As Time Goes By Season 4 Episode 7
As Time Goes By
Season 4

Ep 7. Wedding Preparations

  • April 16, 1995
  • 28 min
  • 7.7  (103)

As Time Goes By is a British sitcom that follows the love story between two former lovers, Jean Pargetter (Judi Dench) and Lionel Hardcastle (Geoffrey Palmer), who rekindle their romance after a 38-year separation. Season 4 episode 7, titled "Wedding Preparations," focuses on their daughter Judith's (Moira Brooker) upcoming nuptials.

The episode begins with Jean and Lionel arriving at the hotel where the wedding will take place. They're met by Judith, who is frantically trying to finalize the arrangements for the big day. She enlists her parents' help, but they end up bickering and causing a scene in the lobby. Meanwhile, Jean's wealthy sister-in-law Alistair (Frank Middlemass), who is paying for the wedding, arrives and begins bossing everyone around.

As the wedding draws closer, tensions rise between the bride and groom as well. Judith is worried about her fiancé, Alistair, who seems more interested in his car collection than her. Despite her fears, Alistair assured Judith that he is looking forward to the wedding, and his words put her mind at ease. However, things take an unexpected turn when Jean discovers that Alistair has not actually paid for the hotel accommodations and threatens to withhold her attendance at the wedding unless he comes to his senses.

Back at Lionel's farm, their housekeeper-friend, Mrs. Bale (Jenny Funnell), is miffed that she was not invited to the wedding. She takes out her frustrations on Lionel, but he manages to placate her with a touching mother-son dance. This scene is one of the highlights of the episode, as it showcases both the characters' growth as well as their longstanding bond.

Meanwhile, Jean and Lionel's son, Stephen (Philip Bretherton), returns from his travels, eager to see his sister and attend the wedding. However, his flaky personality and careless comments end up causing tension between himself and his father, who is disappointed in his son's lack of career ambition.

The episode concludes with the wedding ceremony, which takes place on a beautiful sunny day in a countryside church. The guests arrive in vintage cars, and the bride glows in her elegant dress. Jean walks her daughter down the aisle in a touching moment that brings tears to the eyes of the viewers. However, the ceremony is not without its snafus, thanks to the incompetent vicar and the absence of one of the wedding rings. Ultimately, though, love triumphs, and the newlyweds share a passionate kiss, much to the delight of the audience.

Overall, "Wedding Preparations" is a heartwarming episode that encapsulates the show's themes of love, family, and second chances. The wedding itself is a fitting climax to the various storylines leading up to it, and the characters' interactions are both entertaining and emotionally resonant. Fans of the show will not be disappointed with this episode, which serves as a shining example of its wholesome and endearing humor.

Description
Watch As Time Goes By - Wedding Preparations (s4 e7) Online - Watch online anytime: Buy, Rent
As Time Goes By, Season 4 Episode 7, is available to watch and stream on BBC America. You can also buy, rent As Time Goes By on demand at Apple TV Channels, Amazon Prime online.
  • First Aired
    April 16, 1995
  • Runtime
    28 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    7.7  (103)