Yes Minister (TV Series) The Quality of Life (1981) User Reviews

Milton Keynes

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 26 April 2021]

Humphrey has to manipulate Hacker into approving the expansion of a high rise building.

This is an enjoyable episode that sees Humphrey's strategic manipulation skills and Hacker's publicity seeking collide once more.

The plot is a standard 'Yes, Minister' formula of Humphrey manoeuvring his way to get something through Hacker and it comes together in an amusing way.

As always the dialogue is the strongest aspect of this episode. From the outset we have excellent banter involving Humphrey and Desmond Glazebrook, particularly the latter's staggering lack of economic theory knowledge considering he is the Governor of the Bank of England. This also presents more of Humphrey's fantastic insight into relationship between ministers and the civil service.

As ever Paul Eddington and Nigel Hawthorne are excellent. I was also amused by Richard Vernon, who seemed perfect to play Glazebrook.

Yep Minister

[safenoe · 8/10 · 27 December 2023]

When watching each episode of Yes Minister I wondered whether Sir Humphrey would come out on top and outwit Jim Hacker, and I'd say the majority of times he did, although it was more balanced in Yes Prime Minister as no doubt Jim learned a lot as a minister. Here Sir Humphrey is in his element.

Jonathan Lynn co-created and co-wrote Yes, Minister with Antony Jay. Interestingly, Antony Jay received a knighthood to become Sir Antony Jay but to this day Jonathan Lynn hasn't. Yet Jonathan Lynn went on to direct Clue, Nuns on the Run, My Cousin Vinny, and The Whole Nine Yards so it's strange init that Jonathan has been overlooked for a knighthood.