Rodney - Cheer up? Del I’ve just met the first girl in my life that really means something to me and it turns out to be my bloody niece!
Lennard Pearce died on 15 December 1984 having suffered his second heart attack in the space of 3 days. This came to a shock to everyone in the show and required them to alter this series as a result. Losing Grandad from the show was a big loss, it could’ve continued without his kind of character but the dynamic of the 3 central characters is what makes it so funny. The cast and crew talk about being a family unit in themselves by that point, so recasting Lennard Pearce was out of the question.
They had already shot some scenes for series 4 by this time, but due to his death the script had to be rewritten with episodes having Grandad’s role being substituted for Uncle Albert who we are introduced to in tomorrow’s episode. John Sullivan talks about this episode and the next as being some of the toughest to write due to Lennard’s death - they were both added after his death and 2 episodes were moved to next series. Sullivan notes not wanting to start the series off on a somber note with Grandad’s death, so this episode was brought in first. Not seeing Lennard’s name on the title credits brings his memory back into your mind.
However the script for this episode was cleverly rewritten so that Grandad lives on but off screen, in hospital. We have many characters asking about him, with an elderly lady in the shop bringing the subject the light.
Elderly lady - Give him my love.
Del - He ain’t up to nothing like that!
The main plot point of the episode however deals with Rodney’s latest crush Debbie who happens to be the daughter of Del’s old flame June. As they travel down memory lane June reminds Del that has been 19.5 years since they broke up. It is later revealed that Debbie is about to celebrate her 19th birthday. Putting two and two together, we see Del transformed into an instant when he assumes Debbie is his daughter.
Del suddenly becomes very protective of Debbie, promising her an expensive watch as a birthday present and forcing Rodney away from her. It’s then revealed that Debbie isn’t his kid, but was fathered by his best mate at the time Albie Littlewood and Albie’s accidental death sparked June ending it with Del back in 1965. Del only then announces that he had been with Albie’s girlfriend Dedrie at the time.
It’s a rollercoaster of an episode emotionally for both Del and Rodney. Del goes from anger at being shut out from Debbie, only to feel betrayed by his late best friend and then relieved that Albie hadn’t been on his way to see Del when he took a shortcut and died. Rodney goes from being smitten with Debbie at the beginning of the episode to angry at Del for saying he’s her father. Rodney doesn’t see history repeat itself as Mickey Pearce arrives with Debbie at the end of the episode signalling the end of another potential romance.
The writing in this series very strong again, but given the circumstances it will have tested John Sullivan to deliver humour in the face of death. He comments how ironic it is that it was this series which won them their first BAFTA.
Tomorrow’s episode: Strained Relations
Thursday, 30 April 2020
Wednesday, 29 April 2020
Christmas Special 1983 - Thicker than Water
Del - What a right blinding Christmas this has turned out to be! Some people get wise men bearing gifts... we get a wally with a disease!
Another Christmas special has rolled around, and this one sets up a major plot point for many future episodes in the brothers lineage, as well as introducing Reg Trotter into the mix for the first and last time.
We have heard Del and Grandad discuss both the absent mother and father in the family set up a few times in the show’s history, and it won’t be the last. In this episode we get a new perspective on both parents.
We get to meet Reg, the boys’ dad, who has been away for 18 years and he is the focal disruption to the equilibrium in the episode. We’re used to there being insults and jokes flying around between the main characters but Del loses it big time and the wittiness of his dialogue shines out in moments of raw emotion, just like this.
Del - He deserted you when you was 5 years old! And not only that, but he walked out on his own father!
Rodney - But... he’s back now!
Del - What, after 18 years - did his watch stop?! Stone me Rodders, we see more of Hayley’s Comet than we do him!
We notice many similarities between Reg and Del right from the get-go but he is harsher, more brutal and more manipulating than Del has been. He manages to drive a huge wedge between the brothers by isolating Del, whereas it is normally Rodney that is the odd-one-out, rebel or outcast. Yet there are physical and behavioural similarities between Del and Reg which creates a moment of confusion when it appears that Del is a “mystery”.
Whereas Joan, the boys’ mum, has always been spoken fondly of, and continues to be in this episode but there’s a revelation that around the time that Rodney was conceived her and Reg were having lots of rows, and she made “new friends”. This episode puts some of these doubts of Reg being Rodney’s father to rest by the end of the script however it does resurface in future episodes - notably ‘The Frog’s Legacy’ and ‘Sleepless in Peckham’ which reveal that Rodney is in fact not Reg’s son.
The show’s creators cast Nicholas Lyndhurst in the role before David Jason. The role of Del had been offered to other actors prior to David getting cast - including Jim Broadbent who we saw as Slater in the last episode. However John Sullivan, the show’s writer, was adamant that Del shouldn’t be tall and there should be a contrast between Del and Rodney - that way the bullying and abuse Del often have Rodney wouldn’t be seen as too much as there is a physical disparity. It makes sense that Del has ‘short man syndrome’ and has to act tough, be loud and brash to get noticed and be seen as the commander. This casting allowed an episode like this to work so particularly well and the storyline of Rodney’s lineage to be believable.
Towards the end of the episode you can tell that Reg has got underneath Del’s skin, and Del is depressed by the situation of being considered a “Lone Ranger”. It takes Rodney to get him back on his horse and pointing in the right direction. Without Rodney’s advice Del wouldn’t ultimately overcome Reg and restore the status quo. There’s a theme that runs through these important (and often more serious themed) episodes that it’s not about who your parents are, but who you consider to be your family that’s important. As a result of these revelations, the bond between Del and Rodney is not undone, but only strengthened.
Tomorrow’s episode: Happy Returns
Another Christmas special has rolled around, and this one sets up a major plot point for many future episodes in the brothers lineage, as well as introducing Reg Trotter into the mix for the first and last time.
We have heard Del and Grandad discuss both the absent mother and father in the family set up a few times in the show’s history, and it won’t be the last. In this episode we get a new perspective on both parents.
We get to meet Reg, the boys’ dad, who has been away for 18 years and he is the focal disruption to the equilibrium in the episode. We’re used to there being insults and jokes flying around between the main characters but Del loses it big time and the wittiness of his dialogue shines out in moments of raw emotion, just like this.
Del - He deserted you when you was 5 years old! And not only that, but he walked out on his own father!
Rodney - But... he’s back now!
Del - What, after 18 years - did his watch stop?! Stone me Rodders, we see more of Hayley’s Comet than we do him!
We notice many similarities between Reg and Del right from the get-go but he is harsher, more brutal and more manipulating than Del has been. He manages to drive a huge wedge between the brothers by isolating Del, whereas it is normally Rodney that is the odd-one-out, rebel or outcast. Yet there are physical and behavioural similarities between Del and Reg which creates a moment of confusion when it appears that Del is a “mystery”.
Whereas Joan, the boys’ mum, has always been spoken fondly of, and continues to be in this episode but there’s a revelation that around the time that Rodney was conceived her and Reg were having lots of rows, and she made “new friends”. This episode puts some of these doubts of Reg being Rodney’s father to rest by the end of the script however it does resurface in future episodes - notably ‘The Frog’s Legacy’ and ‘Sleepless in Peckham’ which reveal that Rodney is in fact not Reg’s son.
The show’s creators cast Nicholas Lyndhurst in the role before David Jason. The role of Del had been offered to other actors prior to David getting cast - including Jim Broadbent who we saw as Slater in the last episode. However John Sullivan, the show’s writer, was adamant that Del shouldn’t be tall and there should be a contrast between Del and Rodney - that way the bullying and abuse Del often have Rodney wouldn’t be seen as too much as there is a physical disparity. It makes sense that Del has ‘short man syndrome’ and has to act tough, be loud and brash to get noticed and be seen as the commander. This casting allowed an episode like this to work so particularly well and the storyline of Rodney’s lineage to be believable.
Towards the end of the episode you can tell that Reg has got underneath Del’s skin, and Del is depressed by the situation of being considered a “Lone Ranger”. It takes Rodney to get him back on his horse and pointing in the right direction. Without Rodney’s advice Del wouldn’t ultimately overcome Reg and restore the status quo. There’s a theme that runs through these important (and often more serious themed) episodes that it’s not about who your parents are, but who you consider to be your family that’s important. As a result of these revelations, the bond between Del and Rodney is not undone, but only strengthened.
Tomorrow’s episode: Happy Returns
Tuesday, 28 April 2020
S3 E7 - Who’s a Pretty Boy?
Del - When Corinne comes back in here she’s going to find her kettle’s been knackered, her kitchen’s been turned into a Turkish bath, and she’s got a Kentucky Fried Canary at the bottom of that cage!
Del is constantly looking for quick money making schemes, and sees opportunities this time in stealing business from a local painter and decorator. We saw what the outputs of the Trotters’ painting and decorating abilities was last series in ‘The Yellow Peril’. Once again, the paint supply is a bone of contention - it’s no longer luminous paint for tunnels, but battleship grey coloured paint instead.
Introduced for the first time is Denzil, another old mate of Del, and his wife Corinne. This is also the last time we meet Corinne unfortunately due to the actress ‘s untimely death. However she is referred to often in future episodes and is someone that Del (and Denzil seemingly) fears. And quite right too, she initially points out that each time Denzil meets Del he’ll “end up drunk or out of pocket”. We then get the main source of anger, a recounting of their wedding that Del was booked to do the catering for.
After Rodney leaves the kettle on the gas, the trio discover that Corinne’s pet Busby the canary is dead in his cage and we are all convinced that the smoke killed him. Grandad rushes off to buy a replacement (spending a small fortune) only to bump into Corinne on the way out of the pet shop. Here he delivers one of Grandad’s best lines of the show.
Corinne - I thought you was back at the flat?
Grandad - I am. I mean, I just popped out for something to eat...!
The revealing scene from Corinne that the bird had died overnight is classic Only Fools humour, again testing our assumptions.
However all is not lost as Del still manages to make £500 for doing nothing by befriending Mike the new landlord of the Nags Head. This instant friendship with Mike is one that develops into one of the best relationships on the show as Del tries to get more and more out of Mike over time.
Tomorrow’s episode: Thicker than Water
Del is constantly looking for quick money making schemes, and sees opportunities this time in stealing business from a local painter and decorator. We saw what the outputs of the Trotters’ painting and decorating abilities was last series in ‘The Yellow Peril’. Once again, the paint supply is a bone of contention - it’s no longer luminous paint for tunnels, but battleship grey coloured paint instead.
Introduced for the first time is Denzil, another old mate of Del, and his wife Corinne. This is also the last time we meet Corinne unfortunately due to the actress ‘s untimely death. However she is referred to often in future episodes and is someone that Del (and Denzil seemingly) fears. And quite right too, she initially points out that each time Denzil meets Del he’ll “end up drunk or out of pocket”. We then get the main source of anger, a recounting of their wedding that Del was booked to do the catering for.
After Rodney leaves the kettle on the gas, the trio discover that Corinne’s pet Busby the canary is dead in his cage and we are all convinced that the smoke killed him. Grandad rushes off to buy a replacement (spending a small fortune) only to bump into Corinne on the way out of the pet shop. Here he delivers one of Grandad’s best lines of the show.
Corinne - I thought you was back at the flat?
Grandad - I am. I mean, I just popped out for something to eat...!
The revealing scene from Corinne that the bird had died overnight is classic Only Fools humour, again testing our assumptions.
However all is not lost as Del still manages to make £500 for doing nothing by befriending Mike the new landlord of the Nags Head. This instant friendship with Mike is one that develops into one of the best relationships on the show as Del tries to get more and more out of Mike over time.
