Only Fools & Horses

Cake Man · 14-04-2020 6:15am

Fantastic sitcom, probably my favourite of all time. The casual racism and homophobia wouldn't be allowed today but it was definitely a reflection of society at the time. What I also liked about it was how it did actually portray life at the time - Del and Rodney wheeling and dealing dodgy merchandise "off the back of a lorry" to make a living, living in a sh!tty council estate, the pub being the epicentre of all social interaction etc.

There was definitely a bit of a drop off when Cassandra and Raquel were regulars but was still fairly decent.

Some of my favourite episodes:

Cash and Curry: Del and Rodney pawn off everything they can to stump up the cash to buy a seemingly valuable statue and try to broker a deal between two Indian families at loggerheads with each other but end up being swindled.

Chain Gang: Very similar premise to the above, Del and Rodney get the rest of the Nags Head regulars (Boycie, Trigger, Denzel, Mike) involved in a deal with Arnie for gold chains but this time manage to catch him in the act.

Friday the 14th: Like many others have said, great episode. One of the best lines in the whole series:
Del (to Rodney who steps outside while there's a storm outside): "Come in Rodney there a bloody typhoid outside"
Rodney (closes door and comes in): It's "typhoon"
Del: "Yeah go on then put the kettle on"

A Winning Streak: Boycie keeps winning at poker over Del and Trig but Del manages to play him at his own game to take the winning pot.

May the Force Be With You: May be not the most well known episode but thought it was fantastic. Del is up on a charge of stealing a microwave by Detective Slater but talks and fools his way out of it. The last minute of that episode was pure gold! What was great about this was that it was primarily based in the one small interview room and for an OFAH episode, nothing much really happened if that makes sense but the pure acting and dialogue kept you glued to it to see how things would turn out!

[Deleted User] · 14-04-2020 6:37am

Cake Man wrote: »

Fantastic sitcom, probably my favourite of all time. The casual racism and homophobia wouldn't be allowed today but it was definitely a reflection of society at the time. What I also liked about it was how it did actually portray life at the time - Del and Rodney wheeling and dealing dodgy merchandise "off the back of a lorry" to make a living, living in a sh!tty council estate, the pub being the epicentre of all social interaction etc.

There was definitely a bit of a drop off when Cassandra and Raquel were regulars but was still fairly decent.

Some of my favourite episodes:

Cash and Curry: Del and Rodney pawn off everything they can to stump up the cash to buy a seemingly valuable statue and try to broker a deal between two Indian families at loggerheads with each other but end up being swindled.

Chain Gang: Very similar premise to the above, Del and Rodney get the rest of the Nags Head regulars (Boycie, Trigger, Denzel, Mike) involved in a deal with Arnie for gold chains but this time manage to catch him in the act.

Friday the 14th: Like many others have said, great episode. One of the best lines in the whole series:
Del (to Rodney who steps outside while there's a storm outside): "Come in Rodney there a bloody typhoid outside"
Rodney (closes door and comes in): It's "typhoon"
Del: "Yeah go on then put the kettle on"

A Winning Streak: Boycie keeps winning at poker over Del and Trig but Del manages to play him at his own game to take the winning pot.

May the Force Be With You: May be not the most well known episode but thought it was fantastic. Del is up on a charge of stealing a microwave by Detective Slater but talks and fools his way out of it. The last minute of that episode was pure gold! What was great about this was that it was primarily based in the one small interview room and for an OFAH episode, nothing much really happened if that makes sense but the pure acting and dialogue kept you glued to it to see how things would turn out!

That last one is definitely my favourite of the lot. Love the episode.

Hangdogroad · 14-04-2020 6:47am

Remember the one where Rodney inadvertently walks in on a porn fIlm being shot? Del then tries to have all the copies of it destroyed.

Joe_ Public · 14-04-2020 8:17am

Hangdogroad wrote: »

Remember the one where Rodney inadvertently walks in on a porn fIlm being shot? Del then tries to have all the copies of it destroyed.

Where do they get those grotty flats?

weldoninhio · 14-04-2020 8:23am

What kind of financial adviser goes out to buy an Emperor-burger and comes back with a cheeseburger? -

:D:D

OOnegative · 14-04-2020 8:27am

Get off home Marlene and take your foster tits with ya!!

El_Duderino 09 · 14-04-2020 8:58am

Cake Man wrote: »

Fantastic sitcom, probably my favourite of all time. The casual racism and homophobia wouldn't be allowed today but it was definitely a reflection of society at the time. What I also liked about it was how it did actually portray life at the time - Del and Rodney wheeling and dealing dodgy merchandise "off the back of a lorry" to make a living, living in a sh!tty council estate, the pub being the epicentre of all social interaction etc.

