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.