Tomorrow’s episode: Thicker than Water
Monday, 27 April 2020
S3 E6 - Wanted
Del - Alright, let’s go through the facts shall we... After a night’s drinking, on your way home you meet a sick woman - and, instead of phoning for an ambulance like any right-minded citizen, you touch her! What do you think you’ve got, healing hands?!
We have seen the Trotters brothers fall out with each other and Rodney being in Del’s shadow looking to break free before. This has led to Rodney trying to escape, either running away as he did in ‘Big Brother’ or go it alone as he did in ‘Healthy Competition’. However this time Rodney runs away due to Del’s prank after he encounters Blossom on his way home who ludicrously accuses Rodney of rape.
Like both of those episodes mentioned, this one draws on themes of Del controlling Rodney’s life and emotions and being able to influence him. This sees Rodney get taken advantage of often, but never much more than in this episode. Rodney is fully convinced that he’s being hunted by the police and vigilantes, nicknamed the “Peckham Pouncer” and decides to go on the run. However unlike the last episode, Del reveals to us early on that a joke is afoot, and confirms this by clarifying the true state of affairs with Grandad. Grandad warns Del that he doesn’t know when to stop in some dialogue which evokes fantastic imagery in our heads.
Grandad - What about that April Fools Day?! You told me the pools had rung to say I’d won half a million!
Del - Yeah that was a belter weren’t it!
Grandad - Oh wonderful! But you could at least stopped me going up West with me pension money! Oh it wasn’t funny Del. I mean there I was, in a Soho nightclub drinking champagne with a bird called Camilla, and I suddenly realised I didn’t even do the bloody pools!
As the truth comes out and Del discovers that Rodney has been hiding in the tank room of the flats (if the Russians didn’t bomb them then it must be safe up there, right?!) there’s some classic Rodney being unprepared / lacking common sense moments. After admitting that he hadn’t opened any of the tinned food, Del asks if it was he was “too frightened?” To which Rodney replies “nah, I forgot the tin-opener!” However he gets the last laugh after Del promises to make amends by buying him new clothes, shoes and a slap-up meal - and then admitting that Del shouldn’t be drinking water from the tank due to what Rodney’s been doing in it!
Tomorrow’s episode: Who’s a Pretty Boy?
Sunday, 26 April 2020
S3 E5 - May the Force be with You
Del - Now listen, you’ve gotta be very careful what you say to him, because that fella in there, he collects informants the way other people collect stamps!
Rodney - He’s got a few grasses has he?
Del - No he ain’t got a few grasses, Rodney - he’s got an entire lawn!
Since the beginning of series 2 we have seen episodes which pit the Trotters against a binary opposite, in this episode we revisit the theme of cops and robbers as we saw in ‘The Long Legs of the Law’. However, instead of Rodney dating the police officer, this time it’s Detective Inspector Roy Slater - Del’s old classmate and now arch-nemesis being introduced for the first time.
Slater is a recurring character in Only Fools, played by now legendary actor Jim Broadbent. In the opening scene he has dialogue with Trigger (one of the first scenes) to not have one of the brothers prominent at the start. We immediately get the sense that Slater is feared by how little Trigger wants to give away. This is picked up on by Slater who comically notes that Trigger is “deaf, dumb and blind these days”. The fear is further instilled by Boycie’s immediate hostility and haste to leave as soon as he has arrived in the pub. This sets up the reunion with Del very well.
Del’s reaction to Slater walking over the threshold being of shock and panic makes for a great laugh out loud moment early on, with him discovering the microwave with the help of Grandad adding to our collective worry. Slater seems to have them banged to rights on receiving stolen property, but he’s really looking for the person who stole the oven in the first place.
The three main characters are whisked off to the police station, and it’s clear that at least 2 of them don’t know who stole the microwave based on their descriptions.
Del - If Mr Slater was to believe our descriptions, he’d have his men searching for someone who’s a cross between Tom Thumb and the Jolly Green Giant!
As the episode goes on, it’s another one where you think something is going to happen but then the rug is pulled out from underneath us right at the last moment. There’s a second where we all believe that Del will confess who lifted the microwave and become one of Slater’s grasses (or “merry men”). There’s a moment of real trepidation and it could ultimately have changed the show completely if Del hadn’t wiggled out right at the last second.
This episode does a bit of foreshadowing for future episodes too. We get another mention of Marlene, with even Slater getting a laugh out of Trigger for saying “give my love to Marlene.... everyone else used to!”. We also get a mention of Boycie entering into pirate videos - something that is revisited next series in ‘Video Nasty’. Finally, Del wonders if Slater had been chatting to “the wife” when he had called the Chief Commissioner, Slater’s wife was Racquel at the time little do we know just yet.
Tomorrow’s episode: Wanted
Rodney - He’s got a few grasses has he?
Del - No he ain’t got a few grasses, Rodney - he’s got an entire lawn!
Since the beginning of series 2 we have seen episodes which pit the Trotters against a binary opposite, in this episode we revisit the theme of cops and robbers as we saw in ‘The Long Legs of the Law’. However, instead of Rodney dating the police officer, this time it’s Detective Inspector Roy Slater - Del’s old classmate and now arch-nemesis being introduced for the first time.
Slater is a recurring character in Only Fools, played by now legendary actor Jim Broadbent. In the opening scene he has dialogue with Trigger (one of the first scenes) to not have one of the brothers prominent at the start. We immediately get the sense that Slater is feared by how little Trigger wants to give away. This is picked up on by Slater who comically notes that Trigger is “deaf, dumb and blind these days”. The fear is further instilled by Boycie’s immediate hostility and haste to leave as soon as he has arrived in the pub. This sets up the reunion with Del very well.
Del’s reaction to Slater walking over the threshold being of shock and panic makes for a great laugh out loud moment early on, with him discovering the microwave with the help of Grandad adding to our collective worry. Slater seems to have them banged to rights on receiving stolen property, but he’s really looking for the person who stole the oven in the first place.
The three main characters are whisked off to the police station, and it’s clear that at least 2 of them don’t know who stole the microwave based on their descriptions.
Del - If Mr Slater was to believe our descriptions, he’d have his men searching for someone who’s a cross between Tom Thumb and the Jolly Green Giant!
As the episode goes on, it’s another one where you think something is going to happen but then the rug is pulled out from underneath us right at the last moment. There’s a second where we all believe that Del will confess who lifted the microwave and become one of Slater’s grasses (or “merry men”). There’s a moment of real trepidation and it could ultimately have changed the show completely if Del hadn’t wiggled out right at the last second.
This episode does a bit of foreshadowing for future episodes too. We get another mention of Marlene, with even Slater getting a laugh out of Trigger for saying “give my love to Marlene.... everyone else used to!”. We also get a mention of Boycie entering into pirate videos - something that is revisited next series in ‘Video Nasty’. Finally, Del wonders if Slater had been chatting to “the wife” when he had called the Chief Commissioner, Slater’s wife was Racquel at the time little do we know just yet.
Tomorrow’s episode: Wanted
Saturday, 25 April 2020
S3 E4 - Yesterday Never Comes
Del - I think she fancies me!
Rodney - Miranda? Don’t be stupid, Del, she’s an intelligent woman!
This episode, like others before it, pits the Trotters against an opposite in a binary sort of way. We have had them encounter rich people not long ago in ‘A Touch of Glass’ but this time it’s a high class antique merchant by the name of Miranda. Del makes the same mistake of thinking that he can wiggle his way into that world again, only to realise that he’s being used as a way of getting to a family heirloom with thousands of pounds. The binary opposites in terms of knowledge is epitomised by the scene when Miranda inspects the cabinet.
Rodney - Fyfes.
Love is very much blind with Del in these early episodes, but it’s very short-lived here and isn’t actually a relationship from both sides. Del taking on Rodney’s advice of “be yourself” and smacking Miranda’s bum following up with “fancy a curry?” is a great comedy moment in of itself, but it’s both Miranda and Rodney’s reaction that add to the hilarity of the situation. The writing again pulls this through with Rodney’s failed attempt at using the same tactic later in the episode - again proving Rodney has a lot to learn and should trust his instincts more than try ad emulate Del.
There’s another funny throwback to ‘Healthy Competition’ in the final scene at the auction. In that episode, Del explains to Mickey Pearce about auction etiquette explaining “you have to be very careful what you do with your hands in a place like this”. Del’s excitement in this episode shows that he’s not even following his own advice as he shakes the daffodils and puts in a £k bid.
Del’s actions in this episode put a strain on the family, with a woman once again threatening to be the wedge between their lives. Resolving this conflict peacefully takes a lot of care and time, but it’s not achieved here.
Tomorrow’s episode: May The Force Be With You
Rodney - Miranda? Don’t be stupid, Del, she’s an intelligent woman!
This episode, like others before it, pits the Trotters against an opposite in a binary sort of way. We have had them encounter rich people not long ago in ‘A Touch of Glass’ but this time it’s a high class antique merchant by the name of Miranda. Del makes the same mistake of thinking that he can wiggle his way into that world again, only to realise that he’s being used as a way of getting to a family heirloom with thousands of pounds. The binary opposites in terms of knowledge is epitomised by the scene when Miranda inspects the cabinet.
Rodney - Fyfes.
Del - Didn’t they used to make bananas?
Miranda - That is correct.
Rodney - What does that indicate?
Miranda - It indicates banana boxes.
Grandad - Maybe they were antique banana boxes?!
Love is very much blind with Del in these early episodes, but it’s very short-lived here and isn’t actually a relationship from both sides. Del taking on Rodney’s advice of “be yourself” and smacking Miranda’s bum following up with “fancy a curry?” is a great comedy moment in of itself, but it’s both Miranda and Rodney’s reaction that add to the hilarity of the situation. The writing again pulls this through with Rodney’s failed attempt at using the same tactic later in the episode - again proving Rodney has a lot to learn and should trust his instincts more than try ad emulate Del.
There’s another funny throwback to ‘Healthy Competition’ in the final scene at the auction. In that episode, Del explains to Mickey Pearce about auction etiquette explaining “you have to be very careful what you do with your hands in a place like this”. Del’s excitement in this episode shows that he’s not even following his own advice as he shakes the daffodils and puts in a £k bid.
Del’s actions in this episode put a strain on the family, with a woman once again threatening to be the wedge between their lives. Resolving this conflict peacefully takes a lot of care and time, but it’s not achieved here.
Tomorrow’s episode: May The Force Be With You
Friday, 24 April 2020
S3 E3 - Friday the 14th
Rodney - Bit of a coincidence you met him in a fish restaurant and suddenly we’re going fishing!
The beauty of the sitcom is that it allows the writer to combine it with different genres but add comedic elements. We don’t get horror too often in Only Fools but when it comes in an episode like this, it delivers in spades.
We get the early part of the episode which sets up the situation and disruption in a normal situation. Del announces the fishing plan and both Rodney see it for what it isn’t (a holiday) but another of Del’s money-making schemes.
Rodney - It’s called stealing!
Grandad - No it’s not -
Del - Listen to your grandfather...
Grandad - It’s called poaching!
There’s a wonderful moment when the stars have aligned in the worst way possible when the trio drive in Cornwall for their weekend fishing trip and discover there is an escaped axe murderer from an institute for the criminally insane.
