The BEST episodes of As Time Goes By
Every episode of As Time Goes By ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of As Time Goes By!
Army officer Lionel Hardcastle and nurse Jean Pargeter had a three-month affair in 1953. After Lionel is posted to Korea, the two lose touch when Lionel's letter to Jean fails to get delivered. Thirty-eight years later, they meet again. A sweetly charming situation comedy that ran for nine seasons. Best enjoyed with your feet up and with a cup of tea and some custard tarts at your side.
#1 - A Very Personal Problem
Season 8 - Episode 1 - Aired 7/30/2000
Judy and Alistair are no longer seeing each other neither are Sandy and Harry. So Jean decides to cheer them up. Alistair comes around to see Lionel but, Jean thinks he's there to see Judy. Jean worries that Judy will think that she was meddling so she tells Judy that Alistair was there discussing a personal problem that Lionel has. Thinking that it involves Jean, Judy plans a romantic weekend away for Lionel and Jean.
#2 - Improvements?
Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/7/1995
Lionel gets some suggestions for improvements to his script for the miniseries. Jean and Lionel argue over her retirement that has yet to happen. Later they go out to the country house to see some of the filming for the miniseries.
#3 - Pardon?
Season 7 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/19/1998
Jean suspects that Lionel is going deaf. But despite the fact that he clearly can't hear very much, Lionel resists going to a doctor. Meanwhile, he becomes convinced that Jean is having problems with her eyes, and sets about solving this dilemma.
#4 - What Now?
Season 9 - Episode 4 - Aired 8/4/2002
Alistair and Judith are now married, but will Harry pluck up the courage and ask Sandy to join him in Canada? Meanwhile, in the Hardcastle household, Jean has taken pity on a homeless girl named Dave - but Lionel is not entirely sure about her new friend.
#5 - The Affair
Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/26/1995
Jean's sister-in-law decides to move in with her and Lionel after she finds out her husband is having an affair. Actually he being so secretive because he is planning a surprise anniversary party for her.
#6 - Welcome News
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/2/1995
Rocky decides to give Lionel his country house in-which the film crew for the miniseries has decided to shoot. Jean and Lionel get engaged.
#7 - Wedding Day Nerves
Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/23/1995
Lionel and Jean's wedding day arrives. Lionel has to deal with a case of nerves while Jean has to deal with her sister-in-laws meddling.
#8 - At Death's Door
Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/18/1996
When Jean's sister-in-law Penny has to go into the hospital she thinks things are worse than they are and makes a big fuss.
#9 - Showered with Gifts
Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/25/1996
Lionel and Jean befriend the villagers who shower the couple with gifts.
#10 - A Surprise for Jean
Season 6 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/29/1997
Jean tells Lionel that she wants him to surprise her more. So Alistair suggests Lionel surprise Jean with a trip. However it turns out not to be the easiest thing to do.
#11 - An Old Flame
Season 7 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/26/1998
Jean and Lionel take a parental interest in Harry, Sandy's policeman boyfriend. Yet, the affairs of the younger generation seem to diminish in importance when Jean receives a phone message from an old flame.
#12 - Too Old... or Too Nosy
Season 7 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/17/1998
Jean's sister-in-law, Penny, and her husband Steven are expected for another visit. As they are considered a rather dull couple by the Hardcastles, it is most surprising that they arrive via separate modes of transportation to announce that they are having a tiff.
#13 - You Can't Manufacture Happy Endings for Everybody
Season 9 - Episode 1 - Aired 7/7/2002
It seems like Judy and Sandy might be finally settling down when Alistair proposes again to Judy and Sandy gets a visit from Harry. But Harry's visit doesn't bring the best of tidings.
#14 - The Country Set
Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/7/1996
Jean and Lionel spend a weekend in the country at Rocky's house. Upon arriving, they are visited by ""the country set.""
#15 - Christmas Special (2)
Season 10 - Episode 2 - Aired 12/30/2005
Patrick is looking for his father, Jean wants grandchildren, Stephen wants to be a celebrity and Lionel wants peace and quiet. How do they all end up in hospital?
#16 - The Bypass
Season 7 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/10/1998
The whole gang (minus Harry, who is stuck on duty for protest coverage) head out to the country for the weekend. But road construction is about to throw the travelers for a loop.
#17 - You Must Remember This
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/12/1992
We meet the two main characters: Lionel and Jean. In the pilot episode, Lionel is in a hotel cafe giving a waitress a hard time. He is scathingly sarcastic. Jean is, similarly, seen being brittle and unbending. Lionel is working on his book ”My Life in Kenya” about his life in Kenya. (This joke comes up in numerous episodes.) He requires a secretary to help with the revisions. That's where Jean's secretary service ""...Type for You"" comes in. Judith, Jean's daughter, meets Lionel at his hotel to apologize for the terrible secretary. Lionel asks Judith out. When he arrives to pick her up he is introduced to Jean. After about two seconds Jean and Lionel both independently figure out who they each suspect the other person to be: a lover last seen in 1953.
#18 - Future Imperfect
Season 8 - Episode 5 - Aired 8/27/2000
Lionel is still worried about his money future and Alistair suggests he sell the country house. Lionel and Jean decide that they should sell the house but, who is going to tell Mrs. Bale and Lol they are out of jobs. Lionel and Jean go to the country to inform everyone of their decision to sell. Later Rocky calls and offers to buy the house from Lionel so everything can remain the same.
#19 - The Bathroom
Season 8 - Episode 3 - Aired 8/13/2000
After Lionel walks in on Sandy in the bathroom Jean decides to add a second bathroom. But, things don't go as planned.
#20 - Animal Magnetism
Season 8 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/6/2000
Lionel trys to convince Jean that a dog has been following him. Judy and Sandy come home with the very dog that was following him. The women want to keep the dog but, Lionel wants to take him to the shelter so they can find his owner. The owner contacts the police and Harry brings him around to get the dog. Since Judy won't go with him to a party, Alistair invites Sandy and she excepts. Meanwhile Harry asks Judy to go to the movies with him and she excepts.
#21 - The Proposal
Season 7 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/31/1998
Alastair finally proposes to Judy and she eventually accepts. But the trouble starts when Judy finds out the circumstances of his proposal. Also, will the couple buy the house next door to Lionel and Jean?
#22 - The Old Folks' Party
Season 7 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/24/1998
Jean ropes everyone into helping at a party for the oldies ... bottoms are pinched, Alastair excels as a DJ, and Jean and Lionel hope to be treated as well in their old age. Madge and Rocky spice things up with booze.
#23 - The Dinner Party
Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/1/1997
Jean and Lionel must endure a trying evening with Jeans' sister-in-law.
#24 - The Psychotherapist
Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/25/1997
Just as Lionel is getting used to his new leisurely lifestyle, Jean steps up her pace at work and home. Jean decides to see a psychotherapist to help her with wanting to stop working but, not wanting to ""retire"".
#25 - The Stalker
Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/18/1997
Lionel fears he's losing his strength. So when a stalker starts following Sandy home he decides to show he can take care of the situation. Turns out it's just a love-sick teenager following her.