There was definitely a bit of a drop off when Cassandra and Raquel were regulars but was still fairly decent.

Yeah the casual racism and homophobia were current themes when it was made. They're like a little time capsule of the 80s. HIV/AIDS is mentioned a few times too and that would have still been considered a gay disease at that time.

One of the early episodes where dell and rodney go to a club and end up with a camp waiter (might be the first or second episode set at Christmas) Del days "do you think he's a bit... funny? Yeah he's definitely a bandit, that one. Tonight we dance with our backs to the wall". That joke doesn’t make any sense nowadays as straight blokes aren't generally frightened of gay blokes. But it was current when it was made in the early- mid eighties.

somesoldiers · 14-04-2020 9:16am

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Yeah the casual racism and homophobia were current themes when it was made. They're like a little time capsule of the 80s. HIV/AIDS is mentioned a few times too and that would have still been considered a gay disease at that time.

One of the early episodes where dell and rodney go to a club and end up with a camp waiter (might be the first or second episode set at Christmas) Del days "do you think he's a bit... funny? Yeah he's definitely a bandit, that one. Tonight we dance with our backs to the wall". That joke doesn’t make any sense nowadays as straight blokes aren't generally frightened of gay blokes. But it was current when it was made in the early- mid eighties.

1/2 a larger for Sir & a Caribbean Stallion for Mandingo

El_Duderino 09 · 14-04-2020 9:22am

somesoldiers wrote: »

1/2 a larger for Sir & a Caribbean Stallion for Mandingo

It's called a Caribbean Stallion. James bond drunk one in Live and Let Die

1/2 a lager - Reg Varney drunk one of those in Holiday on the Busses.

somesoldiers · 14-04-2020 9:24am

Uncle Albert:
I don't mean in the Royal navy. I was talking about the merchant. Just imagine it, Rodney. Monday, you sail out of Southhampton Water. Tuesday, you're through the Bay of Biscay. Wednesday, you've rounded Cape St Vincent. Thursday, you dock in Algiers...

Del Boy:
[cutting in] And Friday it's your turn in the barrel!

Rodney:
[distressed] Eh?

Uncle Albert:
There was nothing like that on any of my vessels! A few funny ones but nothing like that!

FarmerBrowne · 14-04-2020 9:31am

The old girl popped her clogs half way down the
giant slalom.

Cake Man · 14-04-2020 10:47am

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Yeah the casual racism and homophobia were current themes when it was made. They're like a little time capsule of the 80s. HIV/AIDS is mentioned a few times too and that would have still been considered a gay disease at that time.

One of the early episodes where dell and rodney go to a club and end up with a camp waiter (might be the first or second episode set at Christmas) Del days "do you think he's a bit... funny? Yeah he's definitely a bandit, that one. Tonight we dance with our backs to the wall". That joke doesn’t make any sense nowadays as straight blokes aren't generally frightened of gay blokes. But it was current when it was made in the early- mid eighties.

Another example was an episode where Del and Rodney meet Boycie in the Chinese, Del starts mocking him talking in an obvious gay/flamboyant manner pretending to flirt with and kiss him. When he leaves, Del calls him a “Jaffa” - a reference to someone who can’t produce sperm (i.e. a Jaffa orange has no seeds). Again, these days you’d have complaints of homophobia and mocking people with the above mentioned issues.

jonnny68 · 14-04-2020 10:49am

Vintage comedy love it, can you believe some millennial snowflakes got offended by this before.:rolleyes:

El_Duderino 09 · 14-04-2020 10:53am

Cake Man wrote: »

Another example was an episode where Del and Rodney meet Boycie in the Chinese, Del starts mocking him talking in an obvious gay/flamboyant manner pretending to flirt with and kiss him. When he leaves, Del calls him a “Jaffa” - a reference to someone who can’t produce sperm (i.e. a Jaffa orange has no seeds). Again, these days you’d have complaints of homophobia and mocking people with the above mentioned issues.

The bit that was really dated about that scene was when Boycie was leaving and Del struck a camp pose said "bye bye Boycie" in the kind of "gay voice" people used to do back in the day. The implication that he was unable to father a child because he was gay or had a low sperm count because he was gay.

In any case, it's comedy of it's time. It was on the button for the time it was written, so obviously some of the jokes wouldn't work now because times, and attitudes and comedy, have all changed. That's fair enough.