Police Officer - 10 years ago this very night, he killed a party of weekend fishermen
It’s amazing how one line can be hilarious and make you fearful for the main characters at the same time! As the evening draws on, Rodney convinces them that he’s seen the axe murderer in the trees, as well as scaring the others saying that he could’ve taken refuge in an empty place, like the cottage that they are staying in. Their attempts to rationalise the situation with a criminally insane person in torrential rain is entertaining.
Del - Probably out there on them moors.
Rodney - In this weather?!
Del - He’s mad, isn’t he!
Grandad - He might be mad, he’d have to be bloody stupid to be out in them moors!
We end the episode with Del, as always, managing to get out of a tight spot and still managing to make money out of the axe murderer - another example of how versatile he can be to changing situations.
Tomorrow’s episode: Yesterday Never Comes
The beauty of the sitcom is that it allows the writer to combine it with different genres but add comedic elements. We don’t get horror too often in Only Fools but when it comes in an episode like this, it delivers in spades.
We get the early part of the episode which sets up the situation and disruption in a normal situation. Del announces the fishing plan and both Rodney see it for what it isn’t (a holiday) but another of Del’s money-making schemes.
Rodney - It’s called stealing!
Grandad - No it’s not -
Del - Listen to your grandfather...
Grandad - It’s called poaching!
There’s a wonderful moment when the stars have aligned in the worst way possible when the trio drive in Cornwall for their weekend fishing trip and discover there is an escaped axe murderer from an institute for the criminally insane.
Police Officer - 10 years ago this very night, he killed a party of weekend fishermen
It’s amazing how one line can be hilarious and make you fearful for the main characters at the same time! As the evening draws on, Rodney convinces them that he’s seen the axe murderer in the trees, as well as scaring the others saying that he could’ve taken refuge in an empty place, like the cottage that they are staying in. Their attempts to rationalise the situation with a criminally insane person in torrential rain is entertaining.
Del - Probably out there on them moors.
Rodney - In this weather?!
Del - He’s mad, isn’t he!
Grandad - He might be mad, he’d have to be bloody stupid to be out in them moors!
We end the episode with Del, as always, managing to get out of a tight spot and still managing to make money out of the axe murderer - another example of how versatile he can be to changing situations.
Tomorrow’s episode: Yesterday Never Comes
Thursday, 23 April 2020
S3 E2 - Healthy Competition
Del - The trouble with you, Rodney, is that you will insist on thinking!
We start this episode with a classic chase scene where Rodney hasn’t spotted the oncoming police officer and Del gets chased with his squeaking toy dogs through a department store, down some alleyways, chased by actual dogs and then losing the entire stock in the getaway. The addition of the Jaws theme in this scene just adds to the comedy. The YouTube clip here cuts it off a little too early as there are 2 additional punchlines of the policeman getting chased back up the alleyway by the dogs, and then Del arriving home in a huff only for Grandad to ask “Had a good day, Del?!” Del’s rants are always makes me laugh, this one is up there for me but the script goes further in an episode like ’Tea for Three’.
Many episodes have the three main characters laughing or upset at one of the other members of the show, but this episode has it in bounds. The central dynamic between the three characters is the core of the show, with the supporting cast taking on more of a role as the episodes grew longer most notably. These earlier episodes allowed the writer to really explore creative jokes and insults aimed at each other - none with any real malice but enough to make us laugh a lot. It’s in this moment of reflection that we get one of these howlers.
Rodney - For the last 2 weeks or so, I’ve been taking stock of my life: who I am, what I am and where I’m going.
Del - And that’s taken you a fortnight?! I could’ve answered all them questions for you - could’ve answered them all in the commercial break!
Rodney - Will you just shut up for one minute?! I am 24 years old. I have 2 GCEs, 13 years of schooling, and 3 terms at an adult education centre behind me, right? And with all that, what have I become? I’m a look-out.
Del - No, Rodney, you’re wrong. You’re not just a look-out. YOU'RE A BAD LOOKOUT!
Following on the theme from the previous episode around Rodney seeking more independence and control, we get him breaking up the partnership with Del and forming a new one with Mickey Pearce. Initially, Rodney looks set to prove us all wrong with an eye out at the auction for some cut glass goblets. Del’s outwitting of Rodney here though continues the theme of Rodney’s ignorance and lack of experience versus Del’s ability to manipulate people and situations to his advantage.
Then when it turns out that Mickey has taken the rest of the new money that the two of them have invested and headed off to Benidorm alone without telling Rodney, we see Rodney putting on a brave face. There’s an inner pride that Rodney has, which is more aimed at wanting to make his own decisions and feel in control of his life. This comes back to Del being an extrovert, wearing his heart on his sleeve, whereas Rodney is more of an introvert and finding it difficult to have a place outside of Del’s shadow. Rodney isn’t the best blagger in the world, we saw that as far back as the very first episode - and it doesn’t wash here with either Del or Grandad. It only leads to more ridicule...
Rodney - We’re going into the self-catering holiday trade.
Del - What on 200 nicker?!
Rodney - Yeah well, we’re starting in a small way.
Grandad - What you got, a wendy house?!
As the episode closes with Rodney revealing himself to be an even bigger plonker than we had first thought (a “42-carat” one if you ask Del), it shows that Rodney still has a lot to learn! His attempt to break free continues well into other series, with various degrees of success and failure to come.
Tomorrow’s episode: Friday the 14th
We start this episode with a classic chase scene where Rodney hasn’t spotted the oncoming police officer and Del gets chased with his squeaking toy dogs through a department store, down some alleyways, chased by actual dogs and then losing the entire stock in the getaway. The addition of the Jaws theme in this scene just adds to the comedy. The YouTube clip here cuts it off a little too early as there are 2 additional punchlines of the policeman getting chased back up the alleyway by the dogs, and then Del arriving home in a huff only for Grandad to ask “Had a good day, Del?!” Del’s rants are always makes me laugh, this one is up there for me but the script goes further in an episode like ’Tea for Three’.
Many episodes have the three main characters laughing or upset at one of the other members of the show, but this episode has it in bounds. The central dynamic between the three characters is the core of the show, with the supporting cast taking on more of a role as the episodes grew longer most notably. These earlier episodes allowed the writer to really explore creative jokes and insults aimed at each other - none with any real malice but enough to make us laugh a lot. It’s in this moment of reflection that we get one of these howlers.
Rodney - For the last 2 weeks or so, I’ve been taking stock of my life: who I am, what I am and where I’m going.
Del - And that’s taken you a fortnight?! I could’ve answered all them questions for you - could’ve answered them all in the commercial break!
Rodney - Will you just shut up for one minute?! I am 24 years old. I have 2 GCEs, 13 years of schooling, and 3 terms at an adult education centre behind me, right? And with all that, what have I become? I’m a look-out.
Del - No, Rodney, you’re wrong. You’re not just a look-out. YOU'RE A BAD LOOKOUT!
Following on the theme from the previous episode around Rodney seeking more independence and control, we get him breaking up the partnership with Del and forming a new one with Mickey Pearce. Initially, Rodney looks set to prove us all wrong with an eye out at the auction for some cut glass goblets. Del’s outwitting of Rodney here though continues the theme of Rodney’s ignorance and lack of experience versus Del’s ability to manipulate people and situations to his advantage.
Then when it turns out that Mickey has taken the rest of the new money that the two of them have invested and headed off to Benidorm alone without telling Rodney, we see Rodney putting on a brave face. There’s an inner pride that Rodney has, which is more aimed at wanting to make his own decisions and feel in control of his life. This comes back to Del being an extrovert, wearing his heart on his sleeve, whereas Rodney is more of an introvert and finding it difficult to have a place outside of Del’s shadow. Rodney isn’t the best blagger in the world, we saw that as far back as the very first episode - and it doesn’t wash here with either Del or Grandad. It only leads to more ridicule...
Rodney - We’re going into the self-catering holiday trade.
Del - What on 200 nicker?!
Rodney - Yeah well, we’re starting in a small way.
Grandad - What you got, a wendy house?!
As the episode closes with Rodney revealing himself to be an even bigger plonker than we had first thought (a “42-carat” one if you ask Del), it shows that Rodney still has a lot to learn! His attempt to break free continues well into other series, with various degrees of success and failure to come.
Tomorrow’s episode: Friday the 14th
Wednesday, 22 April 2020
S3 E1 - Homesick
Del - His brain went years ago! Now his legs have gone... there’s only the middle bit of him left!
The Trotters are back in series 3 and we pick up broadly where we left off. Del is looking to make a living and also on the hunt for a better life and a partner, Rodney is still looking to prove himself. The only change is Grandad who is looking much more frail, and the episode deals with this as a central plot point but all 3 characters get development around it.
Rodney is becoming more interested in the Tenant’s Association, and is seemingly one of the few who are. Trigger does turn up though, and we get a classic piece of dialogue where Rodney explains to Trigger that his name’s not ‘Dave’ - a joke that’s was set up in episode 1 of the first series and continued beyond this episode to the very last.
This is awkward Britishness summed up in a little scene, which is very relatable, particularly to more introvert types like Rodney. The fact that Trigger immediately forgets the conversation even happened is just fantastic writing and cements Trigger’s character as ‘not all there’ brilliantly.
The lifts being broken again meaning Grandad has to climb the stairs is making his legs very weak. Rodney’s new Chairmanship of the Tenant’s Association gives him influence at the Town Hall and puts in a request for a new bungalow, which is eventually accepted.
This episode also has some classic Del Boy blagging going wrong in it when he attempts to chat up Margaret, who is in charge of housing and welfare at the Town Hall. Del utilising newly found knowledge about Nijinsky in the hope of impressing Margaret ultimately backfires. Us the audience being taken on the whole journey gives us a double pay off.
Dr Becker - Don’t worry, he’s got legs like Nijinsky!
Del - Nijinsky’s a racehorse!
Rodney - No, he means Nijinsky the Russian ballet dancer.
Dr Becker - I don’t!
Del - I’m a great fan.
Margaret - Of Nijinsky?
Del - Yeah, actually I was thinking of getting a couple of tickets, you know, for one of the shows.
Margaret - Derek, Nijinsky died in 1950.
Del - Did she?
Margaret - She?! Nijinsky was a man!
In the end it is revealed that Grandad has been putting on a bit of an act, with Del planning the whole conspiracy to get them out of the tower block and into the bungalow - purposefully keeping Rodney out of it because he’s “full of principle”. This puts Rodney back in his place. When Margaret unexpectedly returns and discovers them all celebrating it puts them all back to square one however.
Tomorrow’s episode - Healthy Competition
The Trotters are back in series 3 and we pick up broadly where we left off. Del is looking to make a living and also on the hunt for a better life and a partner, Rodney is still looking to prove himself. The only change is Grandad who is looking much more frail, and the episode deals with this as a central plot point but all 3 characters get development around it.
Rodney is becoming more interested in the Tenant’s Association, and is seemingly one of the few who are. Trigger does turn up though, and we get a classic piece of dialogue where Rodney explains to Trigger that his name’s not ‘Dave’ - a joke that’s was set up in episode 1 of the first series and continued beyond this episode to the very last.
This is awkward Britishness summed up in a little scene, which is very relatable, particularly to more introvert types like Rodney. The fact that Trigger immediately forgets the conversation even happened is just fantastic writing and cements Trigger’s character as ‘not all there’ brilliantly.
The lifts being broken again meaning Grandad has to climb the stairs is making his legs very weak. Rodney’s new Chairmanship of the Tenant’s Association gives him influence at the Town Hall and puts in a request for a new bungalow, which is eventually accepted.
