Post by rhort on Apr 20, 2012 13:11:39 GMT -5
Like most Ron-heavy episodes, I really enjoy this one.
The ‘House of Elliot’ reference in the opening scene *REALLY* dates this episode; I’m sure most younger people coming to the series in recent years won’t have a clue what that was about. The banter between Gary and Yvonne in this scene is lighter than other openers, and seems to set the mood for their relationship a bit better in my view.
The scene in the printers where Gary finally levels with Ron about what’s going on is a defining moment in their friendship, and sets the template for virtually everything that happens between the two of them from that moment on. I think this makes it a very important scene in terms of being a big part of the story, particularly as Ron’s entrance into Gary’s confidence gives them a closeness that endures for the rest of the series, despite the way Gary often treats him. The only thing that I felt let it down is Gary’s “bombs, the lot” line, which always made me wonder why he didn’t have any more references to add at that point (eg. Rationing, ARP wardens, etc) to flesh it out a little.
The scene where Gary and Ron go down Duckett’s Passage was good for me, and still is, as there’s a car shown (parked just behind where Ron’s car stops) that was almost exactly the same as my car at the time when I first saw this episode (same colour, same year, only mine was a hatchback). The thing I often wondered about was why Gary didn’t turn straight around and go back for Ron as soon as he realised he was missing; that never made any sense to me at all, and basically makes Gary out to be a bit mean, and not thinking about anyone other than himself. I couldn’t understand it. The typical exchange with Eric is something I always get a kick out of. Not sure I really like the character of Eric, as such, but I like the interaction Gary has with him.
The scene in the church with Gary and Phoebe was the only bit of this episode that was a bit heavy going for me. I feel that the argument was a bit strong, and it seemed like the sort of thing that would have finished things between the two of them once and for all, inasmuch as Phoebe seems to view the events as a breakdown of trust, and I don’t know how she would have recovered from that.
The final scene shows what appears to be some genuine affection between Gary and Yvonne, which I can see was shown to give a stark contrast with the current state of affairs between him and Phoebe, which in turn highlights the fact that it’s not all going one way and why it wouldn’t have been such an easy decision to choose between Yvonne and Phoebe. It’s because of this play-off between Gary and his wife that I really like this scene, and wish there were more like it.
Not sure just what it is, but there’s something about this episode; could be the lighting, or the easier going dialogue in general, but the whole thing just seems lighter and more upbeat that the ones before it.
I’d give this episode an 85% rating. Best one so far.
The ‘House of Elliot’ reference in the opening scene *REALLY* dates this episode; I’m sure most younger people coming to the series in recent years won’t have a clue what that was about. The banter between Gary and Yvonne in this scene is lighter than other openers, and seems to set the mood for their relationship a bit better in my view.
The scene in the printers where Gary finally levels with Ron about what’s going on is a defining moment in their friendship, and sets the template for virtually everything that happens between the two of them from that moment on. I think this makes it a very important scene in terms of being a big part of the story, particularly as Ron’s entrance into Gary’s confidence gives them a closeness that endures for the rest of the series, despite the way Gary often treats him. The only thing that I felt let it down is Gary’s “bombs, the lot” line, which always made me wonder why he didn’t have any more references to add at that point (eg. Rationing, ARP wardens, etc) to flesh it out a little.
The scene where Gary and Ron go down Duckett’s Passage was good for me, and still is, as there’s a car shown (parked just behind where Ron’s car stops) that was almost exactly the same as my car at the time when I first saw this episode (same colour, same year, only mine was a hatchback). The thing I often wondered about was why Gary didn’t turn straight around and go back for Ron as soon as he realised he was missing; that never made any sense to me at all, and basically makes Gary out to be a bit mean, and not thinking about anyone other than himself. I couldn’t understand it. The typical exchange with Eric is something I always get a kick out of. Not sure I really like the character of Eric, as such, but I like the interaction Gary has with him.
The scene in the church with Gary and Phoebe was the only bit of this episode that was a bit heavy going for me. I feel that the argument was a bit strong, and it seemed like the sort of thing that would have finished things between the two of them once and for all, inasmuch as Phoebe seems to view the events as a breakdown of trust, and I don’t know how she would have recovered from that.
The final scene shows what appears to be some genuine affection between Gary and Yvonne, which I can see was shown to give a stark contrast with the current state of affairs between him and Phoebe, which in turn highlights the fact that it’s not all going one way and why it wouldn’t have been such an easy decision to choose between Yvonne and Phoebe. It’s because of this play-off between Gary and his wife that I really like this scene, and wish there were more like it.
Not sure just what it is, but there’s something about this episode; could be the lighting, or the easier going dialogue in general, but the whole thing just seems lighter and more upbeat that the ones before it.
I’d give this episode an 85% rating. Best one so far.