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The Worst Episodes of As Time Goes By

Every episode of As Time Goes By ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of As Time Goes By!

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Two lovers are reunited after decades apart following a mutual misunderstanding.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    As Time Goes By Season 8 Episode 1 - A Very Personal Problem
    7.5/10(121 votes)

    #1 - A Very Personal Problem

    S8:E1

    Judy and Alistair are no longer seeing each other neither are Sandy and Harry. So Jean decides to cheer them up. Alistair comes around to see Lionel but, Jean thinks he's there to see Judy. Jean worries that Judy will think that she was meddling so she tells Judy that Alistair was there discussing a personal problem that Lionel has. Thinking that it involves Jean, Judy plans a romantic weekend away for Lionel and Jean.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  2. As Time Goes By Season 6 Episode 2 - The Psychotherapist
    7.7/10(119 votes)

    #2 - The Psychotherapist

    S6:E2

    Just as Lionel is getting used to his new leisurely lifestyle, Jean steps up her pace at work and home. Jean decides to see a psychotherapist to help her with wanting to stop working but, not wanting to ""retire"".

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  3. As Time Goes By Season 7 Episode 2 - An Old Flame
    7.7/10(116 votes)

    #3 - An Old Flame

    S7:E2

    Jean and Lionel take a parental interest in Harry, Sandy's policeman boyfriend. Yet, the affairs of the younger generation seem to diminish in importance when Jean receives a phone message from an old flame.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  4. As Time Goes By Season 7 Episode 4 - The Bypass
    7.7/10(113 votes)

    #4 - The Bypass

    S7:E4

    The whole gang (minus Harry, who is stuck on duty for protest coverage) head out to the country for the weekend. But road construction is about to throw the travelers for a loop.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  5. As Time Goes By Season 8 Episode 3 - The Bathroom
    7.7/10(115 votes)

    #5 - The Bathroom

    S8:E3

    After Lionel walks in on Sandy in the bathroom Jean decides to add a second bathroom. But, things don't go as planned.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  6. As Time Goes By Season 8 Episode 5 - Future Imperfect
    7.7/10(110 votes)

    #6 - Future Imperfect

    S8:E5

    Lionel is still worried about his money future and Alistair suggests he sell the country house. Lionel and Jean decide that they should sell the house but, who is going to tell Mrs. Bale and Lol they are out of jobs. Lionel and Jean go to the country to inform everyone of their decision to sell. Later Rocky calls and offers to buy the house from Lionel so everything can remain the same.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  7. As Time Goes By Season 3 Episode 8 - A Trip to Los Angeles
    7.8/10(148 votes)

    #7 - A Trip to Los Angeles

    S3:E8

    Jean and Lionel arrive in Los Angeles to discuss the miniseries being made from Lionel's book.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  8. As Time Goes By Season 5 Episode 1 - The Country Set
    7.8/10(125 votes)

    #8 - The Country Set

    S5:E1

    Jean and Lionel spend a weekend in the country at Rocky's house. Upon arriving, they are visited by ""the country set.""

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  9. As Time Goes By Season 8 Episode 4 - Surprising News
    7.8/10(107 votes)

    #9 - Surprising News

    S8:E4

    Penny and Stephen arrive with news that they are moving to Spain and building a dream house. Lionel starts to worry about his future money situation and asks Alistair for some financial advise.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  10. As Time Goes By Season 9 Episode 4 - What Now?
    7.8/10(123 votes)

    #10 - What Now?

    S9:E4

    Alistair and Judith are now married, but will Harry pluck up the courage and ask Sandy to join him in Canada? Meanwhile, in the Hardcastle household, Jean has taken pity on a homeless girl named Dave - but Lionel is not entirely sure about her new friend.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  11. As Time Goes By Season 9 Episode 5 - You Must Remember This...
    7.8/10(134 votes)

    #11 - You Must Remember This...

