always makes you laugh however you are feeling. This second series builds upon the tremenous first series and adds a collection of wonderful episodes to the shows repertoire. It continues to show Frank in his struggles for a job but also brings in more of a family element which is lovely and meorable to watch for all sorts of reasons. The characters also continue to grow, change and improve in a believable way and remain ultimately grounded and therefore at a characteristically sustainable level.

Summary: A great comedy series that allows us to see the softer side to Frank Spencer