Just Good Friends is a Brit Com from The BBC which aired from 1983-1986.
Written by John Sullivan (best known for Only Fools and Horses), it concerns the wavering relationship between Penny Warrender (played by Jan Francis) and Vincent Pinner (played by Paul Nicholas). The couple were set to marry but it was called off when Nicholas jilted Penny at the altar.
Five years later, they have a chance meeting at a pub. Deciding to forget the past, they rekindle their relationship. However, this isn't welcomed by Penny's parents, especially her snobbish mother, Daphne.
The show was voted 43rd in the Britains Best Sitcom series.
This show contains the following tropes:
- Alliterative Name: It's mentioned a couple of times that if Penny had married Vince, her name would be Penny Pinner.
- Alpha Bitch: Gina, Vince's wife by the time the third series starts. She goes out of her way to make things difficult for him when he leaves her for Penny.
- …And That Little Girl Was Me: Subverted in one episode:Daphne: Many years ago there was ... a girl who lived in the same road as me — we were the same age. She met a chap. And then she discovered she was carrying his child. Her family disowned her, the neighbours shunned her, even her best friend called her a trollop. She miscarried. Years later she married. She has a small family of her own now.
Penny: That girl, it was you, wasn't it?
Daphne: It most certainly was not me! Her name was Eileen Bennett, and I was her best friend, the trollop! - British Brevity: Just twenty-two episodes were made, which ran over the course of three series.
- "Do It Yourself" Theme Tune: The theme tune is sang by Paul Nicholas (who played Vincent in the series).
- Erotic Dream: In episode 3, Penny is cuddling up to Vincent:Penny: [tenderly and seductively] I used to dream about you. I used to dream about your body.
Vince: [surprised] Did you?
Penny: [laughing] I used to dream the police came round and asked me to identify it! - Just Friends: Almost the Trope Namer, this documents, in comedic terms, the relationship between Vince and Penny when Vince comes back into Penny's life five years after he jilted her at the altar. At first, they try to play the trope straight, but Vince starts to develop feelings for Penny again. Penny rebuffs his advances, but accepts they have too much history to make a clean break. Finally, Penny leaves to take a job in Paris, and it looks like even the friendship is over. But after an abortive marriage for Penny, and Vince now being in an unhappy marriage (he married the Alpha Bitch), they meet up in Paris and it starts all over again. Finally, Penny accepts that Vince really does love her, and Vince has to go through a lot of hoops to get out of his unhappy marriage. But finally - they do.
- Runaway Bride: Part of the backstory for the series is that Vincent had jilted Penny at the altar on their wedding day, causing the initial relationship to end.
- Series Fauxnale: The final episode of Series 2 was intended to be the last episode, ending with Penny taking a job for Paris. However, the show was picked up for one last series.
- Shout-Out: In the second episode, Vincent pretends that his mother is deathly ill (presumably to gain sympathy). When the jig is up, he reponds with "Beam Me Up, Scotty."
- Title Theme Tune: "...So, let's just pretend that you and me can be Just Good Friends."
- Unresolved Sexual Tension: Despite both insistinging that they remain good friends, it made clear that both still have some romantic feelings for each other, although they don't go forward with it for a variety of reasons. They eventually accept that they love each other and hook up again.
- You Just Told Me: Used in one episode where Vince has been unfaithful to Penny. Again.Penny: Why did you take that girl home?
Vince: (sigh) Who told you?
Penny: (sadly) You just did. - Wedding Episode: Penny and Vince finally get married in the last-ever episode, which was broadcast on Christmas Day 1986.
