Never Too Old

DVD, Dad's Army S9 (Never Too Old)

A lovely end to the series, not full of cutting humour and perfectly delivered lines, but like the men they were based on, good, jolly amateurs, doing it to the last. That’s not to say they’re amateurish, Captain Mainwaring, I didn’t mean that, no sir. No I meant in the best possible way sir.

All the familiar jokes and situations were used, with perhaps more meaning this time as it was the last: Godfrey has his sister there, and talks of the Farmer's wife Mrs. Prentiss; Frazer tells a wild tale, Wilson makes a speech about Mrs. Pike; Captain Mainwaring gets into embarassing situations; Pike is a stupid boy; and Jones marries his sweetheart at last. Even the Warden's last insults are said in a softer way.

And on top of getting to see most of the recurring characters again, we’re treated to an extra five minutes running time, in which the little band of brave home guards are together for the last time we’ll see them, and toast the rest of the Home Guard in Great Britain, and in so doing the real ones of history. No better way to end.

****