Last Of The Summer Wine - Series 1-2 - Complete (DVD 2002)

I bought this DVD set because I've seen and enjoyed dozens of episodes but somehow missed the first two series. I this respect I was disappointed because the first two were not as good as subsequent ones when the characters were more developed and established and other interesting characters were introduced. Bill Owen and Peter Salis are as good as ever but the third central actor, whose name escapes me at the time of writing, isn’t right for the part and doesn’t bring to it what his successors did. He’s too loud and overdone and not very likable. I also got the feeling that Owen and Salis interacted better with the actors that played the roll in later series.
I enjoyed John Comber as Sid and regretted his passing away. Sid and Ivy have some good lines and their interaction, especially their skirmishing in the kitchen, always brings a smile.
Compo’s ardent pursuit of Nora doesn’t have the tongue in cheek quality it took on after he discovered the magic of her wrinkled stockings, neither does she repel his advances quite so enthusiastically without her brush in hand.
My rating of ‘Good’ refers to the general entertainment quality of the DVD but I would rate it ‘Below average’ in the context of other LOTSW series, although I haven’t seen the most recent ones since I now live in Germany and have to be satisfied with the re-runs on UK Gold.
I was looking forward to lending the DVDs to my American friend in repayment for his lending me Seinfeld but they don’t match up and I’m now reluctant to do so.