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?
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