    S9:E5

    On their own at last, with Alistair and Judith married off and Sally and Harry gone to Canada, Jean and Lionel take a look back on their life together in a one-hour retrospective featuring clips from past episodes.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  12. As Time Goes By Season 2 Episode 2 - A Weekend Away
    7.9/10(145 votes)

    #12 - A Weekend Away

    S2:E2

    Jean is put on the spot when Judith goes away for the weekend, and the house is left empty. She is somewhat flustered with all the suggestive comments regarding her and Lionel, and makes a fool of herself.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  13. As Time Goes By Season 3 Episode 6 - Branching Out
    7.9/10(129 votes)

    #13 - Branching Out

    S3:E6

    With Jean opening up a new branch of her secretarial agency Sandy and Judy have different ideas who should be in charge of it.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  14. As Time Goes By Season 3 Episode 10 - Problems, Problems
    7.9/10(134 votes)

    #14 - Problems, Problems

    S3:E10

    Jean and Lionel aren't happy with how the miniseries project is coming. Jean hires Lionel a new secretary. While Rocky and Madge have an accident.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  15. As Time Goes By Season 4 Episode 2 - Rewrites
    7.9/10(131 votes)

    #15 - Rewrites

    S4:E2

    The television company making a miniseries out of Lionel's book ask him to make it a little sexier. Jean hires a new secretary for Lionel to help him with the rewrites. Unfortunately she isn't much help after all.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  16. As Time Goes By Season 4 Episode 10 - Improvements?
    7.9/10(122 votes)

    #16 - Improvements?

    S4:E10

    Lionel gets some suggestions for improvements to his script for the miniseries. Jean and Lionel argue over her retirement that has yet to happen. Later they go out to the country house to see some of the filming for the miniseries.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  17. As Time Goes By Season 5 Episode 3 - Lionel's New Hobby
    7.9/10(123 votes)

    #17 - Lionel's New Hobby

    S5:E3

    Lionel starts building model boats as a way to pass the time. Jean worries about Lionel. Alistair trys to get Lionel to work on another book.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  18. As Time Goes By Season 7 Episode 5 - Too Old ... or Too Nosy
    7.9/10(106 votes)

    #18 - Too Old ... or Too Nosy

    S7:E5

    Jean's brother Steven and his wife are expected for another visit. As they are considered a rather dull couple by the Hardcastles, it is most surprising that they arrive via separate modes of transportation to announce that they are having a tiff.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  19. As Time Goes By Season 8 Episode 2 - Animal Magnetism
    7.9/10(115 votes)

    #19 - Animal Magnetism

    S8:E2

    Lionel trys to convince Jean that a dog has been following him. Judy and Sandy come home with the very dog that was following him. The women want to keep the dog but, Lionel wants to take him to the shelter so they can find his owner. The owner contacts the police and Harry brings him around to get the dog. Since Judy won't go with him to a party, Alistair invites Sandy and she excepts. Meanwhile Harry asks Judy to go to the movies with him and she excepts.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  20. As Time Goes By Season 1 Episode 5 - Relationships
    8.0/10(155 votes)

    #20 - Relationships

    S1:E5

    The trip to Nowrich has changed Jean and Lionel's relationship. While Alistair still continues his romantic overtures to Jean, Lionel attempts to smooth things over with Jean. Alistair also gets Lionel to attempt another revision of his book, and Lionel becomes frustrated with the entire project.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  21. As Time Goes By Season 2 Episode 4 - Why?
    8.0/10(148 votes)

    #21 - Why?

    S2:E4

    Lionel wonders why Alistair, a rich, successful publisher would be interested in publishing Lionel's less-than-blockbuster book.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  22. As Time Goes By Season 2 Episode 6 - The Cruise
    8.0/10(137 votes)

    #22 - The Cruise

    S2:E6

    Jean becomes angry when Lionel invites her along on a cruise as a 'freebie'.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  23. As Time Goes By Season 3 Episode 3 - Living Together, But Where?
    8.0/10(133 votes)

    #23 - Living Together, But Where?

    S3:E3

    Jean and Lionel finally decide to live together but, each assume that the other one is moving into their place. Later Lionel get's arrested outside Jean's house for acting suspiciously.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  24. As Time Goes By Season 3 Episode 4 - Covering Up
    8.0/10(133 votes)

    #24 - Covering Up

    S3:E4

    Jean's sister-in-law has decided to visit the ""lovebirds"" at Jean's house. Unfortunatly Jean has to cover up the fact that she and Lionel still have not moved in together.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  25. As Time Goes By Season 3 Episode 5 - Moving In
    8.0/10(136 votes)

    #25 - Moving In

    S3:E5

    Lionel finally agrees to move in with Jean.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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Worst Episodes Summary

"A Very Personal Problem" is the worst rated episode of "As Time Goes By". It scored 7.5/10 based on 121 votes. Directed by Sydney Lotterby and written by Bob Larbey, it aired on 7/30/2000. This episode scored 0.2 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Psychotherapist".