Mulberry (1992–1993) User Reviews

Marvelously Hypnotic & Affecting

[JuliaH-1 · 8/10 · 17 November 2007]

I found this series through my desire to see more of Geraldine McEwan's work. What a lovely television show. Well composed, not over wrought, serious life lessons .. i like how the normal American conclusions do not unfold here. Mulberry encourages Rose Farnaby to live again and she does but still has the same problems that kept her down for years but this time they don't. E.g. her first dinner party in years, a guest falls directly into his asparagus, dead (an American sitcom would've made is resoundingly successful & maybe given her a fella), her competition with her sister Adele--in an American television she would've won the Village quiz and rubbed Adele's nose in it. Not here, she loses the quiz to her lifelong nemesis of a sister and goes into a "mood". Realistic but the way in which Mulberry coaxes it out of her is lovely and touching (the ride to Paris or back as it were). Also, there is no ONE reason while Rose is a defeated, isolated person, many small failures and setbacks over the years held her back, not one huge revelatory, emotional item (e.g. a la Hollywood).

I am sad the 3rd series/season didn't unfold, I would've enjoyed knowing how the producers intended the show to conclude? Does Mulberry take Miss Farnaby or does she eventually get the 20-year extension he originally requested? Miss Farnaby after all is only about 60 but seems older at the beginning, by the end she acts younger, livelier--finally takes on Adele and tells her what she really thinks of her. Brava!

And one has to wonder, it was never fully explained, **why** Mulberry did feel the way he did about her? His Father only explained a dalliance outside his marriage when Mulberry asked for input into his feelings for rose . .. was that an writer's foreshadowing? Everything else seemed so precisely put together, i wonder?

McEwan as always is a gem and I took loved Karl Howman's work, his quirkiness made Mulberry sincere, endearing and unexpected.

This show will stay with you, a smile and questions about enjoyment and fulfillment of life will follow you afterward.

I loved this series - It left me wanting more!! :)

[hondacivicdx · 8/10 · 8 October 2014]

I loved this series! It left me wanting more! I often recall it fondly and am so sad that there are no more episodes to see other than the short two seasons created.

I think it is a creative storyline to have the son of death come and work at the house of this older lady and he is so quirky and silly he really shakes things up.

I thought it was endearing how much Mulberry comes to care for this older woman and how he can't bring himself to take her life as his dad keeps insisting.

I am disappointed with how it ended abruptly without any proper closure.

I really wish that people responsible for creating series would respect the viewers that have invested so many hours watching and give them at least some closure.

This series ended right in the middle of it. It's very sad. The good news is the entire series is on youtube - so check it out!

*If you are a fan of the series, I highly recommend you read the discussion thread titled "Theme" wherein there is some discussion re. the catchy theme song and how lovely that the composer comes into the thread and fills us in on some insights.

It was sung sweetly by the main actor and long after watching the series, I still recall this song fondly.

I also read a discussion thread where people were discussing the wife of the husband employed in the house as they changed actresses in this role from season 1 to 2. Some felt season 2 wife wasn't as good.

I'd say she was fine as an actor however, since they made their unhappy marriage such a huge focus in season 1, I feel it should have carried on in season 2.

The new actress wasn't able to portray the same nastiness towards her husband and they seemed to suddenly be too lovey dovey = unbelievable. The new couple didn't have the same chemistry so in that sense, I'd say season 1's wife was much better as it was believable angst and tension between those two.

One of the Oddest British comedies ever!

[Sylviastel · 7/10 · 31 July 2006]

I have to say that this show introduced me to the great actress, Geraldine McEwan, who now plays Miss Marple in the new series but the actor Karl Howman who plays Mulberry is quite an odd chap as they would say. He's not who he appears to be and his reasons for being employed by Mrs. Farnaby, a lonely spinster of a woman who lives on a manor, is rather strange. I don't want to scare anybody off but the plot behind the dark man is enough to get you asking way too many questions. The longtime dedicated servants, Bert and Alice, are extras. The Alices were changed between seasons for reasons unknown because British comedies don't work like American comedies in the first place. They make fewer episodes and sometimes actors or actresses are committed to the theater, television, or other film project. Anyway, the writing is satisfactory but I never understood the whole point of Mulberry, the man who helps this lonely lady of the estate reclaim some life in her. Geraldine McEwan who would have been Dame by now does a superb job in making you feel sympathy for her. Sylvia Sims has a guest appearance as Mulberry's mother.

A bittersweet comedy that proves it is never to late to live and love.

[debthorpe · 4 May 2005]

Mulberry is the son of the grim reaper and his first job is to bring the rather dower old maiden Miss Farnaby to "the other side." Only he finds, instead, ways of showing her how to live a life she has always regretted she never had, and in the process fails hilariously at his the job he is supposed to be inheriting from his father. The interactions with the other household staff are a constant source of mayhem. Despite the consternation of her staff, Miss Farnaby manages to blossom under the tutelage of the mysterious Mulberry.