This episode also has some classic Del Boy blagging going wrong in it when he attempts to chat up Margaret, who is in charge of housing and welfare at the Town Hall. Del utilising newly found knowledge about Nijinsky in the hope of impressing Margaret ultimately backfires. Us the audience being taken on the whole journey gives us a double pay off.
Dr Becker - Don’t worry, he’s got legs like Nijinsky!
Del - Nijinsky’s a racehorse!
Rodney - No, he means Nijinsky the Russian ballet dancer.
Dr Becker - I don’t!
Del - I’m a great fan.
Margaret - Of Nijinsky?
Del - Yeah, actually I was thinking of getting a couple of tickets, you know, for one of the shows.
Margaret - Derek, Nijinsky died in 1950.
Del - Did she?
Margaret - She?! Nijinsky was a man!
In the end it is revealed that Grandad has been putting on a bit of an act, with Del planning the whole conspiracy to get them out of the tower block and into the bungalow - purposefully keeping Rodney out of it because he’s “full of principle”. This puts Rodney back in his place. When Margaret unexpectedly returns and discovers them all celebrating it puts them all back to square one however.
Tomorrow’s episode - Healthy Competition
Tuesday, 21 April 2020
Christmas Special 1982 - Diamonds are for Heather
Rodney - They fit so nicely into his style of living: fast foods, ready-to-wear suits - now he’s got an instant family!
In this Christmas special, we find Del in a much more thoughtful and reflective mood. Recently dumped by a “rich bird” and lumbered with 2 ton of hooky Persil, as well as attending a christening it’s got him pining after love and a family of his own.
When Del woos Heather and then discovers that she has a little 3-year-old, he doesn’t reject her like “most men” but actually finds himself in a situation that suits his mood right down to the ground. It’s the first time that we see Del take an relationship as seriously, and his embracing of the boy Darren into his life shows that he can and would like to be a Dad. Regardless of the fact that Darren is not his child, he treats him as his own.
Both Rodney and Grandad find ways of making fun at Del’s rejuvenated spirit and rekindled inner-child by making fun of him. However when the relationship becomes more serious and Del mentions about him and Heather getting a place together the realisation of the ramifications of that bring things down earth for them with a bump.
The episode centres around Del’s character development however and ends up with him ultimately getting heartbroken and rejected in his proposal. Heather talks of loving him “like a brother” and that he should’ve been more forthcoming. Del admits that he’s not a romantic and doesn’t do all of the lovey dovey stuff.
We don’t see Del too romantically involved between now and ‘Dates’ (pre series 6), there’s the odd attempt here and there, but in that episode when he meets Racquel for the first time he overly tries to sweep her off her feet. It’s possibly this experience with Heather that makes him try that much harder the next time he finds love.
Tomorrow’s episode: Homesick
In this Christmas special, we find Del in a much more thoughtful and reflective mood. Recently dumped by a “rich bird” and lumbered with 2 ton of hooky Persil, as well as attending a christening it’s got him pining after love and a family of his own.
When Del woos Heather and then discovers that she has a little 3-year-old, he doesn’t reject her like “most men” but actually finds himself in a situation that suits his mood right down to the ground. It’s the first time that we see Del take an relationship as seriously, and his embracing of the boy Darren into his life shows that he can and would like to be a Dad. Regardless of the fact that Darren is not his child, he treats him as his own.
Both Rodney and Grandad find ways of making fun at Del’s rejuvenated spirit and rekindled inner-child by making fun of him. However when the relationship becomes more serious and Del mentions about him and Heather getting a place together the realisation of the ramifications of that bring things down earth for them with a bump.
The episode centres around Del’s character development however and ends up with him ultimately getting heartbroken and rejected in his proposal. Heather talks of loving him “like a brother” and that he should’ve been more forthcoming. Del admits that he’s not a romantic and doesn’t do all of the lovey dovey stuff.
We don’t see Del too romantically involved between now and ‘Dates’ (pre series 6), there’s the odd attempt here and there, but in that episode when he meets Racquel for the first time he overly tries to sweep her off her feet. It’s possibly this experience with Heather that makes him try that much harder the next time he finds love.
Tomorrow’s episode: Homesick
Monday, 20 April 2020
S2 E7 - A Touch of Glass
Del - Brace yourself, Rodney. Brace yourself.
Where do you start on an episode as iconic as this one?
Before we get on to the climax of the episode, series and one of the greatest comedy scenes of all time, let’s explore the character builds and jokes that build this episode up to make that moment as funny as it can be.
Similar to the beginning of the series when it’s cop vs robber, this episode has the contrasts dialled up to 11 in a different way. In fact, there is fantastic juxtaposition throughout this entire episode. The porcelain cat compared to Lady Ridgemere’s Dresden, the (now randomly exploding) three-wheeled van and the flat in a tower block contrasted to the Lord & Lady’s car and Ridgemere Hall, the educated establishment vs the working class, Wallis the Butler and Grandad as different examples of elderly characters...
All of this, as per The Long Legs of the Law, brings out the best in our main characters and how they behave, react and deal with the scenarios that their counterparts offer them. After 2 series of Del’s image and status obsessed life, we have him mixing in with the elites, and his aspirations get carried away so much so that he would so anything to grab a slice of the action. Del, the eternal optimist, sniffs an opportunity form the get go “there’s gotta be an earner in it!”
There’s a nice balance between Del and then Rodney and Grandad who are far more suspicious and sceptical - both in that his Lordship would accept them into his life in any manner, and whether they have the capability of doing what is required and also fitting into that way of life. These points are brilliantly demonstrated in the two pieces of dialogue below:
Grandad - No, they think we’re peasants!
Del - Peasants? What do you mean ‘peasants’? They may think that you two are peasants! Well come to that I think you two are peasants!
Grandad - ‘No bodging’. I think he lacks faith in you, Del Boy!
As we get to the final famous scene, it is a failure on all parts that leads to the catastrophe of the wrong chandelier coming down. There have been numerous shows discussing this detail at length, such as how they only had the one chandelier to break and so one take to shoot, and had to hold in their laughter on the set. David Jason mentions wanting to make the audience think that the chandelier was going to make them fall off the ladder.
What I have found to be most unbelievable is that the story for this scene comes from John Sullivan’s father, a plumber who recalled having to take down 2 chandeliers down in a large manor house due to the extent of their work. The moment occurred just as it did in the episode where one team was unscrewing the wrong chandelier. It’s a lesson for us all in communicating clearly with others.
Series 2 ends with a literal bang. It is the culmination of all we have seen to from the characters summed up in one 30 minute episode. You could even show this episode to brand new watchers and they would understand all that they needed to know about Only Fools.
Next episode: Diamonds are for Heather (1982 Christmas Special)
Where do you start on an episode as iconic as this one?
Before we get on to the climax of the episode, series and one of the greatest comedy scenes of all time, let’s explore the character builds and jokes that build this episode up to make that moment as funny as it can be.
Similar to the beginning of the series when it’s cop vs robber, this episode has the contrasts dialled up to 11 in a different way. In fact, there is fantastic juxtaposition throughout this entire episode. The porcelain cat compared to Lady Ridgemere’s Dresden, the (now randomly exploding) three-wheeled van and the flat in a tower block contrasted to the Lord & Lady’s car and Ridgemere Hall, the educated establishment vs the working class, Wallis the Butler and Grandad as different examples of elderly characters...
All of this, as per The Long Legs of the Law, brings out the best in our main characters and how they behave, react and deal with the scenarios that their counterparts offer them. After 2 series of Del’s image and status obsessed life, we have him mixing in with the elites, and his aspirations get carried away so much so that he would so anything to grab a slice of the action. Del, the eternal optimist, sniffs an opportunity form the get go “there’s gotta be an earner in it!”
There’s a nice balance between Del and then Rodney and Grandad who are far more suspicious and sceptical - both in that his Lordship would accept them into his life in any manner, and whether they have the capability of doing what is required and also fitting into that way of life. These points are brilliantly demonstrated in the two pieces of dialogue below:
Grandad - No, they think we’re peasants!
Del - Peasants? What do you mean ‘peasants’? They may think that you two are peasants! Well come to that I think you two are peasants!
Grandad - ‘No bodging’. I think he lacks faith in you, Del Boy!
As we get to the final famous scene, it is a failure on all parts that leads to the catastrophe of the wrong chandelier coming down. There have been numerous shows discussing this detail at length, such as how they only had the one chandelier to break and so one take to shoot, and had to hold in their laughter on the set. David Jason mentions wanting to make the audience think that the chandelier was going to make them fall off the ladder.
What I have found to be most unbelievable is that the story for this scene comes from John Sullivan’s father, a plumber who recalled having to take down 2 chandeliers down in a large manor house due to the extent of their work. The moment occurred just as it did in the episode where one team was unscrewing the wrong chandelier. It’s a lesson for us all in communicating clearly with others.
Series 2 ends with a literal bang. It is the culmination of all we have seen to from the characters summed up in one 30 minute episode. You could even show this episode to brand new watchers and they would understand all that they needed to know about Only Fools.
Next episode: Diamonds are for Heather (1982 Christmas Special)
Sunday, 19 April 2020
S2 E6 - It Never Rains...
Del - Just a minute: excuse me. I may be be being a wally or something, but could please explain to me what a dole queue in Peckham has to do with the Spanish Civil War?!
The Trotters are off on holiday, and Grandad’s coming too. Where are they off to?
Del - We’re going somewhere different away from the tourists!
Rodney - Yeah? Where?
Del - Benidorm!
The Trotters are off on holiday, and Grandad’s coming too. Where are they off to?
Del - We’re going somewhere different away from the tourists!
Rodney - Yeah? Where?
Del - Benidorm!
This ironic statement is then wonderfully timed with Grandad’s ignorance:
Grandad - I’ve always wanted to go to Benidorm! Where is it?
There are some well timed slapstick moments in this episode, the biggest laugh is probably when Del steps in the bowl of water Rodney had been using to soak his feet in.
The key comedic moments are derived from 2 set pieces: Del chatting up a girl in French and Grandad’s arrest and tale of his escapades in 1936.
The first of these takes the French phrases we saw Del increase in the last episode even further into an attempt at a full conversation in French (with an English girl he believes to be French!) The fact that he muddles through with phrases we all know or recognise makes it very relatable to the majority of the audience.
Getting language mixed up is a common theme in the episode, not only later when Del tries to converse with Juan the jail guard, but also earlier when Grandad mentions on the beach that he’s “going back to the hotel and have a fiesta” creates some wonderful imagery.
Talking of Grandad, he steals the show with his story of him going off to join the Foreign Legion in 1936 and ending up getting involved in the Spanish Civil War. This culminates in some of the best lines of the series including the one at the top of this post and the below:
Grandad - When we got there we couldn’t believe our eyes. They were the biggest band of cut throats and thieves you’ve ever seen. They were the scum of the earth!
Rodney - So you didn’t join them?
Grandad - We tried but they wouldn’t have us!
Rodney - You mean you were gun running in the middle of Civil War?!
Grandad - Well that’s the best time to do it Rodney!
Rodney - They tortured ya?
Grandad - No. But they would’ve done if I hadn’t told them everything I knew!
Of all of the holiday/trip episodes this one sets the bar for things that go wrong. Coming up with more ideas for things that could happen or go wrong shows how inventive the writing was - episodes that come immediately to mind are ‘The Unlucky Winner Is...’, ‘The Jolly Boys Outing’, and ‘Miami Twice’.
Tomorrow’s episode: A Touch of Glass
Saturday, 18 April 2020
S2 E5 - The Yellow Peril
Rodney - So what period are we going to decorate it in, Del - early bubonic perhaps?
