History Series / Butterflies

[[caption-width-right:350:The Parkinsons. Left to right: Russell, Ben, Ria and [[Series/OnlyFoolsAndHorses Adam]]]]

* StandardisedSitcomHousing: The [=BBC=]'s deluxe version, the Affluent Suburbian Detached House, gets an outing here denoting this is a family headed by an extremely well-paid professional (Ben Parkinson is a dentist in private practice. In socially exclusive Cheltenham.)

The situation is the day-to-day life of the Parkinsons, a typical upper-middle-class British family living in what was taken to be a smart suburb of London[[note]]it was actually the upscale town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire - more UsefulNotes/TheWestCountry - but a ''very'' affluent piece of[[/note]], presented in a tragicomic and somewhat bittersweet style. There are both traditional comedy sources (Ria's cooking, family squabbles) and more unusual sources such as Ria's mid-life crisis which has her teetering on the brink of an affair with Leonard, a somewhat more romantic and dashing man than her dour dentist husband. This unconsummated relationship with the outwardly-successful Leonard drives the plot. Ria is still in love with her husband, Ben, and has raised two generally well-adjusted but lazy sons, yet finds herself dissatisfied and in need of something more. Throughout the series Ria searches for that "something more" and finds some solace in her unconventional friendship with Leonard. In a 2002 interview, Carla Lane explained, "I wanted to write a comedy about a woman contemplating [[{{Adultery}} adultery]]."

* DomCom: a more genteel British sort.

[[caption-width-right:350:the Parkinsons. Left to right: Russell, Ben, Ria and [[Series/OnlyFoolsAndHorses Adam]]]]

->''Leonard: "We are all kids chasing butterflies. You see it, you want it, you grab it, and there it is, all squashed in your hand."''
->''Ria: "I am one of the few lucky ones, I have a pleasant house, a pleasant man and two pleasant sons. My butterfly didn't get squashed."''

* {{Adultery}}: the big issue between Leonard and Ria who hover on the brink but never actually get there.

* TheAllegedCar: the Mini-Cooper nominally belonging to the sons but which Ria is often forced to drive.

* DrugsAreBad: subverted when after Ria gives Adam and Russell the lecture on cannabis use, she tries it out for herself and realises it's quite nice...

* ExpositoryThemeTune: the Music/DollyParton song used as the theme neatly sets out the premis of the show.
* LethalChef: Ria. Her husband and sons make excuses and eat elsewhere.
* Music/DollyParton: she wrote the theme song but did not perform the version used in the show.

* SpeakingLikeTotallyTeen: the cringingly outdated teen slang used by [[JiveTurkey Ben and Ria's two sons]].

* TwoDecadesBehind: one decade behind in this case: sons Adam and Russell and their 1960's slang and jargon, jarring in the 1970's. They were still hippies when punk rock was just beginning.
* UsefulNotes/TheWestCountry: the Parkinsons live in affluent Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, a town used extensively for location filming and not explicitly revealed InUniverse until the very last episode. Most viewers assumed it was [[BritainIsOnlyLondon London]].

The situation is the day-to-day life of the Parkinsons, a typical upper-middle-class British family living in what was taken to be a smart suburb of London[[note]]it was actually the upscale town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire - more UsefulNotes/TheWestCountry - but a ''very'' affluent piece of[[/note]], presented in a tragicomic and somewhat bittersweet style. There are both traditional comedy sources (Ria's cooking, family squabbles) and more unusual sources such as Ria's mid-life crisis which has her teetering on the brink of an affair with Leonard, a somewhat more romantic and dashing man than her dour dentist husband. This unconsummated relationship with the outwardly-successful Leonard drives the plot. Ria is still in love with her husband, Ben, and has raised two generally well-adjusted but lazy sons, yet finds herself dissatisfied and in need of something more. Throughout the series Ria searches for that "something more" and finds some solace in her unconventional friendship with Leonard. In a 2002 interview, Carla Lane explained, "I wanted to write a comedy about a woman contemplating adultery."

* UsefulNotes/TheWestCountry: the Parkinsons live in affluent Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, a town used extensively for location filming and not explicitly revealed InUniverse until the very last episode. Most viewers asumed it was [[BritainIsOnlyLondon London]].

* UsefulNotes/TheWestCountry: the Parkinsons live in affluent Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, a town used extensively for location filming and not explicitly revealed InUniverse until the very last episode. Most viewers asumed it was {{BritainIsOnlyLondon London]].

* TwoDecadesBehind: one decade behind in this case: sons Adam and Russell and their 1960's slang and jargon, jarring in the 1970's. They were still hippies when punk rock was just beginning.

