Mental Mickey - We like looking like this! We’re Marxist Trotskyite Anarchists.
Del - Why do you wanna be superstars then?
Mental Mickey - ‘Cause we wanna be rich Marxist Trotskyite Anarchists!
It seems that every series we get an episode where Rodney tries to break free of Del’s shadow. All too often we see Del interfere in some way too and it end up spectacularly failing. This is true again of this episode but then we also get to see the aftermath and what can happen when Del doesn’t interfere - there can be success.
With Rodney getting involved in a band as a drummer, Del has his doubts right from the start - he refers to them as a “Bunch of Wallies” and the lineup isn’t helped with the introduction of “Mental Mickey” who has a bit of a reputation.
Rodney - Oi, there’s nothing wrong with Mickey Maguire!
Del - Nothing wrong?! He only bit a blokes ear off once!
Rodney - Not all of it!
Del spots an opportunity to make a quick earner as a local Irish Pub hasn’t got a band for St Paddy’s Night. Suddenly he has to praise, big up and even offer to manage the band. This goes to show the lengths that Del would go to in order to make money quick. But deep down he has nothing invested in them and doesn’t believe that the band can succeed.
When it inevitably goes wrong and Del returns the brand new instruments he got for the band, Rodney is dismayed and upset. We get a real heart to heart moment between the two brothers.
Rodney - Look why do you have to stop me in everything I try to do?
Del - Who, me?
Rodney - You always have to stick your oar in and mess things up for me! Sometimes I get the feeling that you’re scared!
Del - Scared, me scared?! Scared of what?
Rodney - Sacred of me becoming a success! You’re terrified that one day I might make it on my own!
At the end of the episode we see that the rest of the band go on to make it on to Top of the Pops. Rodney is rightly furious with Del and probably himself for sticking up for Del as he broke off from the band. Del makes a comment that “you’re too easily swayed!” There’s a lot of this behaviour from Del across the episodes - telling Rodney that he’s a pushover, or too full of principle to be included. But the failure ultimately lies with Del and his narrow-mindedness or ability to see the true potential. There’s an irony that if Rodney was listened to more or involved, and Del could see different paths then they could well be millionaires far quicker than it takes for them to make it.
Tomorrow’s episode: Sleeping Dogs Lie
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