This episode is another one where there are 2 central plot points that crescendo in a finale which crashes the two together in one big funny reveal.
Similar to last episode, there are themes and dialogue found in this episode with the Chinese character Mr Chin at the end of which probably wouldn’t get allowed today, but again these aren’t central to the plot or the main jokes involving him.
The central plot is around Mr Chin’s kitchen which is apparently due to be painted after a warning from the “health inspector”. When Trigger announces late in the episode that the paint is luminous, we get a fantastic reveal of the workers in a fluorescent yellow kitchen wearing sunglasses, wondering what is going on. This alone would possibly be enough to bring the house down on the episode as a major plot punchline, but the genius of the writing builds on this moment with a bonus laughter moment right at the end of the episode.
We start the episode with the brothers talking about their mum and Del recounting tales of what she was like to Rodney. Her grave being very extravagant produces a strong comedy beat, but isn’t out of line with the image theme that has been found in previous episodes. It is, after all, the only one in the graveyard that is made of fibreglass and needed planning permission after all!
Tying the earlier dialogue of the grave “looking a bit tatty” and “could do with brightening up a bit” with Del painting it in the luminous yellow paint (“it was her favourite colour”) is something that dawns on the audience slowly as they arrive back at the graveyard but pays off massively with the visual reveal. There’s not a huge focus on Joan’s grave until the very last full episode where it is upgraded even further still, another joke harking back to this episode for the long-term fans.
The episode also noticeably ups the French phrases that Del uses. We have been restricted to generally 1 or 2 per episode up until now, but this is the episode where the writing goes to town on it. My personal favourite of the episode is when he describes Rodney of having “no tres bien ensemble”.
Overall this episode adds some more depth to the brothers’ relationship (or lack of in Rodney’s case) with their Mum, and builds on their optimistic business outlook. Del manages to convince Mr Chin that the paint is energy saving and meant to cut back on the electricity bills - and when faced with this perspective he asks him to do the living room as well! Another unexpected success, clawed from the grasps of disaster for the Trotters.
Tomorrow's episode: It Never Rains
Friday, 17 April 2020
S2 E4 - No Greater Love
Del - I don’t believe you! You’re not going case-o with the wife of a convict are you?!
Rodney falls head of heels for a 40 year-old, Irene. Only problem is that her convicted husband is imminently due for release having been found guilty of wounding with intent, GBH and attempted murder...
There are some jokes in this episodes and some of the previous ones that possibly wouldn’t be allowed today, but the reaction of the characters at the time is true and genuine of opinions then - it doesn’t make it right. This episode deals with relationships, with Rodney lying that he was chatting to Mickey Pearce when he was actually chatting to Irene. Whilst some may take offence at this, we have to remember that attitudes were different and that the comedy is more about the shock at the mistaken identity and assumption we had made on the phone call compared to what Rodney said.
Elsewhere in the episode, we see Del seeing some more wheeling and dealing success with both his oversized coats and Georgian digital clocks, all that give us a good laugh. We also see Del meddling in Rodney’s love life (and selling her son a coat at the same time). Del takes the fall for Rodney when Irene’s husband (Tommy) hunts him down mistaking him for Rodney, taking a bruising for him in a punch up over Irene. This adds further to the theme of blood is thicker than water, and when the chips are down family comes first,
Rodney’s character continues to be naive, as the below conversation about Tommy shows us:
Rodney - He’s being released soon. That’s the problem. Look, when he comes out do you think I should go and see him, and tell him about me and Irene, man to man?
Del - Well, let me put it this way. You know one day if you’re really fed up with having knees in the middle of your legs, you know, you go and see him. On the other had, if you’ve grown quite attached to them, emigrate to Vietnam! You stupid little plonker, Rodney!
Tomorrow’s episode: The Yellow Peril
Rodney falls head of heels for a 40 year-old, Irene. Only problem is that her convicted husband is imminently due for release having been found guilty of wounding with intent, GBH and attempted murder...
There are some jokes in this episodes and some of the previous ones that possibly wouldn’t be allowed today, but the reaction of the characters at the time is true and genuine of opinions then - it doesn’t make it right. This episode deals with relationships, with Rodney lying that he was chatting to Mickey Pearce when he was actually chatting to Irene. Whilst some may take offence at this, we have to remember that attitudes were different and that the comedy is more about the shock at the mistaken identity and assumption we had made on the phone call compared to what Rodney said.
Elsewhere in the episode, we see Del seeing some more wheeling and dealing success with both his oversized coats and Georgian digital clocks, all that give us a good laugh. We also see Del meddling in Rodney’s love life (and selling her son a coat at the same time). Del takes the fall for Rodney when Irene’s husband (Tommy) hunts him down mistaking him for Rodney, taking a bruising for him in a punch up over Irene. This adds further to the theme of blood is thicker than water, and when the chips are down family comes first,
Rodney’s character continues to be naive, as the below conversation about Tommy shows us:
Rodney - He’s being released soon. That’s the problem. Look, when he comes out do you think I should go and see him, and tell him about me and Irene, man to man?
Del - Well, let me put it this way. You know one day if you’re really fed up with having knees in the middle of your legs, you know, you go and see him. On the other had, if you’ve grown quite attached to them, emigrate to Vietnam! You stupid little plonker, Rodney!
Tomorrow’s episode: The Yellow Peril
Thursday, 16 April 2020
S2 E3 - A Losing Streak
Del - Trust me Rodney, trust me. He’s definitely bluffing. I’ve got him by the short’n’curlies!
This is a classic episode that a lot of people remember. The twist at the end makes it a satisfying ending seeing Del prevail against a bullying and cheating Boycie, but with Rodney being a proper plonker too.
The episode has a lot going for it, we have the first uttering of a classic Del Boy phrase:
Grandad: You play cards again last night?
Del - Yeah, you know me eh: he who dares, wins!
Grandad - How did you get on?
Del - I lost.
Grandad tells his next war story, following on The Russians Are Coming - resulting in Del receiving a double-headed coin. Grandad’s stories are often not as well remembered as Uncle Albert’s, they definitely leaned into it more with Albert though with his mishaps at sea and his memorable “during the war” catchphrase,
There’s also some setting up of future jokes. Two of note are:
1. Trigger calling Rodney Dave. This is the third time we have seen Trigger and the third time he has called Rodney Dave, so it’s not necessarily new. But by now we may have noticed it’s not seemingly by accident, and Del reacts briefly which Rodney explains that Trigger means him when he says “Dave”. This all comes to a head next series but the The continuation of this joke is one that reaffirms Trigger’s character as (to use John Sullivan’s words) ‘not the smartest tool in the shed’.
2. “All the lads remember Marlene”. We won’t meet Marlene for a while yet but references like this already put an image in your head as to the type of person Marlene is. Safe to say, Sue Holderness doesn’t disappoint in her acting when we do finally meet her.
This episode isn’t Rodney’s finest hour either. Not only does he call the wrong side of the coin at the end but his way of raising stake money is to get £4.37 in empties, embarrassing Del just at the moment that he is looking to impress.
Del’s overall financial triumph is a welcome one for the audience who see that whilst there are many downs and losses in their struggles, when the going is good it can be very good.
Tomorrow’s episode: No Greater Love
This is a classic episode that a lot of people remember. The twist at the end makes it a satisfying ending seeing Del prevail against a bullying and cheating Boycie, but with Rodney being a proper plonker too.
The episode has a lot going for it, we have the first uttering of a classic Del Boy phrase:
Grandad: You play cards again last night?
Del - Yeah, you know me eh: he who dares, wins!
Grandad - How did you get on?
Del - I lost.
Grandad tells his next war story, following on The Russians Are Coming - resulting in Del receiving a double-headed coin. Grandad’s stories are often not as well remembered as Uncle Albert’s, they definitely leaned into it more with Albert though with his mishaps at sea and his memorable “during the war” catchphrase,
There’s also some setting up of future jokes. Two of note are:
1. Trigger calling Rodney Dave. This is the third time we have seen Trigger and the third time he has called Rodney Dave, so it’s not necessarily new. But by now we may have noticed it’s not seemingly by accident, and Del reacts briefly which Rodney explains that Trigger means him when he says “Dave”. This all comes to a head next series but the The continuation of this joke is one that reaffirms Trigger’s character as (to use John Sullivan’s words) ‘not the smartest tool in the shed’.
2. “All the lads remember Marlene”. We won’t meet Marlene for a while yet but references like this already put an image in your head as to the type of person Marlene is. Safe to say, Sue Holderness doesn’t disappoint in her acting when we do finally meet her.
This episode isn’t Rodney’s finest hour either. Not only does he call the wrong side of the coin at the end but his way of raising stake money is to get £4.37 in empties, embarrassing Del just at the moment that he is looking to impress.
Del’s overall financial triumph is a welcome one for the audience who see that whilst there are many downs and losses in their struggles, when the going is good it can be very good.
Tomorrow’s episode: No Greater Love
Wednesday, 15 April 2020
S2 E2 - Ashes to Ashes
Rodney - It’s Arthur’s ashes!
Del - Arthur’s ashes? That’s the black bloke what won Wimbledon innit?
This episode demonstrates the great range of topics that the concept of the show allowed John Sullivan to explore. Here we have Del helping Trigger out, who has sadly had his gran pass away, by helping to sell her possessions, with a focus on some Meissen (19th century German pottery) urns. Only it turns out that one contains the ashes Trigger’s grandad, Arthur.
The scene in the middle of the episode is my personal highlight - Grandad is holding a seance late at night repenting for his friendship with Alice (Trigger’s gran) while Arthur was away in the army, and Del pretends to be Arthur from beyond the grave without Grandad realising for a few minutes. For a moment, Grandad truly believes that he has made contact with the other side and the payoff when the charade falls is an under-rated moment of comedy in my book.
This moment is echoed and amplified in a future episode (as we are seeing a lot from the best bits from these early episodes), this time in the 1996 trilogy middle episode Modern Men. That time, Rodney phones up a job ad in the paper, not realising that it’s Del’s ad for Rodney’s own job. In both of these scenes, we see Del at his most mischievous and a close family member at the butt of the jokes, so it’s harmless fun which is so true to each of the characters involved.
I’ve not heard too many people put these moments up there as the funniest in the show’s history, but they are definitely up there for me. We will see the chandelier moment later this series, and Del falling through the bar is another visual and slapstick masterclass, as are the Batman and Robin scenes and those at the end of Time on Our Hands - but the comedic writing both in this episode and in Modern Men is just as funny for me.
The episode rounds off with the brothers struggling to get rid of the Ashes in amusing ways - I always laugh at the moment the light comes on after Del starts his prayer on the bowling green lawn. In the end Arthur (well we hope it was him and not the surprise second husband!) is sucked up into a road sweeper in what Del describes as “like a Viking’s burial”.
The first three episodes of series 2 are all exceptionally strong from a clever writing and character development point of view, whereas the end of the series focusses more on situations and slapstick to get the laughs. There’s no better or worse and I am a huge fan of the big set-piece moments, but I want to highlight the writing quality here as just as enjoyable and often overlooked.
Tomorrow’s episode: A Losing Streak
Tuesday, 14 April 2020
S2 E1 - The Long Legs of the Law
Grandad - I mean, Rodney going out with a policewoman... what are the neighbours gonna say?!
We start off series 2 with a bang, I had forgotten just how many jokes were in this episode - almost the entire script is full of punchlines. It can’t have been hard to write when the scenario of combining the Trotters with the police provides so much chaos - especially when Sandra (the policewoman in question) is invited into the flat.
