Are You Being Served? Vol. 10

Rating:
Summary: "We haven't taken one solitary P"--Capt. Peacock on sales
Review: Volume 10 of the Are You Being Served? set (also available in the Seasons 6-10 boxed set which any fan should own) is an interesting set of episodes. It includes the last two shows with Mr. Lucas and Mr. Goldberg (The Agent and The Punch and Judy Affair), the first episode with Mr. Grossman and Mr. Spooner and the only episode featuring both Young Mr. Grace and Old Mr. Grace (Is It Catching?). The episodes, however, are mediocre at best.

"The Agent" is good as it features Mr. Goldberg (the best of the Mr. Grainger replacements) as an employment agent who works to find new jobs for Mrs. Slocombe and Mr. Humphries at one of Grace Brothers' biggest competitors. Although I find it repetitive, "The Punch and Judy Affair" is a fan favorite (it is also Trevor Bannister's favorite). The staff put on a life size Punch and Judy show as a way to make amends for crossing the company picket line. In "Is It Catching?" Mr. Humphries contracts Marine's disease and the staff is forced into quarantine. This episode is rather silly. "A Personal Problem" has Mrs. Peacock working as Mr. Rumbold's secretary to make Capt. Peacock jealous. Peacock must find out if she is playing games or is really attracted to that "bald-headed, jug-eared twit" and ends up on the ledge of Rumbold's office window to find out what's going on (or off). "Front Page Story" had interesting possibilities as Mr. Humphries becomes editor of a company gossip paper, but the opportunity for a controversial story on the store's canceled bonuses turns into a beauty contest to try to swindle money out of Old Mr. Grace. Miss Brahms refuses to compete so Mrs. Slocombe represents the department in sexy attire causing Capt. Slocombe to ask, "Would you like to tell the judges your name and what planet you come from?" Of course, it will be someone else from the ladies and gents department winning a weekend on Old Mr. Grace's boat due to an innovative ploy. Finally, in "Sit Out" threats to relegate the ladies and gents department to the basement cause a protest on the roof.

This DVD is not the best of AYBS? If you are a big fan of the series, get the boxed set so that you have everything. If you are a casual fan, I recommend volumes 2 and 1 in that order and, for the latter half of the series, volumes 9 and 11.