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