I thoroughly agree with the other reviewers that Richard Briars, Penelope Wilton and Paul Egan excel in Ever Decreasing Circles which, for all of them, I do think, feature their best TV comic performances. Paul Egan in a commentary for the DVD box interestingly notes that this was his first TV comic series; previously he had played far more serious TV roles, notably as a gangster in Big Breadwinner Hogg (ITV, 1969). The main actors are ably supported by the superb scripts of John Esmonde and Bob Larbey, and by many fine supporting actors notably Stanley Lebor and Geraldine Newman as Howard and Hilda.
My particular favourite episode is Housework: Season 2 in which Martin's (Richard Briars) obsessive-compulsive tendencies and over-estimation of his own abilities, outside his own narrow compass, get the better of him and he has to be rescued by Paul (Peter Egan). There is much pathos expertly unearthed by Richard Briar's portrayal of the hapless Martin and, there is much compassion subtly and winningly displayed by Peter Egan's Paul coming to the rescue.
Ever Decreasing Circles is about the most subtle TV humour I think I ever saw, which is I why I feel it is worth making this effort to praise it. That particular episode Housework crystallised my view that the best humour is more than just wit or a belly-laugh although the series had plenty of those (particularly the 1984 Christmas special The Party). The best humour explores the logic and limitations of character and the human condition, even if we still cannot quite define what humour really is or why we laugh, although everyone from ancient philosopher Aristotle has tried. At its best, and most of the episodes are sterling, Ever Decreasing Circles considers, apparently in a light-hearted way but for the discerning with a deeper resonance, the sentence of American philosopher Henry David Thoreau that 'the mass of men live lives of quiet desperation'; particularly if you have the effortlessly superior, if fortunately sunnily dispositioned Paul as a neighbour.
My particular favourite episode is Housework: Season 2 in which Martin's (Richard Briars) obsessive-compulsive tendencies and over-estimation of his own abilities, outside his own narrow compass, get the better of him and he has to be rescued by Paul (Peter Egan). There is much pathos expertly unearthed by Richard Briar's portrayal of the hapless Martin and, there is much compassion subtly and winningly displayed by Peter Egan's Paul coming to the rescue.
Ever Decreasing Circles is about the most subtle TV humour I think I ever saw, which is I why I feel it is worth making this effort to praise it. That particular episode Housework crystallised my view that the best humour is more than just wit or a belly-laugh although the series had plenty of those (particularly the 1984 Christmas special The Party). The best humour explores the logic and limitations of character and the human condition, even if we still cannot quite define what humour really is or why we laugh, although everyone from ancient philosopher Aristotle has tried. At its best, and most of the episodes are sterling, Ever Decreasing Circles considers, apparently in a light-hearted way but for the discerning with a deeper resonance, the sentence of American philosopher Henry David Thoreau that 'the mass of men live lives of quiet desperation'; particularly if you have the effortlessly superior, if fortunately sunnily dispositioned Paul as a neighbour.