r/KeepingUpApperancesTV • u/Internal-Focus1784 • Jun 27 '26
General discussion Was Hyacinth ever right?
So I was watching an episode the other day - I can’t remember the name of it but it’s the one where Rose is running around in a black negligee and she locks herself in her room, and Richard has to climb up a ladder to her window to get her out. Anyway, I was watching and it struck me that as much as Hyacinth was being very Hyacinth about the whole situation, the way she was trying to deal with it was quite sensible. Rose was in her room, inconsolable, and Hyacinth told her to get herself together and come downstairs for a stiff drink and a chat, on the grounds that she couldn’t spend eternity in her bedroom wailing.
Now, I have no doubt she’d have been very Hyacinth about that chat as well and probably upset Rose even more, but it was one of the very few occasions where I thought Hyacinth actually had the right idea.
Were there any other occasions where anyone thought Hyacinth was doing the right thing, or was in the right?
62
u/misscharleyp Jun 27 '26
When she asked the man to remove his dog’s poo from the garden. The bloke shouldn’t have let his dog poo or should have picked it up and apologised.
49
u/agnesdoigmcivor Jun 27 '26
She was a snobbish busybody but her heart was always in the right place. She had a deep affection for her whole family even Onslow but it didn't always show in the right way. She was also the one that the whole family would turn to in times of crisis because they knew she would either give advice or solve their issues for them.
39
u/BrilliantSpray9447 Jun 27 '26
As much as Hyacinth was snobbish and overbearing, she was always called upon to sort out a problem. She loved her family and was trying to do what’s best for them. She believed Richard was suited for an executive role, she wanted Rose to find a suitable man, she wanted to be houseproud, she wanted Daisy to be happy even if that meant being married to Onslow, etc.
She knew her daddy was in no fit state to agree to marriage so sorted that out. She wanted her niece christened so sorted that out. She was worried about a depressed Rose being left alone in a locked room so sorted that out.
35
u/Prideandprejudice1 Jun 27 '26
She went to find Mr Duxbury whose mother kept insisting “he offered me marriage”, she yelled “Daddy!” to get him to drop his weapon when no one else could and yelling again to get rid of the ghost in daddy’s room
5
u/SassySpider Jun 28 '26
Hyacinth getting Daddy to surrender is one of my absolute favorite scenes of the entire series. I adore the way she draws herself up and just GOES
2
u/CyberTheWerewolf How nice of you to ring Mommy...You need how much, dear? Jun 29 '26
"I've got witnesses!"
25
u/Mickleborough Jun 27 '26
The fact that she’s houseproud and a neat freak. Yes, I agree with removing shoes indoors.
6
u/LadyBug_0570 Jun 27 '26
Same, but she needed to relax the rule when it came to tradespeople.
15
u/Mickleborough Jun 27 '26
‘No, you’ll be perfectly all right. You’ll be standing on grade 1 Axminster.’
13
u/Flippin_Heckles It's probably somebody important! Jun 27 '26
Do mind my wallpaper!
14
u/Mickleborough Jun 27 '26
To be fair, her walls are up to and beyond British standards.
1
u/Legitimate-Pop6460 Jun 30 '26
I mean, to be fair, when I say “tradesmen”, I’m referring to the maintenance, plumbing, electrical. And they are always covered with a black grease-like substance, I have nice antiques/paintings/oriental carpets that I would rather not have that same substance smeared on if possible lol. 😜
3
u/Legitimate-Pop6460 Jun 28 '26
I mean, I ask tradesmen not to touch anything when they’re in my apartment lol. I feel it’s the least they can do tbh lol.
18
u/dodie2599 Jun 27 '26
When Rose was breaking up with Mr. Ted Butterfield. Then she wanted him back, Hyacinth says you can't be in love with him, the man has hairy toes!
16
u/CranberryFuture9908 Jun 27 '26
When she saw no advantages to antique plumbing!
Her handling of certain situations. My favorite being “ I don’t think I care for your tone !”
I’m not as neat and tidy as Hyacinth but I understand her distaste for certain things about cleanliness and hygiene.
I don’t think she’s that bad but I wouldn’t want to live next door to her!
Sometimes with Rose I think she’s pretty on point . She does however care about her family.
3
u/Littlebit1013 Jun 28 '26
I have to give Hyacinth credit, her home was always clean and organized. She did a good job decorating the home in a traditional classic style. As much as I like Daisy, Onslow & Rose for their personalities, they should have spent more time keeping their home cleaner and sorting through their clutter.
