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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
    7.6/10(117 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 3 Episode 8 - A Trip to Los Angeles
    7.7/10(146 votes)

    #2 - 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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  3. As Time Goes By Season 6 Episode 2 - The Psychotherapist
    7.7/10(116 votes)

    #3 - 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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  4. As Time Goes By Season 8 Episode 3 - The Bathroom
    7.7/10(111 votes)

    #4 - 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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  5. As Time Goes By Season 8 Episode 4 - Surprising News
    7.7/10(103 votes)

    #5 - 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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  6. As Time Goes By Season 8 Episode 5 - Future Imperfect
    7.7/10(106 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 5 Episode 1 - The Country Set
    7.8/10(120 votes)

    #7 - 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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  8. As Time Goes By Season 7 Episode 2 - An Old Flame
    7.8/10(112 votes)

    #8 - 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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  9. As Time Goes By Season 7 Episode 4 - The Bypass
    7.8/10(109 votes)

    #9 - 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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  10. As Time Goes By Season 9 Episode 4 - What Now?
    7.8/10(117 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(129 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(142 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(127 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(132 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(127 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(119 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(117 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 3 - The New Neighbours
    7.9/10(106 votes)

    #18 - The New Neighbours

    S7:E3

    Jean undertakes some strategic snooping to discover what the new neighbors are like. How is it they show up at the pub with black eyes after fighting with one another?

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  19. As Time Goes By Season 7 Episode 5 - Too Old ... or Too Nosy
    7.9/10(102 votes)

    #19 - 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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  20. As Time Goes By Season 8 Episode 2 - Animal Magnetism
    7.9/10(111 votes)

    #20 - 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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  21. As Time Goes By Season 9 Episode 1 - Time to Settle Down (a.k.a. You Can't Manufacture Happy Endings for Everybody)
    7.9/10(106 votes)

    #21 - Time to Settle Down (a.k.a. You Can't Manufacture Happy Endings for Everybody)

    S9:E1

    Alistair has finally proposed to Judith, needless to say there are complications as Judith plans for a country wedding and realisation strikes confirmed bachelor Alistair.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  22. As Time Goes By Season 9 Episode 2 - Another Proposal (a.k.a. Wedding Plans)
    7.9/10(97 votes)

    #22 - Another Proposal (a.k.a. Wedding Plans)

    S9:E2

    The truth about Alistair's wedding nerves are revealed after he and Lionel fail to keep it a secret from Jean and his bride to be, and Rocky relishes the chance to air some of his stories.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  23. As Time Goes By Season 1 Episode 2 - Getting to Know You --- Again
    8.0/10(175 votes)

    #23 - Getting to Know You --- Again

    S1:E2

    Jean and Lionel look no closer to renewing their relationship when Lionel checks out of his hotel without telling Jean. However, Lionel's publisher, Alistair, convinces him to go to a party tonight to meet some 'faces', people who can help in the sale of his book. He checks back in, and, after a walk in the park, Lionel asks Jean to go to the party with him.

    Director:Sydney Lotterby
    Writer:Bob Larbey

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  24. As Time Goes By Season 1 Episode 5 - Relationships
    8.0/10(150 votes)

    #24 - 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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  25. As Time Goes By Season 2 Episode 4 - Why?
    8.0/10(144 votes)

    #25 - 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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Worst Episodes Summary

"A Very Personal Problem" is the worst rated episode of "As Time Goes By". It scored 7.6/10 based on 117 votes. Directed by Sydney Lotterby and written by Bob Larbey, it aired on 7/30/2000. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "A Trip to Los Angeles".