When Only Fools and Horses first came on, telling the story of Derek 'Del Boy' and his brother Rodney 'Dave' Trotter and their successive plans to turn into millionaires "by next year" few people thought it would not only last as long as it has but that it would become possible the best sitcom on television either in the U.K or in the U.S.
While a lot of folks here in the 'colonies' have never heard of the show or watched it, it is starting to gain a little momentum from pirated and bootleg video available on the Internet.
However, that is never a wise option as the official BBC-DVD's are high quality, come with lots and lots of keen extras and the images and sound on the DVD as opposed to the quality of a bootleg VHS tape of even a DVD will never equal the quality of the 'real thing.'
For 15 years, Derek 'Del boy' and Rodney Trotter of 'Trotters Independent Traders PLC' have made us laugh at and with Del's extreme optimism and scams and, Rodney's facial expressions upon hearing those scams.
As Trotters International Traders (TiT for short) struggle to come up with the perfect score in these new seasons recently released by the BBC, we discover the wide, emotional by-play that British Comedy always seems able to do, but American writers just can't capture.
The boys beloved Granddad (played by Lennard Pearce until the actor's death in 1984) has passed away and they are each one dealing with the grief in their own ways. Rodney is rushing around at the wake, sadly handing out drinks and listening to stories about the man as Del is laughing and singing. This forces Rodney into another of the classical confrontations he and Del are famous for.
As Del finally explains to Rodney why he is the way he is, I found it difficult to not reach for a tissue myself.
At the end of the episode 'Uncle Albert' (Buster Merryfield), a WWII Navy veteran with an anecdote for any occasion movies into Nelson Mandela House with the brothers, after the family members he was living with loaded up all their stuff and moved. Uncle Albert served on several ships in the Royal Navy and every one of them sunk. Writer John Sullivan cleverly meshes the humor in a way that almost never telegraphs the jokes before a punch line slaps you in the face.
As the seasons move on, Del finds love in Raquel and Rodney become close friends with Royalty. Del of course tries to 'Help Rodney' causing some of the most laughs out loud moments on any television show.
The boys get mixed up in everything from a foiled robbery to a pregnant German girl who speaks no English, giving Uncle Albert the chance to use some of the language skills he picked up there during the war.
"Vot es Your Namen?" Gotta love those linguistic experts, they always just like to help out.
There were many changes throughout these three seasons, like Del becoming religious and turning into a profit… uhm… sorry, Prophet. Or the time Rodders thinks his long spell of celibacy is almost over, until he discovers his 19 year old girlfriend is the daughter of a woman Del was involved with 19 years ago.
Or when Rodney is a member of the rock and roll band that Del decides to manage, causing an outcome no one expected.
These were all superbly done, and each one demonstrated a love the family had that transcended everything else. Each one knew he could count on the other when things got dicey. Yes, Rodney sometimes depended on Del too much, much to his chagrin. But the love was always there and always easy to see on each episode.
During the 6th season, Rodney meets the intelligent and attractive Cassandra, a young woman from a well off family with a promising career in the banking industry.
Rodney is instantly attracted to her, which makes sense; but so does his embarrassment at living in council apartments and selling semi-legal items in the street markets with is brother.
But, true love tends to prevail, at least in television.
Del has also made some drastic changes after seeing the film Wall Street. He becomes a Yuppie, at least the thinks he is with the addition of suspenders a day planner, a change in his diet and even more self assurance then he already had.
And it is a joy to watch master craftsmen, even if they are on television. In "Chain Gang" Del forms a partnership with his friends to purchase a case of high quality gold chains, on the cheap that they can turn around and sell for a tidy profit.
"The Unlucky Winner" has Del entering a contest in Rodney's name and winning a trip for three. Three? Yea, they usually send the parents along with the child and Rodney is only twelve. Which is really bad since the 'mother' who will play Del's wife is Rodney's new girlfriend, Cassandra and the two of them just want some time alone.
Ok, so I do have a tough time finding one episode I really like. That is the sign of a quality show to me.
Both boxed sets (season 4-5 and season 6) contain all full length episodes from each series and all the specials (To Hull and Back, A Royal Flush, Frogs Legacy, Dates and the Jolly Boys Outing which follows series six). Series six also sports a cheaper plastic case that I personally don't find as attractive as the original cardboard cases from previous releases.
The shows are full frame and have interactive features such as scene access and Photo galleries and biographies of the major characters.
You want to laugh? Try Only Fools and Horses.