Credit: Acorn Media
Official synopsis (from Acorn Media): Acorn Media announces the February 5, 2008 DVD release of Rosemary & Thyme: The Complete Collection, the 9-volume value-priced collector’s edition features all 22 episodes of the hit British mystery series from the producer of Agatha Christie’s Poirot. Rosemary & Thymecombines beautiful garden locations and classic whodunits with top-notch guest stars, eccentric characters, and great chemistry from its gardening detectives.
Stunning gardens at home and abroad provide the backdrop for this mystery series starring Felicity Kendal (Good Neighbors, The Camomile Lawn) as Rosemary Boxer and Pam Ferris (Children of Men, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Matilda) as Laura Thyme, professional gardeners and amateur sleuths. From their former careers as a university plant biologist and a police officer, Rosemary and Laura bring unique investigative talents to their horticultural and human mysteries. Their unobtrusive presence in the garden gives them access to secrets other detectives might miss—and that murderers would rather not reveal.
Locations featured in the series include manor houses in the English countryside; London’s Kew Gardens and Regent’s Park; the French Riviera and Italy’s Ligurian coast; a Surrey vineyard and the hills of Malaga, Spain. Guest stars include Anthony Andrews, Oliver Ford Davies, Phyllida Law, Julian Wadham, Margaret Tyzack, and Michael Maloney.
Rosemary & Thyme aired for three seasons (2003-2005) in the U.K. and was syndicated nationally on public television in the United States. The title music is performed by John Williams.
Special Features: An interview with Felicity Kendal and Pam Ferris, production notes, location notes, photo galleries, cast filmographies, and a trivia quiz.
My review: I was initially intrigued by Rosemary and Thyme because of Pam Ferris, who plays Ms. Trunchbull in the classic 1990s kids film Matilda. She was terrifying, so I was very interested to see how she acts as a regular, sane woman. I’m glad to see that she’s just as great acting as Rosemary Boxer who, along with her friend and gardening business partner Laura Thyme (Felicity Kendal), solve the mysteries of their clients.
I will say that the mysteries feel a lot lighter than most. I guess that’s possibly due to the fact that Rosemary and Laura are doing what is generally considered congenial, happy work in the gardens. And it’s also due to the fact that most of the show is set in the daytime, but other mystery shows are set in the daytime, so that can’t really be all of it. Maybe the constant refrain of the Simon and Garfunkel song “Rosemary and Thyme” has something to do with the lighter feel as well.
To me, some of the episodes have loopholes as to how certain things in the plot moves along; some of the reasoning the clients have for wanting Rosemary and Laura to investigate certain things doesn’t really come together, and some of the ways the team are able to infiltrate places doesn’t hold up to reality, but the premise of two older ladies who have a freelance gardening business while solving murders is very unique and provides a fresh spin on the detective genre.
If you can’t really get behind more hardcore shows like Law and Order, Prime Suspect and Sherlock, then I’d suggest this series for you. I’d also suggest it to people who love Midsomer Murders because the settings in both shows are similar–British middle and upper classes, picturesque countryside, villages, etc. And if you like shows like Murder, She Wrote, you might want to give this a try because, like Murder, She Wrote, this show has its way paved for by Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple series.
Overall, it’s a much quieter, but equally valid entry in the ever-growing presence of detective stories.
Rosemary and Thyme: The Complete Collection
Available now
DVD 9-Vol. Boxed Set: 22 episodes on 9 discs • approx. 18 ½ hours • 16:9 widescreen
$99.99
