This Season 3 episode (drawn largely from the P.G. Wodehouse novel "The Mating Season") represents JEEVES AND WOOSTER at its finest. Bertie's Aunt Agatha wants him to travel to Deverill Hall to woo the lovely Gertrude Winkworth. Gussie Fink-Nottle must go there as well in order to impress Dame Daphne, godmother to his fiancée Madeline Bassett. When Gussie is arrested for fishing for newts in Trafalgar Square Fountain, Bertie must avert scandal by traveling to Deverill and pretending to be Gussie. (Bertie is heavily invested in keeping Gussie and Madeline together, for if any scandal were to break them apart then Madeline would immediately turn her attentions to Bertie!) When Gussie is bailed out of jail and turns up at Deverill Hall, the only solution is for him to pretend to be Bertie! Hilarious mix-ups and hi-jinks result.
Key to the episode's success is the fact that it is based on a single Wodehouse novel, instead of being cobbled together from several Wodehouse short stories. As a result, everything flows nicely and feels of a piece. The spirit of classical European comedic literature always hovers over JEEVES AND WOOSTER; this episode could almost be a play by Oscar Wilde. The performances are pitch-perfect, including Richard Braine as lisping, petulant Gussie Fink-Nottle and Elizabeth Morton as drippy romantic Madeline Bassett. Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry are at their wry best. Chloe Annett is a stunner as Gertrude. John Elmes registers too as Wooster's pal "Catsmeat"; it strikes me he could have easily filled in for Laurie as Wooster. The estate of Joyce Grove, Nettlebed, Oxfordshire offers a perfect setting for the shenanigans.
In one of the most hysterical scenes, Gussie embarrasses himself singing a rendition of the musical comedy song "Ever So Goosey" in front of the Deverill clan. There is also a subplot involving a novelty golf club of Bertie which Jeeves is determined to get rid of (and succeeds).
Key to the episode's success is the fact that it is based on a single Wodehouse novel, instead of being cobbled together from several Wodehouse short stories. As a result, everything flows nicely and feels of a piece. The spirit of classical European comedic literature always hovers over JEEVES AND WOOSTER; this episode could almost be a play by Oscar Wilde. The performances are pitch-perfect, including Richard Braine as lisping, petulant Gussie Fink-Nottle and Elizabeth Morton as drippy romantic Madeline Bassett. Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry are at their wry best. Chloe Annett is a stunner as Gertrude. John Elmes registers too as Wooster's pal "Catsmeat"; it strikes me he could have easily filled in for Laurie as Wooster. The estate of Joyce Grove, Nettlebed, Oxfordshire offers a perfect setting for the shenanigans.
In one of the most hysterical scenes, Gussie embarrasses himself singing a rendition of the musical comedy song "Ever So Goosey" in front of the Deverill clan. There is also a subplot involving a novelty golf club of Bertie which Jeeves is determined to get rid of (and succeeds).
