Your top 3 episodes of Only Fools and Horses

[James]

And the one with Del doing hand gliding

Rodney’s revenge! For the sunbed prank.
Absolute genius.

 

[Bewal Express]

Just a work of genius

 

[Bewal Express]

Rodney’s revenge! For the sunbed prank.
Absolute genius.

We watch it as a family and even my little ones know of all the episodes.

 

[Bewal Express]

The golden era is season 6 onwards imho (until the “original” millionaires ending).

Heroes and Villains and Time on our Hands are difficult to beat for me, so many classic moments. Miami Twice the best of the rest in terms of the Christmas specials, with David Jason showing off his acting chops as the mafia Don.

I also love Danger UXD, Chain Gang and the Unlucky winner from S6.

The chain gang is the episode my family love most

 

[Technics 1210]

These VCRs can record programs while you are on holiday.

How does it it know you are holiday.

You send it a post card!

LOL!

 

[Technics 1210]

While deflating the dolls (Danger UXD).

Does Cassandra let you do that!?

 

[James]

I always like how Del does really small and sneaky acts of selfishness throughout the series to get himself ahead and create good situations for himself, but if you look at the underlying arc of the whole show, he is actually very unselfish because he brought up Rodney alone and gave up his own life for this.

 

[Technics 1210]

The frog's legacy!

 

[James]

The frog's legacy!

With the final revelation of Rodney’s true parentage also coming in “Sleepless in Peckham”, which leads into the prequel series “Rock & Chips”. The continuity of writing from John Sullivan across more than three decades of comedy and drama is absolutely immaculate.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Dad's army - maybe, But ALLO ALLO? Oh come on it's idea of humour is that all foreigners speak English but in wierd accents -next you'll be saying Mind Your Language....................actually that is big in Pakistan!

Fawlty Towers, Ripping Yarns (though not strictly a sit-com), Blackadder and The Office probably are some of the finest British TV comedies.

Fawlty Towers is the all time greatest. Blackadder next, and The Office is the modern classic.

I must admit, I never really got Only Fools and Horses. The characters and comedy was all pretty formulaic. None of it seemed authentic, but it's seen as a classic for some reason.

 

[Robert]

Fawlty Towers is the all time greatest. Blackadder next, and The Office is the modern classic.

I must admit, I never really got Only Fools and Horses. The characters and comedy was all pretty formulaic. None of it seemed authentic, but it's seen as a classic for some reason.

I never think of The Office as comedy, as it didn’t make me laugh. It was too painful for laughter. Just too well observed to be comfortable.

Of late, my favourite comedy was Peep Show because I found the characters so relatable.

Later in life I have gained a different appreciation of Dad’s Army which is entirely based on class tensions.

 

[silentkiller187]

Only fools and horses is one of those shows you can watch same episode multiple times and not get border.

Fawlty towers , father ted,some mothers do ave em was slightly before all brilliant.

 

[James]

Later in life I have gained a different appreciation of Dad’s Army which is entirely based on class tensions.

Absolutely brilliant show. So much to like but as a special call out, Arthur Lowe’s portrayal of Captain Mainwaring is truly a work of comic genius and deep pathos — all of the uncomfortable body language, disapproving facial expressions and frustrated eye rolling. He is so desperate to prove himself as the perfect white middle class stoic community figure and demonstrate good Christian values, but the circumstances of day to day life so often get in the way of this for him.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I never think of The Office as comedy, as it didn’t make me laugh. It was too painful for laughter. Just too well observed to be comfortable.

Of late, my favourite comedy was Peep Show because I found the characters so relatable.

Later in life I have gained a different appreciation of Dad’s Army which is entirely based on class tensions.

I actually avoided The Office for years for the same reason, it was described as cruel by one critic, and that put me off, but I did end up watching it in the end, and it really was brilliant even if it did make you cringe at times.

 

[Robert]

Absolutely brilliant show. So much to like but as a special call out, Arthur Lowe’s portrayal of Captain Mainwaring is truly a work of comic genius and deep pathos — all of the uncomfortable body language, disapproving facial expressions and frustrated eye rolling. He is so desperate to prove himself as the perfect white middle class stoic community figure and demonstrate good Christian values, but the circumstances of day to day life so often get in the way of this for him.

The comedy, an occasional drama - came from lower-middle-class Mainwaring’s unceasing need to be accepted by the classes above, while aristocrat- fallen-on-hard-times Wilson breezes through accepted by everyone.

Mainwaring didn’t see action in the Great War, while Wilson fought his way through every battle as an Artillery Captain, which is why he can deal with everything.

 

[James]

The comedy, an occasional drama - came from lower-middle-class Mainwaring’s unceasing need to be accepted by the classes above, while aristocrat- fallen-on-hard-times Wilson breezes through accepted by everyone.

Mainwaring didn’t see action in the Great War, while Wilson fought his way through every battle as an Artillery Captain, which is why he can deal with everything.

Yes and the knowing silent respect between the two men and them having each other’s backs, Mainwaring and Wilson, despite Mainwaring obvious tryhard behaviour and envy of Wilson, and their constant workplace bickering.

So many of the best shows (comedies and dramas) seem to be based on a love/hate, uneasy and mercurial, but also deeply emotionally connected and codependent duo. See also this thread re: OFAH. (Also, Life on Mars; and another thread we have on the go at the moment…Breaking Bad.)

