Del - I don’t know about 'Sainte Claire de la Chapelle', they should've renamed this place 'Trottersville'!
Given Buster Merryfield's untimely death, we had the funeral taken care of in the last episode, but this one feels more like the homage along with the scattering of his ashes at sea. What's so great about it is that we had heard of Albert's antics overseas with other women, but it takes his old crewmate George Parker to explain to what extent - in an Albert-esque "during the war" story.
George - Albert was a bit of a lad in those days. He could sing, he could dance, he could play the piano... and the women liked him - and he liked the women! And during our stay here, how should I put it, he kept himself busy!
The moment that the brothers look around the restaurant and village where Albert and his crew had been granted refuge and notice all of the bald heads and beards is both hilarious and insightful. It gives us time to remember Albert's personality in both the way we always have and a new light all at once. It's like there's a whole community of Little Alberts dotted around the world, and they've stumbled upon the capital city.
What's also so perfect about this episode is we have had 62 episodes previously, most of which have had Del Boy quoting French phrases in as if he thinks he's bilingual. His arrival into France brings on his curiosity with the language to another level - and he's got the beret to suit.
Del - One of my most favouritest meals 'Duck A L'orange', but I don't know how to say that in French.
Rodney - It's 'canard'
Del - You can say that again, bruv!
Rodney - The French for duck is canard.
Del - Right, lovely jubbly! Right so how do the French say ‘A L'orange’?
Rodney - ‘A l'orange’!
Del - What the same as we do?!
Rodney - Yes!
Del - Coh dear, it’s a pity they don’t use more of our words innit eh?!
Dropping into the wine warehouse before catching the ferry back, the brothers bump into Denzil which Del has set up him previously in the pub - forcing his hand by making it look like his idea to smuggle a truck load of booze back.
Denzil - You can beer and spirits very cheaply in France. And here’s me with a lorry, and Sid with a pub!
Trigger - So what you saying?
Denzil - What I’m saying Trig is that Del buys £1000 of half-price alcohol, we drive it back in the truck, Sid gets a cellar full of cheap booze and we share the profits!
Del - No, I was thinking of bringing you all back some nice French cheese. But now you’ve suggested that, that is a brilliant idea Denzil!
Only the Trotters could end up with what they believe to be an illegal immigrant in the back of the lorry. The Gary scene is so clever as we get to see it from both angles - the Trotters who think they are doing the right thing by giving him a bed and a roof over his head whilst they figure out what to do with him, and then Rasheed's (Gary's) perspective where he believes he is being held hostage. The interview later where he claims that he heard some words of English is a hark back to 'From Prussia With Love'.
The final thread in the episode is Boycie who has become reliant on Del for not just driving him around but also taking him in when the gas board evict him from their flat. After years of bullying and snide comments, Boycie is faced with admitting that Del is actually the closest thing that he has to a friend and the one that he calls on in his hour of need. His downward spiral from about to become a multi-millionaire, to then spending his nights on the Trotters' camp bed next to an assumed asylum seeker, and then arrested on suspicion of kidnapping (all while smelling of onions) is entertaining as we the audience have always felt little empathy for his character as he has done towards Del.
The main criticism of these latter episodes. possibly starting at Miami Twice is how unbelievable they have become. Up to that point, Del's antics and schemes had always had an air of plausibility to them. This episode falls down on this right at the end again with the businessman that Boycie has been dealing with possibly being another of Albert's offspring, but also the father of the man that was smuggled into the country in Denzil's van. I personally am not sure that this ending was needed.
Tomorrow's episode: Sleepless In Peckham
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