Raquel - You’ve got to make contact with reality, Del. Everything about you is image! I saw you down the pub last night: we're broke - and you were throwing money around like Elton John! And instead of finding work, you prefer to sit in this recycled council flat pretending to be Quentin Tarantino! And when we go out in the Capri you insist on driving with the windows up - even in a heatwave - just to make other drivers think you've got air conditioning!
The end of this post-fortune trilogy and the final episode of Only Fools and Horses gives us a forensic look at the main characters, their motivations and emotions when responding to a crisis. The format of the episode still feels familiar but as it deals with some quite serious topics, it feels more like a drama at times and we really get under the skin of the characters. This is because the episode has to cover so much ground, including: confronting Del's controlling nature, the birth of Rodney & Cassandra's baby, Rodney's lineage. Uncle Albert's Will, coming up with money-making suggestions (both film scripts and Trigger's invention), along with side-stories of Boycie, Marlene, Denzil and Sid running the pub.
There are seemingly two problems: the official receiver is about to finally evict them from the flat in 10 days time, and there's a lawyer sending multiple letters through the door which to Del doesn't spell good news either. We see Del taking a leaf out of Rodney's book and running away from his problems and trying to protect both Raquel and Rodney from one of these truths each. "I'll tell him when the moment's right!"
When Rodney is told of the problem, it all comes out and Del is confronted by them both but it's Raquel that sticks the largest knife in. She's never been drawn in by his lies in the past and brings him down to earth with a thump. For all of the traits that we don't like about Del - she hits the nail on the head by labelling him a "control freak". We've seen his meddling in everyone's business in multiple episodes and he explains why, bringing us back to a similar speech as Del outlined in 'Big Brother' and the premise of the entire show.
Del - I am not a control-freak. It's just that I have had no choice. Do you realise that when I was 16 my old man walked out and left me and Rodney in the care of our daft old Grandad?! He tried his best but he wasn't up to it! So I had to take over; and I've been doing it ever since and I can't get out of the habit!
This is the core of the story. John Sullivan has spent over 60 episodes crafting it so he articulates the rationale so perfectly and it not only makes sense, it also acquits Del of all of his past mistakes. His failure all along is letting go and allowing others in his life the freedom to operate independently - with Rodney most impacted.
Rodney has his own issues to worry about too - Cassandra is now heavily pregnant. His way out of the mess is to try and do something big and dramatic, like come up with a screenplay for a movie. This harks back to 'Video Nasty' where we have a similar scene where Rodney is nervous of the wild ideas, now however (and a few drinks to encourage him) he's coming up with ideas that make zero sense. Del is convinced of the idea when he hears how much J K Rowling has made from Harry Potter - and decides the easiest thing to do is write one of those stories, getting around the copyright issue by calling the character "Harry Trotter!"
The other main driver of the entire show's run has been the dynamic between Del and Rodney and addressing how two brothers could be so different in both physical and mental capacity. This is because of Rodney's father being confirmed to be Freddie Robdul - as outlined in 'The Frog's Legacy'/ Rodney makes his peace with this matter by talking it through with his Mum at her new obelisk and then with Del at the end of the episode. The final heart to heart between the two of them underlines the theme of it doesn't matter who you are biologically, it's their brotherly bond over all those years that define their brotherly relationship.
The birth of Rodney & Cassandra's baby gives us a moment of suspense and Rodney is told that he "can't be there for the birth" making him fearful that something has gone wrong as it did in 'Modern Men'. But the fact that the C-section went fine and delivered them a healthy baby girl is a heart-warming moment of relief. Her being named Joan means the world to Del too who idolises his Mum.
Uncle Albert's legacy also continues on into this episode too as they finally get around to seeing the solicitor who had written so many letters.
Rodney - Look can't you cut to the chase and tell us the worst?
Del - Yeah, you tell us what you're suing us for and we'll tell you why we can't pay!
It's ironic that had Del only gone to see them earlier then there would not have been so many issues around the eviction, but he assumed the worst. The solicitor delivering the line "he simply invested your gift and, with respect, in a far more stable area that you managed to" is just killer in terms of putting the brothers in their place. Albert leaving them £145,000 each is enough to sort out their issues and get them very much back on their feet and settled, but not enough for them to get carried away - it's spot on.
Finally, we can't not mention the secondary characters, who offer the most comedy in the episode (beyond the screenplay scene). I haven't mentioned Damien too much, but he has grown up to be the voice of a different generation, essentially replacing Uncle Albert but offering a younger voice and perspective. Trigger's invention and stargazing is a classic Trigger sidebar, he's never critical to the plot any more but we still love his moments. Denzil and Marlene's simultaneous disappearance gives us a chance to see Del showcasing his subtlety in front of Boycie - who gets to prove Del wrong but finally gets his wallet raided after uttering the wrong words in the pub "I'm paying for all this!"
This final episode does what all good final episodes do - it closes the book on any unanswered questions, tying off any loose ends, gives each character a satisfying and justified ending and remaining true to its core values and style.
What else can I say about it, except "Bonjour!"
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