The Brothers - The Complete Series 7 BBC

Ultimately, it was all rather pointless, having begun to fizzle away to nothing following Brian and Ann going their seperate ways. The brief return of Ann (Hilary Tindall) set one hoping that Series 7 would sustain some kind of interest... but then we were saddled with the awful April (the pretty but infuriating Liza Goddard), not to mention Jane Maxwell (Kate O'Mara) smouldering all over the place to no great effect (although at least that dozy, whisky-swilling ex-husband of hers had been given the boot). Ted and Jenny got even more annoying, and the pretty doormat Jill is simply replaced by the pretty doormat Barbara, gushing to her worthless husband over the 'phone.Then there were a couple of pointless sub-plots involving Bill Riley, the entire mess winding up at a Christmas party with the guests jigging unconvincingly to such standard seasonal classics as The Who's 'Substitute' and the novelty 'In Zaire'.'The Brothers' was just begging - like 'Doctor Who' - for cancellation. It was Hilary Tindall's show. Once she was gone, it was game over.

This was the series which was like the decade itself, it was on the wane. Maybe it was a sad analogy of the times but it was still the one of the best dramas of the decade at a time when the BBC could give the public a boost on a Sunday night before school or work the next day. You had already felt good after watching Cliff Michelmore on Holiday '76 so why not stay on a roll.Just as the 70s lost its way so did The Brothers and like many companies at the time Hammonds were thrashing around trying to look at new markets. The episodes were losing their structure and they were becoming bitty and slightly bizarre such as Ted befriending April Merroney. There was a lot of tilting at windmills to keep the whole thing going. Saying that it was the sum of all its parts and it still made for a great Sunday night drama. I think Paul Merroney was the best thing in the series because he added the real drama. He was the precursor to the 1980s and the change in how business was conducted. He could see the future back in the 1970s and he would have kept Hammonds going. Paul has retired now, but he still sees his legacy of a Hammonds truck parked next to one of Eddie Stobarts in Scotch Corner services as he cruises up to County Durham in his Jag for another family funeral, now and then. As a County Durham lad I can identify with him a bit, many lads from here had to move away for a new life. Paul didn't hang around for anyone did he?

Final series - v good. Love The Brothers. Not so keen on the brief Brian/Jane/David thing, where she gets attracted to David. I get it. She's a similar age to Jenny, probably, and regrets not having kids - it didn't happen with her ex husband. So, when she meets a man she likes who's keen on her - then it seems to be fizzling out a bit before it's really got started, she can't be blamed for not discouraging the attentions of another man. References in work to "backing a different horse"... so, if you fail to get a romance off the ground with one man, and haven't got to a stage where you have a real claim on each other, then another one seems keen, what's a woman who's bio clock's ticking to do? "Back another horse". But David asking out a woman his brother's been seeing is pretty low...0 out of 10 for family loyalty, David! He should've at least asked how things stood in Brian's mind, like "Are you still interested in her? If not, do you mind if I ask her out?" If yes, BACK OFF!!! After all, David's now been "in love" with three women since Jill died. Like, within a year of losing her, he fell for Claire. They got keen on each other, then that fizzled out - she went back to Paul, they remained friends who were v fond of each other; he went to France on business, got seduced by a man eater (Danielle - Mind Your Langauge - but not so nice) - fell in love, was gutted when she was a vile con-woman - then he fell in love with Claire again, but she was too crushed over Paul's engagement to agree to get back with him. This all in season 5 & 6; then he's told Ted "I'm going to ask Jane to marry me!" Silly boy!!! They've only had a few dates, not even kissed... Ted's like "Good for you". Never mind "WTF????? What about Brian? Weren't he & Jane kind of seeing each other? Are you sure that's over? She seems to like both of you; maybe with a slight preference for Brian. Shouldn't you both tell her to make up her mind, then let you know how things stand." Poor Mrs Hammond! She's thought to be an interfering old bat - according to Jane, Ted and David, and even Brian was off briefly (shooting the messenger) - till he realised she was only concerned about him. And what mother wouldn't be upset, angry and worried to hear that some woman was dating two of her sons? Doesn't that kind of thing cause longterm - possibly permanent family rifts/estrangements? I imagine my mother must've felt glad my brother and I aren't going to compete for the same date.

Iv enjoyed all the previous series and could not wait for the 7th and final instalment. I knew the character of Anne came back but I was very disappointed that she only returned for a couple of episodes and was criminally underused. The character of Paul Merroney had been building for sometime and I felt 'the brothers' were often sidelined for Merroney. I did not take to his wife either. Im glad I bought it and completed the sries but this 7th series was my least favourite and its funny that it was after this series that they gave up on the show, and didn't go on to make anymore. I an understand why. I miss the feud between Jennifer and Mary Hammond which had always been crackling beneath the surface. Them being friends for much of this series felt wrong also. I have to say I really liked Gwen and Bill Rileys son, Ronnie. Very handsome actor and I really admired his scene in the wheelchair. Handsome chap, wish he had been introduced earlier on in the series when Gwen came to be featured regularly.Incidentally, I must have been one of the first to buy and paid £33, only to discover, half hour later, Amazon were selling it for £21.99. Made me feel cheated as a loyal purchaser of the show.