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Goodnight Sweetheart: The Complete Series Four DVD
01/10/2006 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
DVD. Pub: Revelation Films PAR61256. 319 minutes. 2 discs 11 episodes plus extras. Price: £19.99 (UK). Stars: Nicholas Lyndhurst, Elizabeth Carling, Emma Amos, Victor McGuire and Christopher Ettridge and others. Buy Goodnight Sweetheart in the USA - or Buy Goodnight Sweetheart in the UK  check out website: www.revfilms.com
Now, here's an interesting thing. Musical chairs with the actresses when both Derla Kirwan (Phoebe) and Michelle Holmes (Yvonne) leave to be replaced by Elizabeth Carling (Phoebe) and Emma Amos (Yvonne) and not even time traveller Gary Sparrow (actor Nicholas Lyndhurst) notices. Considering that one story here, 'The Leaving Of Liverpool' shows that if Gary changes something in the future quite drastically, it's a shame this wasn't exploited. Saying that, if he had noticed, we'd probably have been stuck with a season of him trying to put things right. As creators Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran comment in one of the two audio commentaries, the strength of the series and its accent around Lyndhurst, no one really spotted the difference that lost them viewing figures. Personally, I think both actresses did sterling performances, especially Carling, and held it all together. Emma Amos isn't quite as fiery or forthcoming as Michelle Homes initially and her interview on the first DVD indicates she did ask to soften it a little.
Considering this series was on the television in 1997, it has lost nothing of its edge or humour. To a large extent, this can be put down to not seeing so much of the present so it doesn't appear as a time bubble and the past, c1943, as being pretty much the constant. I found this a marvellous tonic to raise my spirits and the supporting cast of Chris Ettridge and Victor McGuire really raise the game - shouldn't we really be seeing more of both these actors on TV?
A lot of series four spins around the pregnant Phoebe with Gary involved in getting their marriage after her less than consumed marriage to Donald ends with his death. Reg Deadman (actor Chris Ettridge) finally leaves his wife and settles in with the mother of their child (does this mean this is the same officer Gary meets in the future?) after a lot of dithering. Gary also has to deal with his current day wife, Yvonne, losing her baby and resigning her job and getting into health foods. Ron (actor Victor McGuire) is also going through a painful divorce, especially as concerned to what happens to his property and finance, but ultimately attempts to make the best of it. Gary Sparrow, jumping between two time zones, is also having some doubts about his activities, even if he confesses he compartmentalises how he deals with both women, but also comes over as less than sympathetic when dealing with his friends as well.
A lot of the time travel elements are still played consistently. The Liverpool episode being the strongest reminder of how Gary has to be careful of messing with events. It also shows that as long as the resolution matches what the future shows no one really looks for unsung heroes. Seeing a tree planted to be a reminder of Donald's death in the graveyard and returning to the present to see it fully grown is also a sharp reminder that both times are catered for.
Despite all the drama, the comedy shouldn't be neglected and none of it is groanable even if Gary borrows heavily from the Lennon and MacCartney songbook when playing in the 1940s pubs.
This series is consistently sound and with only two more seasons to go, you can either buy them separate or as a complete boxset in a few months time.
GF Willmetts
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