Post by rhort on Mar 30, 2012 3:28:58 GMT -5
Weirdly, I’m not a big fan of this episode and I’ve always found it difficult to put my finger on just why, although, having said that, I remember it being on TV the first time, and I went on to watch the rest of the series and become quite a fan, so it obviously didn’t have too much of a detrimental effect. I often wondered if it was because the episode is so short; most series these days seem to have a double episode to start, meaning there’s a longer plot development arc.
I love the opening scene, where Ron and Gary meet for the first time, and I think the scene is even funnier when watched on subsequent occasions (and you know that it’s Yvonne and Gary’s party). I particularly like the line about ‘The Who’ which I seem to remember made me squirt orange juice out of my nose the first time I saw it. I like the way that scene established the kindred spirits of Ron and Gary, with them both having something of the wide-eyed dreamer in them, which is then played out across the series, with Gary acting upon things, whilst Ron can only watch from the sidelines and continue dreaming; I like the contrast that this gives those characters, who could so easily have found their roles reversed.
The one thing I particularly don’t like about this episode is the way that Gary sits down at the piano for the first time. It just seemed so contrived to me, and I couldn’t understand why someone would do that, in a pub they’ve just walked into for the first time, even in light of the fact that Gary is wondering if it’s all a dream, although I can appreciate that it sets up a major plot element that runs throughout the series. I think that’s definitely something I might have done differently, perhaps dropping in an extra scene earlier on (or expanding an existing scene), showing Gary’s musical abilities and interest in a little more detail before dropping it into the plot like that, however, that would have taken more time, which brings me back to the double episode thing I mentioned earlier.
One thing that dates this episode, is the fact that Gary got lost, leading him to the Royal Oak on foot. In a more contemporary setting, his SatNav would have taken him straight to Hugh Gatesgill House and the entire adventure would have been sidestepped, so I guess it’s a good job this programme was made when it was, because another 15 years later, and that part wouldn’t have made sense.
I’d give this episode a 60% rating. It’s not terrible, but there are better ones to come.
I love the opening scene, where Ron and Gary meet for the first time, and I think the scene is even funnier when watched on subsequent occasions (and you know that it’s Yvonne and Gary’s party). I particularly like the line about ‘The Who’ which I seem to remember made me squirt orange juice out of my nose the first time I saw it. I like the way that scene established the kindred spirits of Ron and Gary, with them both having something of the wide-eyed dreamer in them, which is then played out across the series, with Gary acting upon things, whilst Ron can only watch from the sidelines and continue dreaming; I like the contrast that this gives those characters, who could so easily have found their roles reversed.
The one thing I particularly don’t like about this episode is the way that Gary sits down at the piano for the first time. It just seemed so contrived to me, and I couldn’t understand why someone would do that, in a pub they’ve just walked into for the first time, even in light of the fact that Gary is wondering if it’s all a dream, although I can appreciate that it sets up a major plot element that runs throughout the series. I think that’s definitely something I might have done differently, perhaps dropping in an extra scene earlier on (or expanding an existing scene), showing Gary’s musical abilities and interest in a little more detail before dropping it into the plot like that, however, that would have taken more time, which brings me back to the double episode thing I mentioned earlier.
One thing that dates this episode, is the fact that Gary got lost, leading him to the Royal Oak on foot. In a more contemporary setting, his SatNav would have taken him straight to Hugh Gatesgill House and the entire adventure would have been sidestepped, so I guess it’s a good job this programme was made when it was, because another 15 years later, and that part wouldn’t have made sense.
I’d give this episode a 60% rating. It’s not terrible, but there are better ones to come.