Rodney - I got a GCE in Maths and Art. I ain’t got a GCE in pork!
The final 2 episodes of the series are different to typical storylines of Only Fools and Horses so far in that they have at the centre of their plots mixups or misunderstandings rather than a set piece in which they are dealing with business, relationships or the family.
In this episode we get introduced finally to Marlene, a character which has been long hyped and doesn’t disappoint in her scene at the beginning of the episode. As a consequence we get the main plot of the episode - the Trotters have been entrusted with looking after her dog (or baby), Duke - a Great Dane. We also get our first, and certainly not our last, “Come along, Marlene!” from Boycie.
Misunderstanding and mixups are the order of the day in this episode. We have had Del getting confused between a things in the past when he tries to blag his way in situations he doesn’t understand - classic instances in previous episodes are “Kubera” the Hindu god of wealth (who Del claimed was a wicket keeper) in ‘Cash & Curry’, and “Nijinsky” the ballet dancer (who Del confuses for a racehorse) in ‘Homesick’. However it’s dialled up to 11 in this episode.
We have Del misunderstanding what Rodney means by “shall I get his balls?!” - the ones he has thrown to try and get Duke to run after them. Del’s misunderstanding leads to him saying “You leave him alone! I don’t want him waking up in a temper!”
Later when the receptionist describes Duke as “holding his own” Del comments by saying “There you are Rodney - he’s up to his old tricks already!”
The best one of the episode is Del calling salmonella “Sam and Ella”...!
Finally, it’s clear that Del’s vocabulary still leaves much to be desired in this dialogue.
Rodney - Did you get in touch with the vets?
Del - Yeah - he said Duke was comatose.
Rodney - Comatose? Well funnily enough I thought of that when I saw him spark out in the back of the van!
Del - You’d be right Rodney, wouldn’t ya? ’Cause I bet with this comatose, most probably sleep’s the best thing for him!
The primary mix up is learned to be between Duke’s vitamin tablets and Albert’s sleeping pills. This is a good punchline to bring a fun episode to close.
Tomorrow’s episode: Watching The Girls Go By
No comments:
Post a Comment