Are You Being Served? Vol. 8

Rating:
Summary: "I'd marry her meself but I think she's got enough trouble"
Review: ---Mr. Humphries in Do You Take This Man?
This volume offers the first episodes without Mr. Grainger. Mr. Tebbs is featured here as the first successor. Grainger is definitely missed, but Tebbs did have more personality than Mr. Klein of later episodes. The six episodes here range from good to mediocre. By Appointment has the staff preparing for a possible visit from the royal family. The Club has the staff trying to put up wallpaper in a dismal cellar that is to serve as their social club. Do You Take This Man? is an interesting episode. Mrs. Slocombe is engaged to marry a Greek and, as a result, receive a house from her rich uncle. However, the union is objected to by a family member of the groom (his wife). For once, the staff show some compassion for the senior saleswoman with the changing hair color and do what they can to assure she receives her wedding gift anyway.

Shedding the Load is one of the better episodes offered here. Sales are down (what else is new) and the staff is asked to decide who should get the ax. This episode also has a reference to President Jimmy Carter. One of the reasons Mr. Rumbold gives to Young Mr. Grace to explain the falling figures is that "Carter has not come up to expectations." In A Bliss Girl, Capt. Peacock is demoted to the sales staff while Mr. Humphries takes over a new perfume counter. This temporary demotion happens after Peacock had run-ins with Mr. Tebbs and Mrs. Slocombe followed by Mr. Rumbold's funny misinterpretations. Happy Returns is the weakest episode in this volume. The staff put on a cabaret for Young Mr. Grace's birthday. The costumes are cute (they include Little Miss Muffet and a teddy bear) but the plot is very weak. Mr. Lucas arguing with Mr. Humphries about Mr. Rumbold's piano-playing Humpty Dumpty seems pointless and out of character. This volume is the first in the Season 6-10 boxed set, which I highly recommend. Each DVD has a clever menu page where a lift conductor's voice takes you to each episode. There are also rotating photos of the "Employee of the Month"--in this case, Mr. Humphries.