| Product: |
Only Fools And Horses - The Complete Series 2 (DVD) |
| Date: |
05/07/07 (88 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: hilarious comedy from the trotter brothers, unforgettable moments
Disadvantages: none
ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES - THE COMPLETE SERIES 2
Originally transmitted: 21/10/1982 - 30/12/1982
For anyone who has never watched Only Fools and Horses you are missing out on a wonderful part of our television history. Only Fools and Horses follows the lives of the two Trotter brother, Derek and Rodney as they try to earn a living in every way that they can. UNfortunately, more often than not this is through, shall we say, "alternative" means. The comedy is based around Peckham in South London and when the show first started, nobody even thought how successful it was to become. The characters all the way through have been masterfully developed and wonderfully cast to create a total cast that never fails to amuse and excite. These days, I would say that most people in Britain have at least heard of del and Rodney Trotter, and most will know of their hilarious antics and sometimes solemn storylines.
I will be reviewing each of the series of Only Fools and Horses in turn and I hope that for anyone who doesn't own these marvellous DVD's that I help persuade you to go and buy them. They really will be the best purchase you have ever made. And so, without further ado, I will begin....
THE LONG LEGS OF THE LAW
Transmitted 21/10/1982
Duration 30 minutes
Viewing Figures 7.7 million
"Grandad: Rodney's got a police record
Del (hurriedly): Yeah its walking on the moon"
Rodney causes a great deal of unease in the Trotter family when he starts dating a policewoman called Sandra. A visit to the flat by Sandra sees Del trying his utmost best to hide anything incriminating. However, considering most things in the flat are stolen he finds it an impossible task. Grandad adds to Del's frustrations by acting denile. When Rodney brings Sandra back to the flat, Del can't help but notice that she is wearing one of Rodney's watches - which has been stolen. In order to try to avoid incriminating themselves. Del "accidentally" spills Gin all over it in an attempt to get Sandra to hand it over. Rodney walks Sandra home only to discover that despite him thinking that she hadn't seen anything, that she had actually spotted a lot of illegal items in their flat and gives him 24 hours to spring clean their flat before she sends the police round. Will they make it in time?
ASHES TO ASHES
Transmitted 28/10/1982
Duration 30 minutes
Viewing Figures 9.8 million
"Rodney: You can't just tip it up, it'll leave a mound, they'll think they've got moles"
The start of the episode see's Trigger anouncing that his Grandmother has passed away. This spurs the Trotters to go to her funeral. However, whilst they are sitting round waiting for the car to turn up Del cannot fail to notice a pair of urns that Trigger has. Del ensures Trigger that it is for the best and he will sell the Urns on Triggers behalf to stop him getting ripped off. It isnt until they get the Urns back to the flat however, that they realise that one of them has got Triggers Grandad's ashes in it. Del and ROdney resolve to "dispose" of the ashes so that Triggers Grandad gets a dignified ceremony. However, their plans to scatter the ashes on the local bowling green are thwarted and their second idea of disposing of the ashes in the River Thames is also ruined. Will Triggers Grandad get the dignified ceremony that he deserves?
A LOSING STREAK
Transmitted 04/11/1982
Duration 30 minutes
Viewing Figures 7.5 million
"Boycie: Where did you get them four bloody aces?
Del: Same place you got them four kings!"
Del takes up gambling on a big scale. Rodney being the sensible one tries to explain to him that he doesnt want to see Del gamble away everything that they've ever worked for. But when Grandad gives him a double headed coin, could all Del's gambling woes be over? Can he turn his losing streak into a winning streak? When Boycie suggests that they hold a poker tournament, armed with his double headed coin Del is only to happy to oblige and invites the boys back to Nelson Mandela House. Unfortunately the night sees things get worse and worse for poor Del. He ends up owing Boycie almost everything he has, including Triggers car and Del's van. Del gets his own back on Boycie however with a clever switch of the cards. Now where did he get those four aces from?
NO GREATER LOVE
Transmitted 11/11/1982
Duration 30 minutes
Viewing Figures 8.6 million
"Rodney: Del, I'd have that head looked at if I was you.
Del: Thats the truest bloody words you've spoke for ages!"
Yet again, Rodney has found himself a girlfriend........... a woman more than twice as old as he is! When Del finds out he is not impressed, especially when he winds out that Irene MacKay is also married. Unfortunately for Rodney, Irene's husband turns out to be in prison for attempted murder and he is about to be released. Del, naturally is incredibly concerned for Rodney's safety and arranges to go out with Irene in order to convince her to split up with Rodney. However, Rodney fails to see that Del was only doing it to help him. When Irene's husband is released he goes off in search of the Trotter brother who has been taking his wife out. Fortunately for Rodney he bumps into Del first who bravely tells him that he is Rodney. But will Rodney see that Del was only trying to help him when Del turns up bruised black and blue?