This is one of the most enjoyable of the British Comedy TV series I have ever seen and I regret that it is only 13 episodes long. Every one that I have seen is a gem and I keep wishing my PBS station would re-run the series.

Best Brit Sit com

[urblest · 10/10 · 2 April 2007]

Beautiful 'love' story with many twists and turns. Not about romance, about honor and respect. Mulberry is whittier and more animated than an other character I have seen on the Tele. The writers have thought it through throughly. This is a timeless classic. It spans many generations, my 12 year old as well as my 75+ mother both enjoy it immensely. The characters interweave and become all better persons without knowing that they are all evolving. It is simple but not plain. The leading lady appears younger and more youthful as time goes on. Even the manor starts to exude life with the embellishments of multiple amounts of plants and flowers as the segments progress. I will own this and view it for years to come. None will not regret this series. Do not want to give details of story, thank you.

Love Mulberry

[kathrowe40 · 10/10 · 4 April 2008]

I rely on PBS for quality TV and a much-needed break from the violence on American broadcasts. Fell in love with Mulberry the first time I saw it, and am so glad to see it being shown once again. Gentle, funny, poignant, intelligent...it has everything a person could want in good humor. I heartily agree with all of the commentators who also love it. I'm so looking forward to scenes that were downright hilarious, but don't want to spoil it for anyone who has not yet had the opportunity to enjoy it. However, I will comment that the British are not at all afraid to feature aging or aged characters as their leads. It's refreshing to realize that someone somewhere appreciates the richness of the lives of the more senior among us. Mulberry is one program where you can find that pleasure.

The Mulberry days were great

[VictorianCushionCat · 10/10 · 10 February 2012]

A post 'Brush Strokes' vehicle for Karl Howman teaming him up in an unlikely partnership with much respected actress Geraldine McEwan in a admirably original and charming show that sadly was not continued past a second series.

The setup is that prematurely aged and bitter spinster Miss Farnaby is bought to life again by mysterious but chirpy Mulberry who turns up out of nowhere to take the role as a sort of butler/home help. All is not as it seems however as is shown by Mulberry being shadowed by a dark and sinister stranger who keeps urges Mulberry to 'get the job done' which would appear to be the killing off of Miss Farnaby.

As the first series moves on more is revealed about what Mulberry is and what the job is the stranger wants him to get on with.

The style is more quality and thoughtful fantasy comedy drama than traditional sitcom in execution, though the 'below stairs' bickering of Bert and Alice is more in that genre, however that serves to keep things 'light' with the darker tones of the core plot.

Mulberry is not one of the best remembered sitcoms of the 1990s, not repeated endlessly on BBC or Gold but nearly two decades after the end of the second series, I do secretly wish they'd assemble the cast together again (if that is possible) and let us see whether Mulberry completes his 'task' and how he does it.

Sweet, Sad, Gentle and Funny, Mulberry days were glorious

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 23 April 2018]

I can only just imagine a writer going into the chief of BBC and explaining they want to make a sitcom, where an agent of the Grim Reaper has the responsibility of taking the acidic Miss Farnaby to the other side, career suicide? Now perhaps, but in 1992 there was a different attitude, plus the BBC knew how to make sitcoms.

It is a joy to watch, the show has a wonderfully delicate, gentle demeanour, even though the subject is perhaps a little grim, but the journey and transformation of Miss Farnaby from spindly spinster to a sweet, amiable, fun loving person is wonderful, the reason why the show works so well.

The actors work incredibly well together. McEwan was always a favourite of mine, such a strong willed actress, I adored her in Marple, as she always had a cheeky glint in the eye, here she showed that comedy truly was her forte. Karl Howman was fabulous, a comedy king in the eighties and early nineties, his soft manner and handsome looks made him perfect for the role, sadly this was pretty much the last quality show he was part of. John Bennett was wonderful, one of the best actors I can think of, Selby was good, as was Mary Healey, who replaced Lill Roughley. I can remember being miffed that Healey was brought in, but I think her style suited the character better. Caroline Blakiston was always great as Adele, and I remember a fabulous performance from Sylvia Syms.

I'm glad there were two series. I loved it. 10/10

Worth Seeking Out

[Rainey-Dawn · 10/10 · 19 August 2022]

This short lived show aired on PBS, I loved it and sad the show ended. It's a fantasy TV series worth seeking out to watch.

Mulberry is a stranger in town. Miss Farnaby hires him to assist her with many tasks as she's up in her years. Mulberry is actually Death's son and was there to take her life but he found himself liking her as a mother and asked his father to keep her alive longer.

10/10.

