Rosemary & Thyme (TV Series) Arabica and the Early Spider (2003) User Reviews

A solid second installment.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 15 March 2024]

Rosemary and Laura are employed to work on a mansion estate, as they work, a body is unearthed, believed to be that of missing and celebrated horse, Arabics, but when the remains of a human body are found, the pair dig around, but face danger.

I enjoyed it, I didn't think it was quite as good as the first episode. A decent enough mystery, very light, very easy viewing, just a little safe this one. The horticultural element is interesting and ever present.

The best thing (apart from The Royal Doulton Windsor crystal) is the visuals, what a stunningly set and shot production, it looks glorious. The story itself is interesting enough, but they could have given us more explanation of how the pair are now a business unit.

Lovely to see a young Abigail Cruttenden, she's good.

7/10.

Exxcellent Series

[hmmills99 · 10/10 · 20 May 2007]

I actually love this series having followed Felicity Kendal's career since The Good Life (Good Neighbours in America). It has wonderful images of quaint villages in England and on the continent. The logic they use to solve the mysteries is believable with not just one view but an input by both parties and supporting cast. The driving is rather fun too with the old Landrover. All in all a wonderful series that takes me back to Europe on a weekly basis. Some of the characters in the series are of great interest as they range from old friends to complete strangers and the science of solving the riddle of the failing gardens, trees or lawns is quite educational.

A story of two skeletons

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 7 June 2018]

Have always adored detective dramas/mystery series. This has been apparent from an early age, half my life even, when getting into Agatha Christie through Joan Hickson's Miss Marple and David Suchet's Poirot and into 'Inspector Morse'.

Whether it's the more complex ones like 'Inspector Morse' (and its prequel series 'Endeavour') and anything Agatha Christie. Whether it's the grittier ones like 'A Touch of Frost' (though that is balanced brilliantly with comedy too) and particularly 'Taggart'. And whether it's the light-hearted ones like 'Murder She Wrote'. 'Rosemary and Thyme' is an example of a light-hearted detective mystery series and always gives me a lot of pleasures and banishes the blues when watching. It is a shame that it didn't last longer because it deserved to.

"Arabica and the Early Spider" is another wonderful episode and even better than the very promising start "And No Birds Sing".

Visually, "Arabica and the Early Spider" looks wonderful, beautifully photographed, vibrant in colour and as always with the show with a stunning setting, have always been envious of the gardens seen on the show. The music has a lot of charm with a main theme tune that is soothingly folksy that matches the whimsy of the setting appropriately.

The writing is engaging and suitably light-hearted without being frothy. Some of the dialogue for Laura and especially Rosemary is very funny. The story is suitably twisty, didn't predict the ending which was a surprise, without being convoluted, and is entertaining and with a relaxing vibe without being simplistic.

Similarly the characters engage, with Rosemary and Laura already being interesting and distinct in personality, and the chemistry between the two sparkles. Felicity Kendall and Pam Ferris are simply great, individually and as a sparkling double act, love Kendall's fire and feistiness and Ferris' more restrained and thoughtful approach.

Overall, wonderful and sees the show hit its stride. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Rosemary and Thyme hits its stride

[safenoe · 10/10 · 28 January 2021]

There's a sweet innocence and charm to Rosemary and Thyme. I hadn't heard of Rosemary and Thyme until I stumbled upon it when flicking through the TV guide and I was immediately hooked. Maybe it's the calming atmosphere of the European gardens (yes, the UK is part of Europe) that our two lead characters (Felicity Kendall and Pam Ferris) work in and at the same time solve a murder or more per episode.

I never tire of watching Rosemary and Thyme. I can watch each episode more multiple times for sure, such is the serenity amidst the beautiful gardens. The opening theme, performed by Australian classical guitarist John Williams, leads you in for the next 45 minutes or so for pure entertainment.

Here there are several skeletons in the ground, a stable girl, a horse, along with a dead rock star. So many murders, yet Rosemary and Laura manage to sort things out at the end in their rickety vehicle.

Anyway, it's more than the murders that makes this series endearing. It's the rapport between the two gardener cum detectives. This series was made in the 2000s. In this episode one of the police inspectors smirks and insinuates that Rosemary and Laura, who share a room in this episode (they sleep in separate beds) have a sexual relationship. It's very innocent.

No Garden

[tedg · 10 August 2006]

These are dreadful. This is the second I have seen.

In this one, our two women are living together and have opened a gardening business. They argue and follow leads, sort of a geriatric scooby doo. In theory, we are supposed to be charmed by three things. The idea of women buddies with no love interest. The idea of a mystery and detecting conflated with gardening. And the thrill of seeing modern English gardens and houses.

You can imagine the PowerPoint presentation on this.

Well, I find the buddy thing unoriginal and the link between gardening and detecting forced. That only leaves the house and garden, whether they are worth the visit. Actually they were in the first episode. Fine stuff, that.

This one has no garden — they are supposed to be creating one. And the house is dull.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.

Arabica and the early spider

[coltras35 · 5/10 · 1 February 2023]

Rosemary and Laura, having become close friends and opting to work together, find themselves enlisted by an ageing rock star, Nev Connolly, who wishes for the grounds of his newly-bought mansion, Compton Lacey, to be renovated. Shortly after they start work, disaster strikes when the singer is found dead, and the mystery is added to by the emergence of a skeleton of a horse near to the grounds. The pair quickly begin to wonder what is going on, and soon discover a past rivalry is rearing its head once more...

A little slow with too much confusing twists, but thanks to the scenic village and quaint gardens and the performances of our two heroines this is still watchable. And finale is quite fun with a short car chase.