* StandardisedSitcomHousing: The [=BBC=]'s deluxe version, the Affluent Suburbian Detached House, gets an outing here denoting this is a family headed by an extremely well-paid professional (Ben Parkinson is a dentist in private practice. In London.)

The situation is the day-to-day life of the Parkinsons, a typical upper-middle-class British family living in what was taken to be a smart suburb of London[[note]]it was actually the upscale town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire - more UsefulNotes/WestCountry - but a vey affluent piece of[[/note]], presented in a tragicomic and somewhat bittersweet style. There are both traditional comedy sources (Ria's cooking, family squabbles) and more unusual sources such as Ria's mid-life crisis which has her teetering on the brink of an affair with Leonard, a somewhat more romantic and dashing man than her dour dentist husband. This unconsummated relationship with the outwardly-successful Leonard drives the plot. Ria is still in love with her husband, Ben, and has raised two generally well-adjusted but lazy sons, yet finds herself dissatisfied and in need of something more. Throughout the series Ria searches for that "something more" and finds some solace in her unconventional friendship with Leonard. In a 2002 interview, Carla Lane explained, "I wanted to write a comedy about a woman contemplating adultery."

* TheStoic: Ben parkinson. Often to the point where ria wonders what she could possibly do or say to provoke any sort of a response.

The situation is the day-to-day life of the Parkinsons, a typical upper-middle-class British family living in a smart suburb of London, presented in a tragicomic and somewhat bittersweet style. There are both traditional comedy sources (Ria's cooking, family squabbles) and more unusual sources such as Ria's mid-life crisis which has her teetering on the brink of an affair with Leonard, a somewhat more romantic and dashing man than her dour dentist husband. This unconsummated relationship with the outwardly-successful Leonard drives the plot. Ria is still in love with her husband, Ben, and has raised two generally well-adjusted but lazy sons, yet finds herself dissatisfied and in need of something more. Throughout the series Ria searches for that "something more" and finds some solace in her unconventional friendship with Leonard. In a 2002 interview, Carla Lane explained, "I wanted to write a comedy about a woman contemplating adultery."

* DomCom: a more genteel British sort.

* Creator/DollyParton: she wrote the theme song but did not perform the version used in the show.

[[caption-width-right:350:the Parkinsons. Left to right: Russell, Ben, Ria and [[Series/OnlyFoolsAndHorses Adam]]

The situation is the day-to-day life of the Parkinsons, a typical upper-middle-class British family living in a smart suburb of London, presented in a tragicomic and somewhat bittersweet style. There are both traditional comedy sources (Ria's cooking, family squabbles) and more unusual sources such as Ria's mid-life crisis which has her teetering on the brink of an affair with Leonard, a somewhat more romantic and dashing man than her dour dentist husband. This unconsummated relationship with the outwardly-successful Leonard drives the plot. Ria is still in love with her husband, Ben, and has raised two potentially fine sons, yet finds herself dissatisfied and in need of something more. Throughout the series Ria searches for that "something more" and finds some solace in her unconventional friendship with Leonard. In a 2002 interview, Carla Lane explained, "I wanted to write a comedy about a woman contemplating adultery."

* CordonBlecch: Ria's atrocious cooking.

* SpeakingLikeTotallyTeen: the cringingly outdated teen slang used by Ben and Ria's two sons.

* TwoDecadesBehind: one decade behind in this case: sons Adam And Russell and their 1960's slang and jargon, jarring in the 1970's. They were still hippies when punk rock was just beginning.

* CordonBleurgh: Ria's atrocious cooking.

* DeadpanSnarker: The lower social orders. Ben and Ria's cleaning lady; and Leonard's chauffeur. Both get to make some devastatingly accurate and honest comments on their employers. Generally to their faces.

* StandardisedSitcomHousing: The [=BBC=]'s deluxe version, the Affluent Suburbian Detached House, gets an outing here denoting this is a family headed by an extremely well-paid professional (Ben Parkinson is a dentist in private practice. In London.)

* StandardSitcomHousing: The [=BBC=]'s deluxe version, the Affluent Suburbian Detached House, gets an outing here denoting this is a family headed by an extremely well-paid professional (Ben Parkinson is a dentist in private practice. In London.)

* CordonBleurrgh: Ria's atrocious cooking.

* DomCom: a more genterel British sort.
SpeakingLikeTotallyTeen: the cringingly outdated teen slang used by Ben and Ria's two sons.

* SpeakingLikeTotallyTeen: the cringingly outdated teen slang used by Ben and Ria's two sons.

Leonard: "We are all kids chasing butterflies. You see it, you want it, you grab it, and there it is, all squashed in your hand."
Ria: "I am one of the few lucky ones, I have a pleasant house, a pleasant man and two pleasant sons. My butterfly didn't get squashed."