The first season introduces you to Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone. Two middle aged friends who just won't accept anything less than fabulous. They'll stay out drinking till dawn and flirt with any young man they can find. Sadly Edina has a daughter named Saffy at home who won't accept her mother's partying ways which ends up with Edina acting like the teenager and Saffy being the mother. Along with them is Edina's crazy assitant Bubbles and Edina's sometimes crazed mother.

The first season has 6 great episodes but personally I think the show started out funny but didn't take it over the top like the following seasons which doesn't work. There are times when you'll just laugh and laugh but when you watch season 2,3,4 and 5 you'll look back and think "Yeah that was a good one. Anyway put the next season on!"

All in all a must have if you're a fabulous fan because this is the DVD where it all started but if you really want to roll around laughing get series 3 or 5!

This might just be the greatest Brit-com in history!
Review date: 2003-01-24 Rating: 10 out of 10

I have never seen a British comedy that can make me laugh as much as Absolutely Fabulous can. The show was originally a 10 minute sketch on the French And Saunders Show. Jennifer Saunders soon saw its potential and Absolutely Fabulous was born. The show's pilot episode - Fashion - was first broadcast on 12th November 1992. The show became an instant hit and was the most successful British comedy for years. The chemistry between characters such as Edina Monsoon (Jennifer Saunders) and Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley) is magic, and Saffy Monsoon (Julia Sawahla) as Edina's straight-laced daughter is genius. The show's genius lies behind the fact that the mother is always acting like the child, whereas the child acts like the grown up - forced to do so because of the way her mother acts. Patsy's main goal in life seems to make Saffy's life a living hell, and on the rare occasions that Edina shows love for her daughter, Saffy tries to hold onto as much of it as possible. June Whitfield as Edina's insane mother (whom she shows no love or affection to) and Jane Horrocks as Edina's ditzy office assistant Bubble add to the show's class, while making huge stars of the two.

Season 1 begins with the superb episode Fashion. The episode begins with Edina waking uyp - and all the perils she must endure to get dressed. She makes no cover up of trying to feel sorry for herself and complaining about anything and everything. She promises Saffy she won't get drunk when she goes out (again, another portrayal of how this is a reversal of what should actually be; the teenager promising the mother she won't get drunk). A fashion show is upcoming for Edina, and she must sort everything out. The show is a success, and to celebrate Edina gets drunk with Patsy - much to her daughter's disappointment, though it comes as no surprise. Fat is the second episode and another good one. Edina's worst enemy Penny Caspar is arriving in townand she must lose weight fast! Emergency lyposuction is essential, and the dream scenes are hilarious! In the episode France, Edina and Patsy take a break from the fashion world and take a trip to France. But problems back home with Edina's ditzy assistant Bubble force her to return home, but they are held up in the airport - and is the substance Patsy bought drugs?!

Iso Tank is another one of the highlights of Series 1. Banned from attending Saffy's college open day on DNA, Edina sulks in her brand new isolation tank - for around 30 seconds with Patsy! The operative word being "isolation"! Edina's way of getting through to her daughter and letting her go to this DNA open day is to adopt a Romanian baby! Patsy's comment to Edina when she sees Saffy at home is, "Oh my God! There's something horrible on the stairs!" Magazine is another classic episode of the show, where Edina is ecstatic with her life. She's got a new man and she stayed out until morning. Patsy's jealous and ends up appearing on television with the presenter (Dawn French) talking about fashion make-overs. But first, she has to find two victims to dress up. The final episode Birthday is another excellent one. It's Edina's 40th birthday, and she feels awful. Saffy has the nerve to invite Edina's two ex-husbands and their new love interests for a meal. Edina is so ungrateful in this episode, and is another perfect example of just how self-centered she really is. Saffy slaps her mother around the face for acting this way, yet Edina's only response is, "Did you just hit me, darling? It's illegal, isn't it?!" This scene (where Saffy's cooking dinner with her apron on, while Edina is crying like a little baby) is just hilarious.

OVERALL GRADE: 10/10

Series 1 of Absolutely Fabulous is absolutely superb, with countless laughs, gags and outrageous situations. The success of the show is well deserved, and spawned a nationwide catchphrase of "Sweetie, darling!" Series 2, 3 and 4 are all superb - but Series 1 is the one you should be watching if you want to be an avid fan of this amazing and ground-breaking British comedy!

The name says it all
Review date: 2001-11-11 Rating: 10 out of 10

Jennifer Saunders is an genius. I always thought so when watching French and Saunders (which I hope is coming out on DVD at some point!!), but this series verifies it. I can't begin to explain how funny it is, you just have to see it yourself. If you only ever see one episode, let it be 'France', which is absolutely the best one ever written. There are some funny out takes on the DVD, and the rest is pretty much standard, but who cares, it's such a great comedy programme, that you can forgive the DVD anything. Buy it now. What more can I say?!

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