Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Between 1994 and 1999, the BBC produced a hilarious television series called "The Vicar of Dibley" starring the well-known Dawn French. The plot of the series was that the small English farming village of Dibley needed a new vicar after its 102-year old vicar (played by Preston Lockwood, 1912-1996) passed away. To the surprise of many village residents, their new vicar is a boisterous woman by the name of Geraldine Granger (Dawn French). One villager in particular, the wealthy David Horton (Gary Waldhorn), is especially not pleased with the situation, but over time, his opinion changes. David and several of Dibley's more eccentric residents regularly meet to discuss various issues addressing Dibley. These villagers include David's son Hugo (James Fleet), their secretary Frank Pickle (John Bluthal), the farmer Owen Newitt (Roger Lloyd-Pack) and the stuttering Jim Trott (Trevor Peacock). Until her character passed away during an Easter special (following the show's first season), the village meetings also included Dibley's most experimental cook, Letitia Cropley (Liz Smith). Upon becoming Dibley's vicar, Geraldine is treated to having her own scatter-brained assistant, Alice Tinker (Emma Chambers). The first season of "The Vicar of Dibley" aired in 1994 with 6 episodes. Three 40+ minute specials followed in 1996 & 1997, as well as one 11-minute special, before the second season aired in 1998 with three episodes. The third (and final) season of 4 episodes aired in 1999. The three-disk DVD collection of the series contains the 16 regular length episodes and specials, but not the 11-minute special from 1997. These episodes and specials (with my rating for each) are listed below: Disk 1: 1. "Arrival" (5+). Dibley's aging vicar passes away, and Geraldine Granger arrives to take his place. 2. "Songs of Praise" (5+). A BBC TV program wants to feature a show about Dibley's new female vicar, and Geraldine decides to have auditions for church choir. 3. "Community Spirit" (5). Geraldine promises a huge Autumn Fair turnout thinking that she can get Elton John to appear thanks to Alice, but Kylie Minogue arrives instead. 4. "The Window and the Weather" (5). A wind storm causes a tree to fall through the church's stained-glass window. 5. "Elections" (5). Geraldine and David clash over bus service to Dibley and becomes his unintentional opponent in the race. 6. "Animals" (5+). To David's disapproval, Geraldine holds an animal church service. Disk 2: 1. "The Easter Bunny" (5+). Letitia passes away and bequeaths her Easter Bunny duties. 2. "The Christmas Lunch Incident" (5+). Geraldine gets talked into several filling Christmas lunches. 3. "Engagement" (5). Alice and Hugo get engaged with a little help from Geraldine. 4. "Dibley Live". Geraldine is in charge of "Radio Dibley" that exists for only one week and is live. 5. "Celebrity Vicar" (5). Geraldine appears on a TV show and becomes a celebrity. 6. "Love and Marriage" (5+). Geraldine presides over Hugo and Alice's wedding and meets David's brother Simon (Clive Mantle). Disk 3: 1. "Autumn" (5). Geraldine finally gets to spend time with Simon and Alice is pregnant. 2. "Winter" (5). Geraldine is in charge of Dibley's annual nativity reenactment. 3. "Spring" (4.5). Alice & Hugo's daughter who they named after Geraldine is baptized. 4. "Summer" (3). Dibley struggles through a hot drought and the water board wants to turn Dibley into a reservoir. Overall, I rate "The Vicar of Dibley" with 5 out of 5 stars. The vast majority of the shows are very good, with the exception of the final episode that didn't seem as well written.