El_Duderino 09 · 14-04-2020 10:59am

jonnny68 wrote: »

Vintage comedy love it, can you believe some millennial snowflakes got offended by this before.:rolleyes:

Why would they have to be a "snowflake" to point out the things that are obviously homophobic by today's standards? We're discussing it right now and nobody is getting offended.

P.S. the people who bring this up in threads and go on about "You can't say x or the snowflakes/SJWs/PC brigade will come after you/get offended" are the ones looking to be outraged. I suppose it has totally escaped you that you (and one other poster expressing the same sentiment) are the only ones in the whole thread who even mentioned getting offended. Of course it did. You might have even thought you were being original. LOL

randd1 · 14-04-2020 11:14am

Boycie: Leave off Marlene, the baby's brown!!
Marlene: So is Duke.
Boycie: But I ain't claiming to be Duke's father!!
Uncle Albert: There is a resemblance though.

Just one of the countless examples of a quick wit line throughout the show.

Trigger really had some quality moments. The one where he goes to the Trotters flat because Del said he'd give him a lift to the pub and Rodney sticks on some Mozart.
Trigger: Del said he'd give me a lift to the pub.
Rodney: But you live closer to the pub than us. In fact, you'd have to walk past the pub to get here.
Trigger: Yeah, but Del said he'd give me a lift.
Rodney just rolls back into the chair, listening to Mozart.
Trigger: What song is this then Dave?
Rodney: It's Mozart Symphony Number 9 in D Minor. It helps me to relax, unwind a bit.
Trigger: Ain't it got no words?
Rodney: No Trigg, it ain't got no words.
Del Walks into the room while shouting out to Racquel.
Del: What's this you've got on Rodders?
Trigger: It's Mozart Symphony Number 9 in D Minor. It's a karaoke version.
Rodney jumping up: Right let's go.

El_Duderino 09 · 14-04-2020 11:19am

randd1 wrote: »

Boycie: Leave off Marlene, the baby's brown!!
Marlene: So is Duke.
Boycie: But I ain't claiming to be Duke's father!!
Uncle Albert: There is a resemblance though.

Just one of the countless examples of a quick wit line throughout the show.

Boycie: I might be able to con people into buying my cars, I might be able to convince them that you conceived and gave birth in seven days, but how the hell am I going to persuade them my grandad was Louis Armstrong?!?

Classic!

CrankyHaus · 14-04-2020 11:20am

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Why would they have to be a "snowflake" to point out the things that are obviously homophobic by today's standards? We're discussing it right now and nobody is getting offended.

P.S. the people who bring this up in threads and go on about "You can't say x or the snowflakes/SJWs/PC brigade will come after you/get offended" are the ones looking to be outraged. I suppose it has totally escaped you that you (and one other poster expressing the same sentiment) are the only ones who even mentioned getting offended. Of course it did. You might have even thought you were being original. LOL

I agree but it's not hard to imagine some form of soft censorship developing where some Twitter empty vessels criticise the parts of it that have aged poorly and in response the BBC either cuts parts out or simply show it less and less.

We've seen similar in recent years with, for example, Fairytale of New York getting less plays because of the inclusion of a homophobic slur. One DJ tweeted that he would not play that "nasty, nasty song" and, without any hint of self-awareness, called it "an offensive pile of downmarket chav bilge".

If this happened to Only Fools... it would be a pity, because as a sympathetic and honest portrayal of the working class it is markedly more progressive than the direction British TV has taken since.

Normal struggling people are no longer really portrayed. Instead you have deferential portrayals of the gentry and Royalty in the likes of Downton Abbey and The Crown alternating with cheap and nasty reality TV Show portrayals of the worst and stupidest segments of the British lower classes. Toffs and Chavs basically, along with silver-spooners like Jack Whitehall. Ken Loach even claimed that Film4 refused to fund his latest film, saying "we’re already covering the area because we’re doing Benefits Street".

Marty Bird · 14-04-2020 11:38am

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Boycie: I might be able to con people into buying my cars, I might be able to convince them that you conceived and gave birth in seven days, but how the hell am I going to persuade them my grandad was Louis Armstrong?!?

Classic!

Vot is your name ?

El_Duderino 09 · 14-04-2020 11:41am

Marty Bird wrote: »

Vot is your name ?

Your German is very good, Marty!

Marty Bird · 14-04-2020 11:44am

My Colleague here is a second Dan in karate..

And I’m a black belt in Origami.

El_Duderino 09 · 14-04-2020 11:55am

CrankyHaus wrote: »

I agree but it's not hard to imagine some form of soft censorship developing where some Twitter empty vessels criticise the parts of it that have aged poorly and in response the BBC either cuts parts out or simply show it less and less.