THE YELLOW PERIL
Transmitted 18/11/1982
Duration 30 minutes
Viewing Figures 8.2 million
"Rodney: He's not in.
Grandad: Perhaps he's gorn out?
Rodney: Oh, I never thought of that you old..... Course he's gone out!"
Ever wheeling and dealing, Del arranges a job painting the kitchen of a Chinese Restaurant. In order to fulfil the job he employs the services of Rodney as the painter and Grandad as the "helper-outer" and purchases some paint from Trigger. With some paint left over, Del takes it off to the graveyard and paints their Mother's headstone. It isnt until the kitchen is finished and the owner Mr Chin calls Del, that they discover that the paint was stolen, and to make matters worse that it is paint used to paint signs in tunnels......... luminous yellow! Without further ado Del takes Rodney and Grandad down to the graveyard so they can see what a tit he has been!
IT NEVER RAINS
Transmitted 25/11/1982
Duration 30 minutes
Viewing Figures 9.5 million
"Del: Defense de fumer"
It has been raining in Peckam for what seems like forever, the Trotters are forced to retreat from the market and console themselves within the four walls of the Nags Head. Del bumps into Alex, his friend a travel agent who tells him that business is not very good at the moment and confides in Del that he is worried his business will go under. Del sees an opportunity and persuades Alex to do a special offer, offering 80% off to the next customer. Del ensures he is the next customer and the boys jet off to Benidorm, taking Grandad with them. Everything seems to be going so well.... that is until Grandad is arrested.
A TOUCH OF GLASS
Transmitted 02/12/1982
Duration 30 minutes
Viewing Figures 10.2 million
"Grandad: One more turn Del.
Del: Brace yourself Rodney, brace yourself!
CRASH!
Del: Grandad was undoing the other chandeleir!
Rodney: How can you tell?
Grandad: Alright Del boy?
Del: Alright? What d'you mean alright? LOOK AT IT!
Grandad: Did you drop it then Del?"
On their way back from an auction, where they purchased a load of singing cats, they pull over to help an old woman at the side of the road who's car has broken down. When Del discovers that she is Lady Ridgemere, the Trotters waste no time in hitching up a tow rope and towing her back to Ridgemere Hall. Once there, Del insists that he is not going home until he has at least had a cup of Earl Grey and a cucumber sandwich. Whilst fetching a singing cat from the van for the Ridgemeres Del overhears that Lord Ridgemere is trying to get someone to come round and take down the two chandeliers in the ballroom to clean. Unable to resist temptation Del offers to do it for him. When Grandad goofs by undoing the wrong chandelier, the Trotters have to make their escape.......fast!
Included with Series two is the Christmas Special from 1982 - Diamonds are for Heather:
DIAMONDS ARE FOR HEATHER
Transmitted 30/12/1982
Duration 30 minutes
Viewing Figures 9.3 million
"Rodney: You must have spent a third of your life standing in front of mirrors
Rodney: My earliest childhood recollection is of you, standing in front of a mirror
Rodney: Up until I was four, I thought you was twins!"
Del is experiencing a feeling of worthlessness, maybe it is the post christmas depression season. But whilst enjoying a Spanish night in the Nags Head he has a chance encounter with a young lady called Heather. When he gets back to her flat he discovers that she has a son. Enquiring where her husband is she explains that he walked out on them 18 months ago and has never come back. Del takes his opportunity and soon they are to the point where Del feels that he should propose to her. Unfortunately his offer is declined and it turns out that Heathers husband wants to make another go of things. Poor Del!
It must have taken a lot to bring such old material to DVD but it appears to have been done very very well indeed. Given the age of the material you have to expect a few problems with the actual image quality but these do not detract from the viewing, if anything they almost seem to enhance the viewing and remind us that Only Fools and Horses really is one of the greatest sitcoms ever to hit our screens.
Unfortunately there are no extras on the DVD with the exception of scene selection and English subtitles. Unfortunately for sound lovers the sound on this DVD is only stereo.
In summary Only Fools and Horses Series 2 is a must buy for anyone who enjoys their comedy or enjoys the antics of the Trotter brothers. It will give you many hours of hilarious viewing and if you are like me, you will never tire from watching them over and over again.
Summary: The best British Comedy.... ever!
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