Tales of the Unexpected (TV Series) The Reconciliation (1984) User Reviews

Breaking up's so hard to do.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 6/10 · 21 February 2016]

James Howgill wants to get a divorce from his staid wife Caroline, the marriage is dull, unfulfilled and unremarkable, Caroline refuses, not believing in divorce, she also belies James has had a string of love affairs. James leaves, and heads for a sunny climate, where he makes the acquaintance of the beautiful young Italian woman Sandra. Friend and lawyer Derek puts James up back in England, he asks Derek to help him to get a divorce. James has Caroline followed, to see if she's up to anything to help with his case for divorce, H.A.K Bates is brought in. Bates tells James that Caroline's been having an affair for some time, staying out until all hours too. James is still dubious of Bates spying on his wife constantly.

The names of Jim Norton, John Castle make you feel like you are in safe hands, two brilliant actors. John Castle has the most wonderful and unmistakable voice. All in all the episode is very well acted.

It's an interesting episode, so much better then the average standard in the seventh series, which is very poor overall, it's a very different story.

It's quite a stylish episode.

6/10

Another average episode.

[poolandrews · 5/10 · 6 May 2007]

Tales of the Unexpected: the Reconciliation is set in London where high powered stock broker James Howgill (Roger Rees) wants to divorce his wife Caroline (Meg Davies) but she won't grant him one so he's stuck, in desperation James takes advice from his lawyer friend Derek (John Castle) who says that unless she has been unfaithful or that he can prove they have been separated for over five years the courts would never grant a divorce. Derek points James in the direction of a Mr Bates (Jim Norton) a private detective to try & dig some dirt up on Caroline but nobody counts on what happens next...

This Tales of the Unexpected story was episode 13 from season 7 that originally aired here in the UK during September 1984, the sixth of six Tales of the Unexpected episodes to be directed by John Jacobs this is yet another weak thriller drama with a wholly predictable so-called twist. The story by Nicholas Monsarrat was dramatised by Roy Russell & makes for average viewing at best, as usual the problem is the fact that there's no horror or supernatural elements & the twist is weak & forgettable. At less than 30 minutes in length there's not enough time to develop these plots & character's so you simply don't care either for or what happens to them & there's no chance to throw in any red herrings or any sub plots so almost all of these Tales of the Unexpected episodes with a crime based theme are very predictable & have little to no impact other than at least they move along at a fair pace but as I've just mentioned this is a curse as well as a blessing.

This one hasn't dated too badly although it still looks very bland. There's no action or excitement or tension in this episode & there is one glaring plot hole which I just cannot forgive or believe but to reveal it would give the whole thing away. The acting is alright by yet another familiar British cast.

The Reconciliation (you can guess the so-called 'twist' just from that title) is an OK way to pass 30 odd minutes, nothing more nothing less really.

God Almighty, Dougal!

[mickcsavage · 7/10 · 24 July 2022]

Who knew Bishop Len Brennan could do such a convincing English accent?

Also interesting for Robin Colcord's very 70s little beard.

The story's a bit silly, but (call me soft) I enjoyed the happy ending...

"She intrigues me like she never did before."

[classicsoncall · 6/10 · 21 January 2022]

This episode is essentially an 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' story. James Howgill (Roger Rees) wants a divorce because his marriage has gone stale, and wife Caroline (Meg Davies) won't grant him one. After reluctantly hiring a private detective to perform surveillance on her, the reports coming back to him indicate that she's having a fling with a handsome race car driver and it's moving into second gear. As a result, James becomes increasingly jealous, wondering what trait he missed in his marriage that makes her so exciting to a worldly athlete. The twist in the story is a simple one, but never expected by the puzzled husband; the woman the detective agency was spying on was a friend of Caroline's using her home as a trysting place while she was away. But it was enough to bring back together the newly intrigued James and the patient Caroline.

Ok episode that refreshing doesn't feature Murder

[coltras35 · 6/10 · 9 October 2022]

James Howgill finds his marriage to Caroline unfulfilling, and wants a divorce - but she sees nothing wrong with their situation, and refuses. He therefore hires private eye H. A. K. Bates in the hope that he can catch her with another man - but the story the detective comes back with leads him to see his wife in a new light, resulting in a reconciliation. Did Caroline, by any chance, stage-manage this outcome?

A light-hearted episode with no murder or menace, but a fair episode with a nice ending, though the the husband is a bit annoying. He finds his wife boring and looking for a greener grass. I mean, the blokes got bad teeth but his wife isn't canoodling with a Casanova, or is she?