There’s 3 belly laugh moments in the panic-stricken moment of realising that Rodney has invited her in that get me every time, each of the 3 main characters gets to deliver the killer line too:
Sandra - And what have you been doing?
Del - Nothing! No, no nothing, we’ve been in all evening haven’t we Grandad?
Grandad - Yeah, and we’ve got witnesses to prove it!
Grandad - *points to Rodney* He’s got a police record!
Del - Yes it’s, er, Walking on the Moon!
Del - I’m sorry Sandra we seem to be right out of gin.
Rodney - Oh no we’re not! No, we’ve got another 3 cases of it down here!
This close call with the police is the kind of scenario that we love to see the Trotters get themselves into. Given the nature of how they go about their livelihood and circles in which they operate, it’s not a surprise to see this thread pulled on again and again in future episodes. There’s some classic moments with the police (I’m particularly fond of the opening chase in Healthy Competition), which gets escalated any time Slater comes on the scene in future episodes.
The episode isn’t just this main plot however, it also continues some of the themes from last season. The first being the family themselves and what keeps them together: Del reminds Rodney again of the sacrifices he made (an echo of the opening episode of series 1).
Secondly, we see the contrast between Del and Rodney contrasted so well in Sid’s cafe. Del reads the FT, orders a large breakfast signifying his larger than life, all-or-nothing business aspirations, whereas Rodney reads a dirty magazine and comments that he had “bacteria on toast” showing his willingness to settle for a lesser life despite having better qualifications of the two. This contrast is captured so well in a simple line of dialogue:
Del - ICI dropped a point.
Rodney - Yeah? Chelsea dropped 3 on Saturday.
Little bits like this add further depth and roundness to the characters as well as performing the role of introducing the characters to any new watchers.
Series 2 goes a long way in building on these characters, taking them to new places, highs and lows.
Tomorrow’s episode: Ashes to Ashes
We start off series 2 with a bang, I had forgotten just how many jokes were in this episode - almost the entire script is full of punchlines. It can’t have been hard to write when the scenario of combining the Trotters with the police provides so much chaos - especially when Sandra (the policewoman in question) is invited into the flat.
There’s 3 belly laugh moments in the panic-stricken moment of realising that Rodney has invited her in that get me every time, each of the 3 main characters gets to deliver the killer line too:
Sandra - And what have you been doing?
Del - Nothing! No, no nothing, we’ve been in all evening haven’t we Grandad?
Grandad - Yeah, and we’ve got witnesses to prove it!
Grandad - *points to Rodney* He’s got a police record!
Del - Yes it’s, er, Walking on the Moon!
Del - I’m sorry Sandra we seem to be right out of gin.
Rodney - Oh no we’re not! No, we’ve got another 3 cases of it down here!
This close call with the police is the kind of scenario that we love to see the Trotters get themselves into. Given the nature of how they go about their livelihood and circles in which they operate, it’s not a surprise to see this thread pulled on again and again in future episodes. There’s some classic moments with the police (I’m particularly fond of the opening chase in Healthy Competition), which gets escalated any time Slater comes on the scene in future episodes.
The episode isn’t just this main plot however, it also continues some of the themes from last season. The first being the family themselves and what keeps them together: Del reminds Rodney again of the sacrifices he made (an echo of the opening episode of series 1).
Secondly, we see the contrast between Del and Rodney contrasted so well in Sid’s cafe. Del reads the FT, orders a large breakfast signifying his larger than life, all-or-nothing business aspirations, whereas Rodney reads a dirty magazine and comments that he had “bacteria on toast” showing his willingness to settle for a lesser life despite having better qualifications of the two. This contrast is captured so well in a simple line of dialogue:
Del - ICI dropped a point.
Rodney - Yeah? Chelsea dropped 3 on Saturday.
Little bits like this add further depth and roundness to the characters as well as performing the role of introducing the characters to any new watchers.
Series 2 goes a long way in building on these characters, taking them to new places, highs and lows.
Tomorrow’s episode: Ashes to Ashes
Monday, 13 April 2020
Christmas Special 1981 - Christmas Crackers
Del - Why don’t you do what I do? Don’t look at the dinner, just put it in your mouth and think of England!
The First Christmas special sees the Trotters faced with eating Grandad’s Christmas dinner, which truly lives up to the hype that they set out for it during the opening scene. The giblets being kept in the bag whilst being cooked along with stuffing and onions is both a laugh and cringe moment. We don’t see many more pure Christmas scenes like this in the remaining episodes, only a couple spring to mind and none as disastrous on the food front as this.
There are a couple of heartfelt moments before and after the meal showing that Del’s main priority is Grandad, ensuring that he feels he has a role to play in the family still (cooking the Christmas dinner) and ensuring that they stay in keeping him company.
When Grandad flips the table and goes off to the old folks Christmas do at the community centre, it allows the brothers licence to hit the Monte Carlo Club.
Here we are back in familiar territory as seen in Go West Young Man as we see Del and Rodney trying to chat up women in a bar. It’s Rodney steps up to take the lead this time however (with the help of a borrowed body language book) which goes disastrously. This reinforces the roles that we saw in that previous episode of Del naturally taking the lead on chatting to the women - and the brothers revert to type at the end, but it is too late.
Overall this episode has a few good laughs in it - mostly at each other’s expense, but John Sullivan explains the script was last minute, and this shows with the lack of action in the episode. It’s not the last Christmas special we see by any stretch but others detract from the Christmas theme more and we the audience are often better off for it.
Tomorrow’s episode: The Long Legs of the Law
The First Christmas special sees the Trotters faced with eating Grandad’s Christmas dinner, which truly lives up to the hype that they set out for it during the opening scene. The giblets being kept in the bag whilst being cooked along with stuffing and onions is both a laugh and cringe moment. We don’t see many more pure Christmas scenes like this in the remaining episodes, only a couple spring to mind and none as disastrous on the food front as this.
There are a couple of heartfelt moments before and after the meal showing that Del’s main priority is Grandad, ensuring that he feels he has a role to play in the family still (cooking the Christmas dinner) and ensuring that they stay in keeping him company.
When Grandad flips the table and goes off to the old folks Christmas do at the community centre, it allows the brothers licence to hit the Monte Carlo Club.
Here we are back in familiar territory as seen in Go West Young Man as we see Del and Rodney trying to chat up women in a bar. It’s Rodney steps up to take the lead this time however (with the help of a borrowed body language book) which goes disastrously. This reinforces the roles that we saw in that previous episode of Del naturally taking the lead on chatting to the women - and the brothers revert to type at the end, but it is too late.
Overall this episode has a few good laughs in it - mostly at each other’s expense, but John Sullivan explains the script was last minute, and this shows with the lack of action in the episode. It’s not the last Christmas special we see by any stretch but others detract from the Christmas theme more and we the audience are often better off for it.
Tomorrow’s episode: The Long Legs of the Law
Sunday, 12 April 2020
S1 E6 - The Russians are Coming
Del - Just think what we can do with £1000 - eat, drink and be merry!
Rodney - For tomorrow we die!
The final episode of season 1 sees the series take on the more serious topic of nuclear war, but sprinkled with a combination of hilarious jokes and hypothetical situations and a moving story from Grandad which brings home the reality of war and Del’s imagination. “They promised us homes fit for heroes, they give us heroes fit for homes” is a wonderfully pertinent line and showcases the depth of emotion that Only Fools brings to the screen, giving us the audience much more than most sitcoms. David Jason in an interview has said that he felt the script had more to it than others he had seen, this episode is a classic example of that extra something baked in.
Del has been shrewd and landed himself £1000 worth of lead for just £100, but hadn’t realised that he had the components of a nuclear fallout shelter. After persuasion from Rodney to keep it for the worst case scenario instead of taking the quick profit, they test out life in the shelter for a weekend.
This episode speaks a lot right now to our current collective situation (at time of writing) in the Coronavirus pandemic where we are all doing our bit by staying inside, surrounded by a lot of war time rhetoric. Del refers to future wars being won by “computer programmers” which isn’t untrue, and you can tell that there is real concern for the outbreak of nuclear war with Russia - something I can relate little to having been born after this episode first aired.
The conversation between the characters goes further and further down an imaginative scenario of them meeting mutants and girls from Rodean School. This further explores the theme of Del’s ambition and it pushes him to conjure up a scenario where he could end up being the next King (or Queen!)
The episode has some wonderfully written jokes in there, some of which as we have seen in previous episodes get explored in future series. Two of note to me are:
Del - I’m not a ruthless mercenary! Who is it that goes round at Christmas making sure all the old people have got enough to eat and drink?
Rodney - Yeah, and who was it, during the Brixton riots, drove down in the van selling paving stones to the rioters?!
In the 1993 Christmas special ‘Fatal Extraction’ we see riots happening on the Trotter’s estate, and Del seizing the opportunity to flog them all the skiing goggles and gear he’d been selling earlier in the episode.
Grandad - Do you know, they had little lads of 14 pretending they was 18 just so they could fight for their King and country.
Del - And they accepted the little sprogs?
Grandad - More often than not. My brother George lied about his age.
Rodney - What, he pretended he was 18?!
Grandad - Nah he was 18, he pretended he was 14!
We never met Uncle George, but he is referred to at Grandads funeral when we meet Uncle Albert for the first time. He recalls spinning a coin with George as to who would be Del’s godfather.
As the episode draws towards its end, the characters realise the impracticality of their situation. Rodney suggests that they would need to remain in the shelter for 2 years, thus needing ”1,450-odd heavy duty batteries, about 5 tons of canned food, 30,000 gallons of fresh drinking water and a 3.5 acre warehouse to store it all in!” This is all assuming a pigeon doesn’t nest in the air filter too...!
When the camera pans out at the very end of the episode revealing the shelter’s location to be on top of the flats, this irony of the impractical nature of their situation not being mentioned just makes you fall in love with the characters yet again.
Tomorrow’s episode: Christmas Crackers (1981 Christmas Special)
Rodney - For tomorrow we die!
The final episode of season 1 sees the series take on the more serious topic of nuclear war, but sprinkled with a combination of hilarious jokes and hypothetical situations and a moving story from Grandad which brings home the reality of war and Del’s imagination. “They promised us homes fit for heroes, they give us heroes fit for homes” is a wonderfully pertinent line and showcases the depth of emotion that Only Fools brings to the screen, giving us the audience much more than most sitcoms. David Jason in an interview has said that he felt the script had more to it than others he had seen, this episode is a classic example of that extra something baked in.
Del has been shrewd and landed himself £1000 worth of lead for just £100, but hadn’t realised that he had the components of a nuclear fallout shelter. After persuasion from Rodney to keep it for the worst case scenario instead of taking the quick profit, they test out life in the shelter for a weekend.
This episode speaks a lot right now to our current collective situation (at time of writing) in the Coronavirus pandemic where we are all doing our bit by staying inside, surrounded by a lot of war time rhetoric. Del refers to future wars being won by “computer programmers” which isn’t untrue, and you can tell that there is real concern for the outbreak of nuclear war with Russia - something I can relate little to having been born after this episode first aired.
The conversation between the characters goes further and further down an imaginative scenario of them meeting mutants and girls from Rodean School. This further explores the theme of Del’s ambition and it pushes him to conjure up a scenario where he could end up being the next King (or Queen!)
