Keeping Up Appearances

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Keeping Up Appearances is available in Australia on BINGE and Foxtel Now, and in the US on Britbox Apple TV Channel right now. Every one of its 5 seasons holds up. 172 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Patricia Routledge leads a cast with real comic timing. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on BINGE.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Keeping Up Appearances is worth clearing space for. The jokes in Keeping Up Appearances land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Hyacinth Bucket (whose name, she insists, is pronounced "Bouquet") is a suburban housewife in the West Midlands. She would be the first to tell you that she is a gracious hostess, a respected citizen, and a well-connected member of high society. If you don't believe that, just ask her best friend Elizabeth, held captive in Hyacinth's kitchen; or the postmen and neighbours who bristle at the sound of her voice; or Richard, her weary and compliant husband. The chemistry Patricia Routledge and Clive Swift bring to it does a lot of the heavy lifting. 5 seasons (1990–1995) gave the story room most shows never get. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Keeping Up Appearances holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Keeping Up Appearances respects your intelligence. American Housewife is the obvious comparison, but Keeping Up Appearances earns its own place alongside it. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch if your schedule allows. Patricia Routledge's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.

Keeping Up Appearances wrapped up in 1995, created by Roy Clarke — and 5 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.