Review for Never The Twain - Series 1 & 2

Coming at the fag end of the halcyon British sit-com era (1981), 'Never the Twain', a poor man's 'Odd Couple', lasted an astonishing 11 seasons - right through the 1980's. This set gathers together all 12 episodes from the first two series.



Featuring two incorrigible hams, Donald Sinden and Windsor Davies as rival antiques dealers, the series relied heavily on the barbed insults between the two - a relentless sparring which actually works very well. Sinden is the mealy-mouthed snob whilst Windsor the rough-diamond, fresh from the Valleys.


Not only are they next door neighbours, but their lives are linked in other ways too. Peel is divorced with an adult son, whilst Smallbridge is a widower with an adult daughter. Things really hot up when the son and daughter wed, and they are critical to the thin narrative thread of these first two series, though disappeared (supposedly to Canada) shortly thereafter. Well, they were both a bit wet, and the real laugh's here are all Sinden's and Windsor's.

Honor Blackman (playing a local vet) features as the focus of the gent's affections, and drives the romantic rivalry - another great source of sparring comedy. She looks frightening glam for a 'woman of a certain age'
The jokes never quite get beyond sixth-form humour and certainly have none of the sophisticated subtlety of 'The Odd Couple' or 'Grumpy Old Men' (the movie - not the winging and overly-exposed TV series).
The two gents seem very 'old' by today's standards and yet one episode is given over entirely to Smallbridge's fiftieth birthday, as if it's evidence of having one foot firmly in the grave. It's incredible how such perceptions change. Or maybe it's just because I'm getting older.

Some of the better episodes are those that play out like good old-fashioned farce, with misunderstandings and double-meanings reigning supreme.
Series 2 is where it really gets into its stride and there are some genuinely funny laugh aloud moments. The scripts are well penned by sitcom stalwart Johnnie Mortimer who wrote the entire first two series, though then didn't make another contribution until series 6 (of its incredible 11 series run). Mortimer usually partnered (Galton & Simpson style) with Brian Cooke and together they turned out a number of classics including 'Man about the House', and 'George & Mildred'.


There are some almost superfluous extras here including a quiz, image galleries and a 'Top 10 insult' run-down that was rather amusing to see - and helps showcase Mortimer's wicked pen.


Image and sound quality is adequate throughout, though it does have that rather dull, greyish quality that colour video had at the time. Not a transfer issue, just a feature of the day.


All in all, I would say the set represents good value with two series here for the price of a single disc set.


Here are the episode lists with original transmission dates.

Series 1 (1981)

• 1.1. Families At War (September 7, 1981)
• 1.2. Of Meissen Men (September 14, 1981)
• 1.3. A Night At The Opera (September 21, 1981)
• 1.4. A Matched Pair (September 28, 1981)
• 1.5. Nothing But The Truth (October 5, 1981)
• 1.6. Father Of The Groom (October 19, 1981)

Series 2 (1982)

• 2.1. Whose Been Sleeping In My Bed? (September 7, 1982)
• 2.2. As Young As You Feel (September 14, 1982)
• 2.3. A Woman's Place ... (September 21, 1982)
• 2.4. Blood Brothers (September 28, 1982)
• 2.5. lf You Knew Susan (October 5, 1982)
• 2.6. The More We Are Together (October 12, 1982)