But not good ones. The ability to set up a joke or a set piece like Renwick does is not that common. How many comedy writers could have managed Jonathon creek? He's got a brilliant mind for plotting. Although it has dated quite a bit, I think the main reason for the success of Only Fools and Horses was great plotting combined with a few nifty one-liners.
I don't think Meldrew is an annoying charactor. He generally moans about things that get on most peoples nerves- litter being thrown on the floor for example. I do think it was a good idea to kill Victor off, because the show had many dark moments and carried on this trend till the end. As to whether Margaret put something in the drink of the woman who killed Victor is one of sitcoms greatest mysteries. When asked, David Renwick answered 'I honestly don't know'
He did come back - as a ghost for an eight minute special. Comedy relief or one of those things.
One Foot has some great one liners!
"Why don't you serve me a turd on a stick?!" (badly quoted)
"I wanted a quiet boat ride on the lake, I didn't want to end up on the set of Apocalypse Now!" (even more badly quoted)
What language are you talking in now? It appears to be Bollocks!
I asked him if, for the time being, he'd put it in the downstairs toilet for me, and you know what he's done? He's only planted it in the pan! Yes, actually in the lavatory pan, with compost and everything! I mean, how anyone can be so utterly goofy just boggles the mind... a mistake anyone could have made? Are you stark... I mean, what am I supposed to do, cock my leg against the trunk like a Yorkshire terrier?
What's the difference between Victor Meldrew and a chef who keeps dropping his pancakes?...They're both useless tossers!!
Quote: Richard Wells @ February 16, 2008, 9:24 PMWhat language are you talking in now? It appears to be Bollocks!
I thought for a minute you were responding to someone on here.
Quote: Jack Massey @ February 6, 2008, 8:02 AMYou're getting two episodes mixed up here Dave. The only episode to feature a teacher from 'Please Sir' is Monday Morning will be Fine (Series 3, episode 1). The man who leaves Victor his collection after his death is Brian Murphy in The Man who Blew Away (Series 5 episode 1). Brian Murphy wasn't in Please Sir, he is most famous for playing George in 'George and Mildred'
Yes - you're right. Sorry - I'll go for my medication now.
Quote: Aaron @ February 6, 2008, 8:11 AMCollection of what? French porn? World cheeses?
False teeth I seem to remember.
I knew i should put Victor's name underneath but I thought meh it's self explanatory if you actually are a close follower of the show.
The essence of Victor's plight in the series is that he is the continual victim of statistically unlikely happenings, co-incidences and general weirdness on the part of others.
He goes out the back to deal with something at EXACTLY the same time as a hapless post op woman OAP is being delivered by mistake to his bedroom upstairs - because he has inadvertently left the front door OPEN and the ambulance crew have the WRONG address.
etc etc etc
The other plank of the comedy is, of course, his irascibility and railing against the modern world.
There's no rocket science to this. Essentially it's smart slapstick with a dash of predictable character humour...
... all of which does not mean to say that just anyone could have written it...
And brilliant structuring which I imagine involves flow charts spread all over the floor.
One foot in the grave could also be very dark at times aswell.
I mean there was Ronnie and Mildred and Mildred committing suicide during a card game (I think it was a card game anyway).
And Margaret disappearing and going down to Margate for a couple of days and not telling Victor leaving Victor to think she's probably dead.
It's David Renwick's clever writing that mixes both comedy and seriousness so well together.
I agree. I've written about it recently here:
I thought this ran a series too long. It felt like Renwick was bored with the original concept and was trying to take the show into darker, more challenging places. In doing so, the delicate balance between comedy and seriousness was lost, and he failed to take many of his audience with him. I struggle to see the comedy in sad, lonely people committing suicide.
The series would be much more fondly remembered if they had quit when they were ahead.
This has to be one of my top favourite sitcoms.
Agreed. My favourite sitcom since the 1970s.
In my view it was pretty good, but I never really connected to the characers.