The episode has some wonderfully written jokes in there, some of which as we have seen in previous episodes get explored in future series. Two of note to me are:
Del - I’m not a ruthless mercenary! Who is it that goes round at Christmas making sure all the old people have got enough to eat and drink?
Rodney - Yeah, and who was it, during the Brixton riots, drove down in the van selling paving stones to the rioters?!
In the 1993 Christmas special ‘Fatal Extraction’ we see riots happening on the Trotter’s estate, and Del seizing the opportunity to flog them all the skiing goggles and gear he’d been selling earlier in the episode.
Grandad - Do you know, they had little lads of 14 pretending they was 18 just so they could fight for their King and country.
Del - And they accepted the little sprogs?
Grandad - More often than not. My brother George lied about his age.
Rodney - What, he pretended he was 18?!
Grandad - Nah he was 18, he pretended he was 14!
We never met Uncle George, but he is referred to at Grandads funeral when we meet Uncle Albert for the first time. He recalls spinning a coin with George as to who would be Del’s godfather.
As the episode draws towards its end, the characters realise the impracticality of their situation. Rodney suggests that they would need to remain in the shelter for 2 years, thus needing ”1,450-odd heavy duty batteries, about 5 tons of canned food, 30,000 gallons of fresh drinking water and a 3.5 acre warehouse to store it all in!” This is all assuming a pigeon doesn’t nest in the air filter too...!
When the camera pans out at the very end of the episode revealing the shelter’s location to be on top of the flats, this irony of the impractical nature of their situation not being mentioned just makes you fall in love with the characters yet again.
Tomorrow’s episode: Christmas Crackers (1981 Christmas Special)
Saturday, 11 April 2020
S1 E5 - A Slow Bus to Chingford
Del - As dear old mum used to say ‘it’s better to know you’ve lost, than not to know you’ve won.’
Del - Yeah, why?
Grandad - Well, he we’re only a sweeper up!
After Del explaining that he’ll tell the tourists that Elephant & Castle got its name by. Richard the Lionheart castle which Hannibal laid siege to with his elephants
Grandad - If they’d never seen an elephant before, how did they know it was an elephant?!
Del’s dreams are laid bare in this episode, he talks about taking the company legit and standing on the balcony of a skyscraper with the company letters on the top in 50-foot high neon letters. The fact that the initials of Trotters Independent Traders spell ‘TIT’ and that Rodney is the one to point this out to Del for the first time (and us the audience) in this moment is comedy genius.
The downfall of this venture is ultimately exposed by Grandad’s sloppiness in distributing leaflets, also explaining why he was so confident no tourists would show in the bet. It’s the icing on the cake of another venture which has nothing gained for the Trotters in their quest to reach their skyscraper. This reference is something eluded to in the dystopian nightmare Rodney has at the beginning of ‘Heroes & Villains’ but taken further.
Tomorrow’s episode: The Russians are Coming
This classic episode showcases how far Del’s imagination and innovation can stretch. His ultimate goal is to set up a tour of ‘ethnic’ London, based on his insight that “your average tourist gets fed up, doesn’t he, of seeing the same old places like: the Houses of Parliament, Buck House, the National Gallery” and that “out there is a new, vibrant, exciting London waiting to be discovered” . This is part of a wider “immaculate scheme” to source a bus via hiring Rodney out as a nightwatchman Nocturnal Security Officer, never mind Rodney needing any sleep, nor his budding romance with Janice.
John Sullivan recalls a story of how he was inspired to write the episode by an encounter he had with a hippy in an ancient pub’s toilet who, after John commented on the state of the place, replied ‘this is ethnic English’. These are two words that aren’t often out together but it was thought provoking enough to take the idea further in this episode.
The absurdity of the episode’s plot affords it some cracking scenes, jokes and dialogue. Some of my favourites were:
Rodney trying on his uniform...
Del - Look at that fit! Oh yeah, deja vu - it’s like it’s made to measure isn’t it?!
Janice - Yeah, for somebody else!
Rodney - I look like a Traffic Warden who ain’t been well!
Grandad recounting his story as a security officer:
Grandad - There was this fella who used to work there, he used to arrive every morning in a big Wolseley car, he wore a camel-hair overcoat, kid gloves and he always carried a brand-new leather attaché case - and he smoked expensive cigars. Well, call it intuition if you like, but I was suspicious of him.Del - Yeah, why?
Grandad - Well, he we’re only a sweeper up!
After Del explaining that he’ll tell the tourists that Elephant & Castle got its name by. Richard the Lionheart castle which Hannibal laid siege to with his elephants
Grandad - If they’d never seen an elephant before, how did they know it was an elephant?!
Del’s dreams are laid bare in this episode, he talks about taking the company legit and standing on the balcony of a skyscraper with the company letters on the top in 50-foot high neon letters. The fact that the initials of Trotters Independent Traders spell ‘TIT’ and that Rodney is the one to point this out to Del for the first time (and us the audience) in this moment is comedy genius.
The downfall of this venture is ultimately exposed by Grandad’s sloppiness in distributing leaflets, also explaining why he was so confident no tourists would show in the bet. It’s the icing on the cake of another venture which has nothing gained for the Trotters in their quest to reach their skyscraper. This reference is something eluded to in the dystopian nightmare Rodney has at the beginning of ‘Heroes & Villains’ but taken further.
Tomorrow’s episode: The Russians are Coming
Friday, 10 April 2020
S1 E4 - The Second Time Around
Pauline - Have you got your life insured, Del?
Del - Nah, I’ve never thought about dying before.
Pauline - Well we’ll have to sort that out; a wife needs protection.
Rodney - Especially with your luck Pauline!
This episode fully explores Del and the Trotter’s relationship with women in more detail by bringing and old flame into the picture, Pauline. After 2 husbands dying on her, she’s back in Peckham to pick up where she left off with Del. Suspicions grow throughout the episode that not everything is right given the pace at which the relationship rekindles, what she asks of each of the Trotters, and Pauline’s obsession with life insurance protection.
Rodney and Grandad are instantly suspicious, with Rodney commenting that after Pauline’s twice widow experience “one more and she keeps the match ball!” Grandad comments how “besotted with her” Del became last time and it’s clear that he falls head of heels right away again.
Again the writing combines these clever, quick jokes with slapstick moments - showcased best in this episode with Del’s entrance after getting engaged and Rodney’s feet slamming the door in his face.
It is Rodney and Grandad’s intervention via Trigger that snaps Del out of his lustful ways. The fact that Del realises what a problem he had got into and prioritises the family unity over his own desires shows that when the chips are down family is critical to them all. We will see these ties tested by greater threats than Pauline in the future, along with many other scenarios that threaten to break up the family unit - but family prevailing always is a positive central theme of the show.
This is the last we see of Pauline, I’m not sure what else they could’ve done with her character without repeating the underlying plot again.
Tomorrow’s episode: A Slow Bus to Chingford.
Del - Nah, I’ve never thought about dying before.
Pauline - Well we’ll have to sort that out; a wife needs protection.
Rodney - Especially with your luck Pauline!
This episode fully explores Del and the Trotter’s relationship with women in more detail by bringing and old flame into the picture, Pauline. After 2 husbands dying on her, she’s back in Peckham to pick up where she left off with Del. Suspicions grow throughout the episode that not everything is right given the pace at which the relationship rekindles, what she asks of each of the Trotters, and Pauline’s obsession with life insurance protection.
Rodney and Grandad are instantly suspicious, with Rodney commenting that after Pauline’s twice widow experience “one more and she keeps the match ball!” Grandad comments how “besotted with her” Del became last time and it’s clear that he falls head of heels right away again.
Again the writing combines these clever, quick jokes with slapstick moments - showcased best in this episode with Del’s entrance after getting engaged and Rodney’s feet slamming the door in his face.
It is Rodney and Grandad’s intervention via Trigger that snaps Del out of his lustful ways. The fact that Del realises what a problem he had got into and prioritises the family unity over his own desires shows that when the chips are down family is critical to them all. We will see these ties tested by greater threats than Pauline in the future, along with many other scenarios that threaten to break up the family unit - but family prevailing always is a positive central theme of the show.
This is the last we see of Pauline, I’m not sure what else they could’ve done with her character without repeating the underlying plot again.
Tomorrow’s episode: A Slow Bus to Chingford.
Thursday, 9 April 2020
S1 E3 - Cash & Curry
Del - As Macbeth said to Hamlet in Midsummer Nights Dream, ‘we’ve been done up like a couple of kippers’
Episode 3 has the one major plot running through it, and it is another get rich quick scheme - although this time it backfires massively with our protagonists down £2000 by the end credits.
It’s the first episode episode that we see: the van being used (albeit briefly) and Del calling Rodney a plonker (not for the last time).
John Sullivan admits that the plot came as a result of the episode name which he really liked. The episode having little consequence on the long-term storylines of the characters then makes sense - we don’t see any fallout from this in the next episode.
That aside, I feel like this is a strong episode as it shows the brothers up against it but also flawed and desperate. In these moments, the gags and one liners come flying out thick and fast. I particularly enjoyed:
Del - Listen John, I don’t know what this Barney is all about, and I don’t wanna know. So why don’t you chaps get out of the way before someone gets a smack in the ear?
Mr Ram - please, don’t threaten me with violence, my friend. My colleague here is a 2nd Dan in karate.
Del - And I’m a black belt in origami. Get out of the way.
Del - Didn’t Grandad tell you I telephoned?!
Rodney - Oh yeah he told me. ‘Del’s been caught by the Indians’ he said. Didn’t know whether to phone the police or the Texas Rangers!
Del - It’s the bacon and the egg situation all over again.
In and amongst this fast paced quipping, there’s some fantastic slapstick moments too. The most notable of these being Del’s fall, forward roll and catching the statue in one move which is the highlight of the episode. But lots of little moments made me laugh too such as Del throwing the digestive in his tea at Vimmal’s flat, and carrying clothes already outside the store into a 2nd hand clothes shop.
We also see Del’s methods of drumming up new business, by attending fancy Chamber of Trade dinner and dance dos where he wears clothes well above his current social status, carrying on the image theme from last episode. There’s a reference to Del interrupting Rodney’s evening with a girl, showing the priority is currently business - this will change as the characters mature.
This won’t be the last time that the Trotters come up against con artists who use their own wish to make a quick buck against them. My mind automatically draws parallels to S6 E3 ‘Chain Gang’ which sees this played out on a grander scale and fuller cast, but with the extra time to have an alternate more uplifting ending.
Tomorrow’s episode: The Second Time Around
Episode 3 has the one major plot running through it, and it is another get rich quick scheme - although this time it backfires massively with our protagonists down £2000 by the end credits.
It’s the first episode episode that we see: the van being used (albeit briefly) and Del calling Rodney a plonker (not for the last time).
John Sullivan admits that the plot came as a result of the episode name which he really liked. The episode having little consequence on the long-term storylines of the characters then makes sense - we don’t see any fallout from this in the next episode.
That aside, I feel like this is a strong episode as it shows the brothers up against it but also flawed and desperate. In these moments, the gags and one liners come flying out thick and fast. I particularly enjoyed:
Del - Listen John, I don’t know what this Barney is all about, and I don’t wanna know. So why don’t you chaps get out of the way before someone gets a smack in the ear?
Mr Ram - please, don’t threaten me with violence, my friend. My colleague here is a 2nd Dan in karate.
Del - And I’m a black belt in origami. Get out of the way.
Del - Didn’t Grandad tell you I telephoned?!
Rodney - Oh yeah he told me. ‘Del’s been caught by the Indians’ he said. Didn’t know whether to phone the police or the Texas Rangers!