A Hoot

[lje32677 · 15 July 2004]

Why is it that we must rely on our PBS stations to bring us some fun, witty comedy from Britain. Right now, BBC America is trying to fix up: homes, bodies and sell houses in the countryside.

Mulberry(Karl Howman) is the cute and funny story of Death's(John Bennett) son's first "assignment". It comes in the form of Miss Farnaby(Geraldine McEwan). Realizing that Miss Farnaby hasn't really had a good life, he gets an extension from his father and takes it upon himself to liven up her life. Along with his affect on Miss Farnaby, he crosses path with her servants, the Finches: Albert(Tony Selby) and Alice(Mary Healey). The Finch's were war orphans from London in 1940 who eventually marry and go to work for the Farnabys.

The chemistry between the actors is incredible. When the actors in a show love working together, the viewer can tell. I could definitely tell that these people enjoyed working together. I do recommend this show for the light comedy for anyone who enjoys British humor. There is nothing like Mulberry falling off a cliff and waking up in the morgue because he can't die. As he returns to Miss Farnaby's home, he causes havoc. It's hilarious.

In fact, when it aired on PBS we taped it. We have all but 2 episodes. Our video cassettes are wearing thin. Right now, BBC America is deciding whether to add it to it's catalog. I would hope that anyone who has enjoyed this show to request it so others can enjoy what my family and others have enjoyed.

Laura

Rare gem from BBC This one is worth your time

[traveller004 · 13 November 2004]

I have recently seen this series on my local PBS and fell in love with it. The premise is deceptively simple but very well thought out. The primary characters, Miss Farnaby (pronounced Farnby) hires a stranger "Mulberry" as her personal servant. Through the course of their time together he encourages Farnaby who has become an shut-in during her declining years, to come alive once more. But there is a hidden plot underneath as Mulberry is actually the son of Death and has been sent by the Dark Angel to take Miss Farnaby on to her ultimate reward or to die. He however grows to love the old woman as a sort of surrogate mother and refuses to "kill her" in his own words. Instead he pleads with his father to give Miss Farnaby three more months of time to begin living.

Miss Farnaby's other two staff members, Alice, the cook and her husband who is the gardener/stable master/grounds keeper are almost as shut-in as their employer. They both resist the re-awakening of the old lady during the course of the series but it is obvious that there is a deep seeded loyalty between the trio that is thinly disguised by proper English manners and traditions. Their interaction with Mulberry often results in some of the series' most humorous moments.

It is a wonderful story that shows that through it all sometimes you can be so close to the end of life and still never have lived at all. He breaths life into Miss Farnaby's existence and brings her back from the brink of destitution. It is a powerful series that often evoked both laughter and tears in each and every episode. If you have any of these episodes especially episode 8 in which the character Mulberry falls over a cliff and supposedly dies, this episode was never aired where I live. I would love to get copies of it since it does not appear to have ever been put into any medium to purchase in the USA or overseas.

If it does come onto PBS or one of your local TV channels it's a very good show and is excellent even for the kids as the show is suitable for general audiences.

An empty-lived spinster is visited by the son of Death who instead seeks to fill and fulfill her life.

[ultrabayer · 17 March 2005]

I, too, found this show utterly charming, funny and heartwarming. Though I had viewed the episodes on Canadian PBS (out of Detroit) over ten years ago, the experience has left a lasting impression on me, inspiring me, too, (as the main character, Mulberry, does) to attempt to brighten the lives of others. Characters are rich, story lines thought provoking and actors play off of each other with great chemistry. What a noble show!--it's needed again in an era of crime dramas which showcase the despicable acts of humankind. I am longing for "Mulberry" to be released on video/DVD, or at least be aired again to that I may tape it. I've requested several times through BBCAmerica for this and hope that many others do as well.

Funny, witty Mulberry

[Lindsay-5 · 28 May 2000]

Mulberry is a funny, witty Britcom that stars Karl Howman as the mild-mannered but always imposing Mulberry, servant to the cranky, elderly Miss Farnaby (Geraldine McEwan). Bert and Alice, two other servants of Miss Farnaby's, are much needed additions to the cast, as their incredulous reactions to Mulberry's actions make for some of the funniest parts of this series. Howman's character is charming and clever, always scheming, and highly intelligent (what more could you ask from the "son of death"?), and it is truly his acting abilities that pull this Britcom together. Some of the episodes are less funny than others, but the majority are the reason I keep tuning in Saturday after Saturday for rerun after rerun. Of course, the reason Mulberry is there is to eventually "kill" Miss Farnaby, so the series did not last indefinitely. Overall, this is one of the top Britcoms I've seen.

charming, unusual series

[ag-2 · 23 August 2000]

Ingenious, sweet-natured, and perhaps even better focused for being a limited-run series -- the actors seem to be having a great time and the scripts are really well-crafted. The local (Seattle) PBS station is running these and they're worth watching the schedule for!