We've seen similar in recent years with, for example, Fairytale of New York getting less plays because of the inclusion of a homophobic slur. One DJ tweeted that he would not play that "nasty, nasty song" and, without any hint of self-awareness, called it "an offensive pile of downmarket chav bilge".

If this happened to Only Fools... it would be a pity, because as a sympathetic and honest portrayal of the working class it is markedly more progressive than the direction British TV has taken since.

Normal struggling people are no longer really portrayed. Instead you have deferential portrayals of the gentry and Royalty in the likes of Downton Abbey and The Crown alternating with cheap and nasty reality TV Show portrayals of the worst and stupidest segments of the British lower classes. Toffs and Chavs basically, along with silver-spooners like Jack Whitehall. Ken Loach even claimed that Film4 refused to fund his latest film, saying "we’re already covering the area because we’re doing Benefits Street".

There definitely could be more representation of normal poor people today. But I think OFAH was dramatised to make them both sympathetic and they'd skin you for a pound. It was a balance. They weren't supposed to be racist for their time. Del's relationship with Denzel never had a racist component. They were just mates. If you showed the bits that have "aged poorly" as you very generously put it, the balance would be out of whack.

If you left in the bit where Uncle albert glares at the black lads at the juke box and says "I can't hear myself think with that monkey music", it would cast them in a different light to how it was intended. They weren't supposed to be racist so leaving in a bit that is blatantly racist by today's standards, goes against the point they were making at the time. I imagine it was very progressive and PC for it's day.

FarmerBrowne · 14-04-2020 12:28pm

Marty Bird wrote: »

My Colleague here is a second Dan in karate..

And I’m a black belt in Origami.

Kuvera was one of India's premier wicket-keepers.

NewRed2 · 14-04-2020 8:03pm

Best TV show ever made in my humble opinion. Best comedy by a million miles. It was genius.

The Batman & Robin episode floored me but the 2 moments that I liked best were two more subtle ones.

He needs plenty of rest and fresh air. I'll put his bed on the balcony.

Can't you go cleaning windows? But I'm afraid heights! Couldn't you specialise in bungalows? Ah ffs, brilliant!

Then the wee sentimental moments too, for a comedy it had so much humanity. Del listening to holding back the years on his own in room after Rodney's wedding.

It was a brilliant show, every episode had something to make you laugh now matter how you might have felt at the time. Really was just outstanding.

rob316 · 14-04-2020 8:06pm

Amazing show, best sitcom ever in my opinion. Combination of dodgy characters and simple humour is unbeatable. I could spent the night quoting it.

I absolutely hate that they made them broke again though. Every season del said "this time next year we'll be millionaires". It happened and it should of been left as that.

El_Duderino 09 · 14-04-2020 8:13pm

NewRed2 wrote: »

Then the wee sentimental moments too, for a comedy it had so much humanity. Del listening to holding back the years on his own in room after Rodney's wedding.

And the bit where Del was being hard towards Uncle Albert after grandad's funeral. Turns out he was terrified of letting Albert get close because of how upset he was about Albert. And he didn't know how to grieve because he spent his whole life playing the 'Del Boy' character. Massive choker and adds a dimension beyond a mere comedy.

That scene built great depth to the Del character.

It was the start of S4. Grandad was only in it for 3 seasons. One of grandad's best episodes was the one when they painted Denzel's Apartment and there had the fiasco with the canary.

Itssoeasy · 14-04-2020 8:25pm

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Where do they get those grotty flats?

Nelson Mandela house.

somesoldiers · 14-04-2020 8:44pm

Itssoeasy wrote: »

Nelson Mandela house.

The Nyerere Estate

somesoldiers · 14-04-2020 8:45pm

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

And the bit where Del was being hard towards Uncle Albert after grandad's funeral. Turns out he was terrified of letting Albert get close because of how upset he was about Albert. And he didn't know how to grieve because he spent his whole life playing the 'Del Boy' character. Massive choker and adds a dimension beyond a mere comedy.

That scene built great depth to the Del character.

It was the start of S4. Grandad was only in it for 3 seasons. One of grandad's best episodes was the one when they painted Denzel's Apartment and there had the fiasco with the canary.

And when Del let on the lift wasnt working after Cassandras miscarraige to get Rodney to discuss it

Joe_ Public · 14-04-2020 8:59pm

somesoldiers wrote: »

The Nyerere Estate

Not Rodney though. He lived on Kings Avenue.

Only Fools & Horses

Comments