Del - It’s the bacon and the egg situation all over again.
In and amongst this fast paced quipping, there’s some fantastic slapstick moments too. The most notable of these being Del’s fall, forward roll and catching the statue in one move which is the highlight of the episode. But lots of little moments made me laugh too such as Del throwing the digestive in his tea at Vimmal’s flat, and carrying clothes already outside the store into a 2nd hand clothes shop.
We also see Del’s methods of drumming up new business, by attending fancy Chamber of Trade dinner and dance dos where he wears clothes well above his current social status, carrying on the image theme from last episode. There’s a reference to Del interrupting Rodney’s evening with a girl, showing the priority is currently business - this will change as the characters mature.
This won’t be the last time that the Trotters come up against con artists who use their own wish to make a quick buck against them. My mind automatically draws parallels to S6 E3 ‘Chain Gang’ which sees this played out on a grander scale and fuller cast, but with the extra time to have an alternate more uplifting ending.
Tomorrow’s episode: The Second Time Around
Wednesday, 8 April 2020
S1 E2 - Go West Young Man
Rodney - Are they a couple of ravers?!
Del - They’re a couple of geezers!
Episode 2 sees us witnessing Del’s sales prowess in all its glory and explores the two main characters’ attempt to find love - coming together in an ironic twist combining the storylines at the very end.
It’s also the first episode that we hear the immortal line “This time next year, we’ll be millionaires!” - right at the outset. It’s wonderfully symptomatic of Del’s optimism and ambition we saw in episode 1.
After meeting Trigger last episode, this time we are introduced to Boycie - who he manages to buy a “death trap” car from for £25 in return for storing his E-Type Jaguar (which he’s bought for his bit-on-the-side) away from the prying eyes of his wife (we won’t meet Marlene until series 4). Boycie’s ruthlessness isn’t seen much here and we won’t see it until next series in A Losing Streak.
Del’s ability to flip the car and sell it to the Aussie man for £199 is a work of genius. He spruces it up, plays on the Aussie’s naivety and seals the deal by convincing him it was previously owned by a vicar. His persuasiveness and shrewd salesmanship here are very impressive and shows what Del is capable of on a ‘good’ day.
The profits are soon put to use in Del accompanying Rodney ‘up west’ into a couple of bars. It’s clear that image and how they are portrayed by others is key to their personality - a common theme that runs on throughout the show. Del describes himself as “ostentatious”, they drive Boycie’s Jaguar there to not be seen in the van, and they celebrate their successful evening by smoking cigars. Del certainly likes to walk the walk, much less so than Rodney though - as demonstrated best by their choice of drinks (a recurring gag in the show).
Rodney’s character is further developed in this episode with him admitting his uniform fetish - another recurring joke in future episodes. Nicholas Lyndhurst portrays his lack of experience perfectly in the club at the end, delivering some fantastic punchlines like when they are trying to convince 2 girls (Nicky & Michelle) that they are on the Tennis circuit:
Nicky - What do you prefer: astro turf or grass?
Rodney - Oh I don’t know, I’ve never smoked astro turf!
Go West Young Man is a fun middle of season episode that epitomises so many of the shows central themes of family, love, and getting rich quick.
Tomorrow’s episode: Cash & Curry.
Del - They’re a couple of geezers!
Episode 2 sees us witnessing Del’s sales prowess in all its glory and explores the two main characters’ attempt to find love - coming together in an ironic twist combining the storylines at the very end.
It’s also the first episode that we hear the immortal line “This time next year, we’ll be millionaires!” - right at the outset. It’s wonderfully symptomatic of Del’s optimism and ambition we saw in episode 1.
After meeting Trigger last episode, this time we are introduced to Boycie - who he manages to buy a “death trap” car from for £25 in return for storing his E-Type Jaguar (which he’s bought for his bit-on-the-side) away from the prying eyes of his wife (we won’t meet Marlene until series 4). Boycie’s ruthlessness isn’t seen much here and we won’t see it until next series in A Losing Streak.
Del’s ability to flip the car and sell it to the Aussie man for £199 is a work of genius. He spruces it up, plays on the Aussie’s naivety and seals the deal by convincing him it was previously owned by a vicar. His persuasiveness and shrewd salesmanship here are very impressive and shows what Del is capable of on a ‘good’ day.
The profits are soon put to use in Del accompanying Rodney ‘up west’ into a couple of bars. It’s clear that image and how they are portrayed by others is key to their personality - a common theme that runs on throughout the show. Del describes himself as “ostentatious”, they drive Boycie’s Jaguar there to not be seen in the van, and they celebrate their successful evening by smoking cigars. Del certainly likes to walk the walk, much less so than Rodney though - as demonstrated best by their choice of drinks (a recurring gag in the show).
Rodney’s character is further developed in this episode with him admitting his uniform fetish - another recurring joke in future episodes. Nicholas Lyndhurst portrays his lack of experience perfectly in the club at the end, delivering some fantastic punchlines like when they are trying to convince 2 girls (Nicky & Michelle) that they are on the Tennis circuit:
Nicky - What do you prefer: astro turf or grass?
Rodney - Oh I don’t know, I’ve never smoked astro turf!
Go West Young Man is a fun middle of season episode that epitomises so many of the shows central themes of family, love, and getting rich quick.
Tomorrow’s episode: Cash & Curry.
Tuesday, 7 April 2020
S1 E1 - Big Brother
Grandad - Your dad always said that one day Del Boy would reach the top. There again he always used to say that one day Millwall would win the cup.
It must be hard as a writer to get the opening episode of a sitcom right, something that I believe John Sullivan achieved here.
Packed full of jokes, the episode has a couple of central plots around Del’s dodgy briefcase deal with Trigger and Rodney’s escape attempt. This is achieved whilst giving us a thorough back story of the characters and how they are in their situation. Some of these are introduced beautifully through comedic moments, such as:
Rodney - I’m sure you’re cheating me in some way. I just can’t figure out how.
Del - Cheating you?! Cheating you?! What’s that rumbling noise?
Rodney - I didn’t hear nothing.
Del - Nah it’s alright, it’s Mum turning in her grave.
Del, Rodney, Grandad and Trigger are all introduced and are all credible right from the off. You can tell that Sullivan and producer Ray Butt have had experience of working in the markets of London and that they would be able to create and refine Del Boy’s character well. His charisma and extrovert attitude and style shine through on the screen and he comes across as ambitious, crafty and witty as well as likeable. The optimistic struggle is real within his character and circumstances.
Rodney’s character is rebellious, scruffy and but intelligent - but lacking some common sense and the shrewdness to cut corners in the industry that they’re in - he’s very honest and can’t keep the lie going for long at the end of the show.
We don’t see Grandad developed too much in this episode but his primary role of commentator on the events from his armchair watching his 2 TVs has some comedy moments to it.
There’s a great overall comedic dynamic set between the characters - Rodney often says the setup or feeder lines for Del Boy’s punchlines to land well.
Del’s world of self-proclaimed “wheelin and dealin” is exposed through the recalling of his “one-legged turkey deal” and some hilarious dialogue with Trigger in the pub over the briefcases:
Rodney - Police most probably looking for them right now.
Del - Tell us the truth, are the police looking for these Trig?
Trigger - No they’re not Del, and that’s the truth.
Rodney - Why are you hiding it under the table then?
Trigger - Well ‘cause you never know when they’re going to start looking for them, do ya?!
We get introduced to Rodney’s troubled past with dropping out of art college after being caught doing drugs with a fellow student, and a power struggle between him and Del with them being partners but Rodney not being experienced. It’s not a mistake that Sullivan returned to the opening scene of Rodney keeping accounts / tabs on Del to be a major plot point much later in the show’s future.
Overall this episode is a great opener for the show and would’ve done a great job in getting people to return the next week.
9.2 million people tuned in for this episode, and with the season average at 7.7 million - that’s not a bad return rate! ‘The Russians are Coming’ season finale attracted 8.8 million so the show got off to a good start.
Tomorrow’s episode: S1 E2 - Go West Young Man.
It must be hard as a writer to get the opening episode of a sitcom right, something that I believe John Sullivan achieved here.
Packed full of jokes, the episode has a couple of central plots around Del’s dodgy briefcase deal with Trigger and Rodney’s escape attempt. This is achieved whilst giving us a thorough back story of the characters and how they are in their situation. Some of these are introduced beautifully through comedic moments, such as:
Rodney - I’m sure you’re cheating me in some way. I just can’t figure out how.
Del - Cheating you?! Cheating you?! What’s that rumbling noise?
Rodney - I didn’t hear nothing.
Del - Nah it’s alright, it’s Mum turning in her grave.
Del, Rodney, Grandad and Trigger are all introduced and are all credible right from the off. You can tell that Sullivan and producer Ray Butt have had experience of working in the markets of London and that they would be able to create and refine Del Boy’s character well. His charisma and extrovert attitude and style shine through on the screen and he comes across as ambitious, crafty and witty as well as likeable. The optimistic struggle is real within his character and circumstances.
Rodney’s character is rebellious, scruffy and but intelligent - but lacking some common sense and the shrewdness to cut corners in the industry that they’re in - he’s very honest and can’t keep the lie going for long at the end of the show.
We don’t see Grandad developed too much in this episode but his primary role of commentator on the events from his armchair watching his 2 TVs has some comedy moments to it.
There’s a great overall comedic dynamic set between the characters - Rodney often says the setup or feeder lines for Del Boy’s punchlines to land well.
Del’s world of self-proclaimed “wheelin and dealin” is exposed through the recalling of his “one-legged turkey deal” and some hilarious dialogue with Trigger in the pub over the briefcases:
Rodney - Police most probably looking for them right now.
Del - Tell us the truth, are the police looking for these Trig?
Trigger - No they’re not Del, and that’s the truth.
Rodney - Why are you hiding it under the table then?
Trigger - Well ‘cause you never know when they’re going to start looking for them, do ya?!
We get introduced to Rodney’s troubled past with dropping out of art college after being caught doing drugs with a fellow student, and a power struggle between him and Del with them being partners but Rodney not being experienced. It’s not a mistake that Sullivan returned to the opening scene of Rodney keeping accounts / tabs on Del to be a major plot point much later in the show’s future.
Overall this episode is a great opener for the show and would’ve done a great job in getting people to return the next week.
9.2 million people tuned in for this episode, and with the season average at 7.7 million - that’s not a bad return rate! ‘The Russians are Coming’ season finale attracted 8.8 million so the show got off to a good start.
Tomorrow’s episode: S1 E2 - Go West Young Man.
Time On My Hands - Lovely Jubbly!
Hello, and welcome to my blog. My name is Jon and growing up in my teenage years I became mildly obsessed (as many people did) with Only Fools & Horses. However it’s been a few years since I binged the lot.
I’ll be watching an episode a day, dropping my thoughts and funniest moments up on here and anything else I find out about the episodes, cast, characters, plots and punchlines along the way. I have The Complete A-Z of Only Fools & Horses as a guide too.
Here’s hoping that any fans (old or new) who find this blog will watch along with me and join in the conversation - it’ll be light hearted and exactly what we need from times like now.
For those of you who don’t have the DVDs, Netflix currently have 38 of the 64 episodes up (seasons 1-3 and some specials), Britbox has all seasons but seemingly not all specials (and a 30 day free trial). Some may even have the VHS - my machine went years ago but I must’ve watched Mother Nature’s Son way too much when I was building that collection.
I can’t wait to relive some classic moments of comedy!
Bonjour
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