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Only Fools and Horses

216 replies

DailyPotion · 21/12/2020 07:57

It's iconic but I've never watched them all, not sure why, but have just seen occasional episodes.

In need of some light relief, I thought I'd have a go at watching them from the beginning. I only made it half way through the first episode.

Even if you leave aside the casual racism and sexism that was of its time, the Del Boy/Rodney relationship is abusive, not funny, isn't it?

OP posts:
BackforGood · 21/12/2020 20:05

What TriflePudding said on P1.

You clearly haven't watched enough to grasp the relationship between Del and Rodney.
You are also ridiculous to dissect a programme made in a different time and apply today's political sensitivities to it.

Apart from all of that, it is an incredibly funny programme that managed to remain funny over several series, which not that many programmes do.

IRememberMySpaceBabe · 21/12/2020 20:09

@mateysmum

Nobody's mentioned one of my faves. It's quite an early episode where the boys are competing for a girl. Del leaves Rodney under the sunbed for hours and to get revenge, Rodney tricks Del into going hang gliding. It is hilarious. The look on Del's face when he realises he really is going to hang glide is superb.
I love this one Grin it’s Trigger’s niece Lisa, she gets married in the Freddie the Frog one and Del swaps his wedding present with Boycie’s so it looks like Boycie bought them a set of second hand plates from a Chinese restaurant
TheTrashBagIsOursCmonTrashBag · 21/12/2020 20:09

Del loves Rodney and is loyal to him and the rest of his family, he isn’t abusive. But he’s not perfect and can be an arse at times. Thank god, because it wouldn’t be half as funny if Del and the rest of them didn’t fuck it all up at times.

The one with the Peckham spring and Rodney joining the groovy gang were my faves I think.

Also when they went to Spain and grandad got arrested for what he thought was gun running in the Spanish civil war. “You was gun running in a civil war?” “Well that’s the best time to do it Rodney!”

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willsantausesantatize · 21/12/2020 20:14

It did become more sentimental as time went on , but there's no doubt that Del loved his little brother a lot!
There is a lot of love in this show.

LittleAtlas · 21/12/2020 20:19

Its quality TV. I agree the first episode isn't great but it gets so much better. My fav is the one where Rodney wins a painting competition and has to pretend to be 14. Or the hang gliding episode. So many brilliant episodes if you keep watching

YouBoughtMeAWall · 21/12/2020 20:20

Del, after being raised by an abusive cocklodging father was left alone as barely an adult to raise his 6 year old brother and care for his elderly grandfather with only himself earning to keep all 3 of them. In the 1960s. That will have been no picnic for him.

ZaraCarmichaelshighheels · 21/12/2020 20:22

Del would literally take a bullet for Rodney. The speech Del gives in the very final episode when they both acknowledge without actually saying the words that Freddie the Fog was Rodney’s Father, Rodney asks if he takes after him and Del says something along the lines of Freddie the Frog was a womaniser, a home wrecker, a conman, a thief, a liar and a cheat, so no Rodney, you are nothing like him. The way Del delivers this line with such emotion and Rodney welling up makes me cry every time.

YouBoughtMeAWall · 21/12/2020 20:23

@ZaraCarmichaelshighheels

Del would literally take a bullet for Rodney. The speech Del gives in the very final episode when they both acknowledge without actually saying the words that Freddie the Fog was Rodney’s Father, Rodney asks if he takes after him and Del says something along the lines of Freddie the Frog was a womaniser, a home wrecker, a conman, a thief, a liar and a cheat, so no Rodney, you are nothing like him. The way Del delivers this line with such emotion and Rodney welling up makes me cry every time.
It’s a really beautiful moment.
SantasBritchesSpelleas · 21/12/2020 20:26

Del, playing Trivial Pursuit, stuck on the name for a female swan. Rodney meaningfully taps his ballpoint against his teeth. 'Yes!' Del cries. 'It's a Bic!'

Kumquatsquash · 21/12/2020 20:26

My favourite is when Rodney finally confronts Trigger about calling him Dave. Trigger looks shocked and says "Well, I'll have to get used to calling you Rodney". Then two minutes later "Come on hurry up, me and Dave want to get out of here!" 😂😂😂

Also Rodney trying to listen to classical music and Trigger says it's the 'instrumental version'

theresagiantonthebeach · 21/12/2020 20:32

You wanna try walking it son!

Purplethrow · 21/12/2020 20:34

My daughter and I have just binge watched this on Netflix , it’s still very funny.
The episode where Del deliberately stops the lift to make Rodney open up about his feelings when Cassandra miscarries is very touching.

foodtoorder · 21/12/2020 20:43

"Stick him on the back seat? He's the driver."
I laugh every time!

FeelsLikeGroundhogDay · 21/12/2020 20:46

The one with dels losing streak & the poker game with Boycie always gets me " I didnt know you could count " 😂

NoMeatIsHumane · 21/12/2020 20:48

"Who's Rachel?"

&

"What is it Del?"

"It's a baby!"

Classic GrinGrin

irishfeminist · 21/12/2020 20:56

I watched an episode recently and lol'd at Del calling a cement mixer "the old Irish tumble dryer", I suppose I should have been terribly offended...Grin But then John Sullivan would've had to be offended on behalf of himself and his Irish dad so..

YouBoughtMeAWall · 21/12/2020 20:58

I watched that one today @irishfeminist Grin

PetertheWalrus · 21/12/2020 21:00

And when Uncle Albert keeps falling down the holes!

IRememberMySpaceBabe · 21/12/2020 21:02

Has ‘To Hull And Back’ been mentioned yet? Where Del gets stuck inside Denzil’s lorry and they get Uncle Albert to come and sail them to Holland. Del stops to ask someone on an oil rig for directions Grin

augustusglupe · 21/12/2020 21:07

Oh bugger off OP For Christ's sake,
Today I caught a bit of On the Buses, Butterflies, Some mothers... very funny, dated yes, but I'm a big girl, I don't need everything PC and I don't need it pointing every time something is sexist etc. For gods sake sometimes stuffs just funny. Only Fools is a classic, leave well alone!

SantasBritchesSpelleas · 21/12/2020 21:13

@IRememberMySpaceBabe

Has ‘To Hull And Back’ been mentioned yet? Where Del gets stuck inside Denzil’s lorry and they get Uncle Albert to come and sail them to Holland. Del stops to ask someone on an oil rig for directions Grin
Oh, yes - and then on the way home, they follow the ferry but in the wrong direction.
im5050 · 21/12/2020 21:16

I remember watching the hang gliding one when I was in hospital having my son
I swear I was laughing so much It brought on the contractions quicker 😂😂

timeforanewstart · 21/12/2020 22:05

Its funny and was very funny years ago and very reflective of life at the time for some of us , people look for offence all the time nowadays

formerbabe · 21/12/2020 22:08

One of my favourite lines is in Mother Natures son when Rodney and Del stop off at a supermarket and Rodney tells Del he needs to get a few things and Del says, what's the point in getting married then doing the shopping yourself?! It always makes me laugh and reminds me of dh who is born and bred Peckham and never does the food shopping Grin