 

[James]

I actually avoided The Office for years for the same reason, it was described as cruel by one critic, and that put me off, but I did end up watching it in the end, and it really was brilliant even if it did make you cringe at times.

Ricky Gervais described it as showing how life is about wanting to be liked. He also said that Brent is ultimately meant to be a sympathetic character, and that the only genuinely nasty person that we see is Finchy. (and Brent has his revenge on him in the end.)

 

[Technics 1210]

With the final revelation of Rodney’s true parentage also coming in “Sleepless in Peckham”, which leads into the prequel series “Rock & Chips”. The continuity of writing from John Sullivan across more than three decades of comedy and drama is absolutely immaculate.

John Sullivan was a genius writer. The Chandelier episode was a real life story his father had told him, he used it and turned it into genius comedy. The secret to comedy? Timing.

I enjoyed the Rock & Chips, of course not as genius as OFAH.

 

[Technics 1210]

Fawlty Towers is the all time greatest. Blackadder next, and The Office is the modern classic.

I must admit, I never really got Only Fools and Horses. The characters and comedy was all pretty formulaic. None of it seemed authentic, but it's seen as a classic for some reason.

Most who were into OFAH could relate to the struggles of the 80s/90s. Not saying you didn’t, but if you were a child of the 60s or before, then most likely you were no able to related to OFAH. The nuisances of Thatcherism and Capitalism of 80s in OFAH (Yuppies etc) for example. Just a theory.

 

[James]

Most who were into OFAH could relate to the struggles of the 80s/90s. Not saying you didn’t, but if you were a child of the 60s or before, then most likely you were no able to related to OFAH. The nuisances of Thatcherism and Capitalism of 80s in OFAH (Yuppies etc) for example. Just a theory.

There are definitely the social and class issues going on & that is a huge part of it.

I have always related to the show on more of a personal level. My dad was not a bad man but he was not great at being a dad or a husband, and he left my mum, me, and my baby brother when I was little. I worked from a young age myself to get some money in and support the household. My mum was left with a mortgage and other debts so she had to work 4 jobs herself to keep a roof over our heads, whilst I practically raised my brother like he was a son. Nappies, milk bottles, bedtime; through to school uniform, football, doing his laundry, the works. He came first. We were a bit like a 90s terraced house version of Del and Rodney!

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Most who were into OFAH could relate to the struggles of the 80s/90s. Not saying you didn’t, but if you were a child of the 60s or before, then most likely you were no able to related to OFAH. The nuisances of Thatcherism and Capitalism of 80s in OFAH (Yuppies etc) for example. Just a theory.

There was a Del Boy in every asian family.

Outrageous dress sense, hustler mentality yet loveable, looked after his grandad/uncle, using words they didn't know the meaning of, it's all there!

Many of our older characters that came here and blagged their way to a nice lifestyle based on gift of the gab and charm are just mini Del-Boys.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I have probably learned more about the workings of British society from watching OFAH, Fawlty Towers and Yes Minister than I have from any book.

 

[Robert]

I must admit, I never really got Only Fools and Horses. The characters and comedy was all pretty formulaic. None of it seemed authentic, but it's seen as a classic for some reason.

I have to see something of myself, or something of people I know, in the characters to like a TV show.

But there was nobody I could relate to in OF&H. I thought they were all eejits. I can cope with one eejit like Manuel or Father Dougal, but not all of them at once.

 

[IMMY69]

Still can't pick a top 10 let alone a top 3.

However, when I watch the repeats now I do feel a little sad when I think of how many of the actors have sadly passed away.

Grandad
Uncle Albert
Mike (Landlord of Nags Head)
Trigger
Boycee

Just heard that the actor who played Mickey Pearce has been diagnosed with cancer..

 

[Technics 1210]

I have to see something of myself, or something of people I know, in the characters to like a TV show.

But there was nobody I could relate to in OF&H. I thought they were all eejits. I can cope with one eejit like Manuel or Father Dougal, but not all of them at once.

Not even Uncle Albert?

 

[James]

Still can't pick a top 10 let alone a top 3.

However, when I watch the repeats now I do feel a little sad when I think of how many of the actors have sadly passed away.

Grandad
Uncle Albert
Mike (Landlord of Nags Head)
Trigger
Boycee

Just heard that the actor who played Mickey Pearce has been diagnosed with cancer..

Yes, the show is truly over now.

The writer and creator John Sullivan also passed away.

A final short, with Del and Rodney only, might be just about doable — although that was sort of fulfilled already by the Comic Relief sketch (which was pretty good)

 

[Robert]

Not even Uncle Albert?

Actually Cassandra was OK as she wasn’t an rehire.

 

[Technics 1210]

Actually Cassandra was OK as she wasn’t an rehire.

She was in a number of seasons.

 

[Robert]

She was in a number of seasons.

Darned autocorrect can’t spell eejit.

 

[James]

Cassandra and her family were the closest that the pre-millionaire Trotter brothers got to entering the London middle class. Rodney definitely married upwards. But there was a sense that their relationship was socially awkward and never really quite worked, until the sequel series when the Trotters lost all of their money and everyone came back down to earth.

 

[Bewal Express]

It's understandable and at the same time sad that this humour never exported to other countries. The rawness of working class, British life just wouldn't translate into cultures and languages.