Love Thy Neighbour - The Complete Collection (Not Complete Series) [DVD]

Until I bought this boxset, I don't think I'd ever seen an episode of "Love Thy Neighbour" before. It's before my time and I can't remember ever seeing it repeated. I'm a big fan of older sitcoms when characters could call a blackboard a blackboard and sing baa, baa black sheep etc. without receiving two complaints and it appearing on the national news. So I would've given this boxset a five star rating even before I'd watched an episode. Unfortunately though I've only given this boxset two stars and that's for the fact that it's the nearest thing to a complete collection that doesn't use much shelf space.

This is a disappointing and lazy release for various reasons I will mention below.

1) Like the other reviewer said, it's not complete. Series 4 finale episode titled "April Fools" and episode four from series 7 titled "The Coach Outing to Bournemouth" are the missing two episodes. This should be called the collection and not complete collection.

2) These discs are obviously exactly the same discs as the Fremantle individual series dvd releases, as each of the eight discs included says series 1 to 8, when in fact there were seven series made and not eight. This is very lazy of them, I expected them to correct all this and especially for the price of £40. On the back of the box it actually says all episodes included from all eight series on eight discs. So they went to the effort of printing that even though they know it's not true.

3) The box is too small for eight discs and they've only just managed to fit them in. This is about the width of less than two standard dvd cases. Nothing wrong with this size, but not for a series that over 50 episodes were made.

4) No episode title info is included anywhere, not in the box or even on the disc menus and not even at the beginning of an episode. All you get is episode 1, 2, 3 etc.

5) No ad breaks. This one is personal and not everyone will care but I prefer them to be included like the excellent Network releases. The main problem when they are not included is that there is a sudden jump from one scene to the next and it's unnatural and obvious where the ad break was.

Like the other reviewer said, Network are rumoured to be releasing this in the future from what I've read on wikipedia. I know they are not perfect and have made some mistakes themselves plus they never include subtitles which is one good thing that this Fremantle release does have.

Overall though, I'm usually impressed with Network releases, so please Network if you are reading this, release "Love Thy Neighbour" complete collection with episode titles and original airdates and correctly packaged as seven series, then I can get rid of this disappointing Fremantle release. Until that happens though, this collection will have to do.

Love Thy Neighbour - The Complete Series [DVD] [1972]

Edit 5/2/12

Just added two extra stars for this boxset, as I was originally a little harsh. It's very cheap now too compared to what I paid for it, a bargain at under £14. If only I'd waited myself. Only reason I've not given it five stars now is because of the lazy packaging and incorrect info which I mentioned originally.

Brilliant viewing if only everyone could take a bit of banter like these to blokes Exellent.!!! The racism is Good on both side white honkey and Nig nog get a life and smile.!!! ;-)

Having promptly received the box set today I was so disappointed that two episodes are missing. Namely "April Showers" and "The coach trip to Bournemouth". So how can this be classed as a COMPLETE COLLECTION.
The pilot episode IS included but NO MOVIE. I feel so ripped off by the dvd release company when they persist to release box sets as complete when they aren't. Network are rumoured to be releasing the ENTIRE collection with ALL episodes AND the movie in a box set. Wish I had waited. Am adding to my review as I am fuming now as the price is so low. Like I said I wish I had waited. Roll on re release(he says hopefully) so I can get rid of this poorly thought out waste of money release.