Jeeves and Wooster: Jeeves the Matchmaker

Jeeves and Wooster: Jeeves the Matchmaker
ITV
19 May 1991
Historical Comedy
DVD
B

There are a couple reasons why this is the best episode of the second series.  To begin with, Exton seems (with the exception of the almost indestructible Right Ho, Jeeves) more comfortable adapting and blending the Wodehouse short stories than trying his hand at the novels.  Here he juggles three stories, interweaving them well.  This is also the only episode of the series to feature Siberry and/or Daws, and Bingo and more particularly Tuppy remain the funniest and most interesting of Bertie's friends.  When both men, as well as Bertie in the first part of the episode, obsess about their romances, and ignore each other, it's even better.  Also, the brutality of country rugby is presented in a comical way.  I laughed out loud a few times.  Note that Bobbie Wickham has been recast (as an Irishwoman) and is now more canonically a redhead.  Eighty-year-old Geoffrey Toone makes his first of three appearances as Bingo's uncle Lord Bittlesham, but Siberry would be replaced.  Note that the title is a misnomer, as Jeeves breaks at least as many matches as he makes, including a couple of his own.

Jeeves and Wooster in Series Two ranges from a C to this B, sitting somewhat comfortably on the C+/B- fence for its average.  Series Three would, if I recall correctly, take place largely in America and allow Bertie to sing on a regular basis again.