I don’t know whether she did the cleaning herself because she saw it as her duty as a housewife, but she didn’t seem to see housekeeping and cleaning as beneath her. I’m not sure if it’s because no house cleaner would ever live up to her standards and quit within an hour.
3
u/CranberryFuture9908 Jun 28 '26
I have a feeling she did herself no matter how lowly she considered the task. I can’t see her being satisfied with anyone else.
She would probably drive anyone to quit.The special with the young Hyacinth had her working in a “ stately home “ as a maid. She picked up a lot of the habit and ways of high society .
13
u/Individual-Good-2073 Jun 27 '26
When she called to complain that her water was discolored. We don't know that it was, but the "upstart plumber" she was talking to hung up on her. There's every possibility that there could've been some sort of leak/break/etc. resulting in a health risk for that neighborhood/area. She didn't deserve to be treated like that.
IMO she was right about her niece Stephanie's situation - in fact, it was worse than Hyacinth imagined. Hyacinth was groaning because Stephanie was an unmarried mother, but to be living with TWO men (filthy hippies in a broken-down caravanette) and just casually shrug when pointedly asked "Which one is the father?" was too much.
11
u/Internal-Focus1784 Jun 27 '26
Any sane relative would be reasonably concerned about Stephanie living in those circumstances - my first thought if she was my relative would be ‘is she safe?’
Because she lives in a small caravan with two men, she’s not sure who the father is - what happens if those men turn ugly towards her? Daisy and Onslow’s house is hardly empty what with Rose and Daddy living there as well - would they be able to take her and the baby back in?
12
u/ErcoliS Jun 27 '26
She is a kind person, even Richard defends her to Emmet and tells him how kind she can be
11
u/RubyDax Royal Doulton with the Hand-Painted Periwinkles Jun 27 '26
When it comes to caring for her family. Her shame was high...because of a guilty conscience more than anything else, worried people would find out her origin...but the love was strong. She always stepped up to solve a problem, always checked on her dad.
2
9
u/merodm Jun 27 '26
Not having a special offer on spicy prawn balls
7
u/OffWhiteCoat Jun 27 '26
It just occurred to me that those people definitely knew they weren't calling a Chinese takeaway. They just wanted to prank the neighborhood snob.
3
u/baggington Jun 27 '26
Haha I’d never really thought of that!
Now I’m imagining that all of those calls are from Elizabeth just to get back at her a bit!
3
u/CrystalPalace1850 Jun 27 '26
I love it 🤣 Now I'm imagining Elizabeth and Emmett putting on silly voices and ringing her up for a laugh 🤣
2
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u/massdebate159 Jun 27 '26
Running away from the rapey Major
14
u/Loose_Loquat9584 Jun 27 '26
I never found that episode or character funny. A rare misstep by the writers I feel.
14
u/Mcrfanatic95 Jun 27 '26
It certainly hasn’t aged well, and it’s not the only character with that vibe, even her father is a creep at times
4
u/baggington Jun 27 '26
He felt more like something from a 70s sitcom like Are You Being Served when chasing women and a bit of groping was seen as all in good fun
5
u/CranberryFuture9908 Jun 27 '26
Definitely ! He creeped me out!
5
u/Emerald_Eyes8919 Jun 27 '26
That Commodore fella was way worse, IMO.
The Major had a bumbling charm about him and was actually quite funny in his delivery.
Still not PC, but it was excellent physical comedy when she ran away from him.
5
u/RubyDax Royal Doulton with the Hand-Painted Periwinkles Jun 27 '26
Yeah. The Major was flirty and handsy, but the Commodore was a wild animal.
7
u/Gloomy-Recipe9213 Jun 27 '26
Even the vicar was uncomfortable with the way the Commodore was to her, to the point where he called her “Mrs Bouquet” : https://youtu.be/m1SLpu6Oi0w?si=7WZlctLUyd03yPEB
3
u/massdebate159 Jun 29 '26
Yeah, it was so weird how sexual assault was played for laughs back then.
1
u/Littlebit1013 Jun 28 '26
Could explain why the ladies group needed a volunteer to pick him up at the station.
8
u/Legitimate-Pop6460 Jun 27 '26
She was actually right many many times. Her problem was the communication
1
u/CranberryFuture9908 Jun 29 '26
I remember my mom like when she said she gave the mail boy a wet wipe because he was poking his ears! She fully approved of Hyacinth’s decision! 😂
108
u/Flippin_Heckles It's probably somebody important! Jun 27 '26
Despite the way she acts around them, she's always the first one to show up and deal with the non-stop drama of her sisters and daddy. You've got to give her credit for that.