Post by rhort on Jan 4, 2013 4:22:38 GMT -5
This episode begins in a 1940s West End butcher’s shop, which always raised a point with me personally; I wondered if it’s actually a recycling of the Royal Oak set (which doesn’t feature in this episode) as the layout seems similar, certainly using the door as a reference point, and this seems slightly more obvious in the later butcher’s scene at the very end of the episode.
Now that Phoebe has made the move out of Whitechapel, she’s naturally keen to source her groceries locally, and she’s having a butcher’s for a butcher’s
When she arrives, the butcher immediately takes a dislike to her lower class demeanour, and talks down to her. At first Phoebe doesn’t seem to notice, but it soon becomes apparent, and she returns to the flat empty-handed. When Gary arrives, he finds her quite upset and takes immediately to trying to calm her down, however, his efforts backfire somewhat, leaving Phoebe with the impression that even he thinks of her as common. Whilst she worries about being thought of as such, Gary seems far more concerned that his eyes might be too close together, sending him running to the mirror to check. Reg then arrives with supplies, and adds his own comedic contribution into the mix of this scene, giving us plenty more laughs in the process. This scene also features one of the lines I always recall whenever think about Goodnight Sweetheart in general, as Gary and Phoebe muse about Noël Coward, “Running a boy’s club up there”, highlighting something of the different way in which people consider sexuality from the 40s and 90s.
Sitting in the shop, having fallen asleep, Gary receives something of a rude awakening from Ron, on a number of levels, starting with him banging on the counter to wake Gary from his slumber, and then introducing Gary’s main issue for this episode, Yvonne’s recent appearance on a TV chat show. Much of the level of disparity between the way Gary treats people, and the way he expects to be treated is evident, as he complains about Yvonne’s relationship with Clive, and his pony tail. Rushing over to Cricklewood, Gary confronts Yvonne, who initially has other things to deal with, leaving Gary reduced to the role of telephone answerer, as he grapples with a fairly impressive array of late 90s mobile phones and other gadgets from Yvonne’s handbag. Yvonne’s dismissive reactions to not only Gary’s accusations, but Gary in general, are brushed aside as she shows him the plans for the new house, pointing out all the areas that Gary will probably find of interest. Then, further sidestepping the issue Gary raises about the bedroom, she breezes past him and leaves for her trip to Brazil.
Back to the Mayfair flat, and Gary’s 40s issue for this episode is in full swing, as Phoebe is sitting with Noël, having her elocution lesson, trying to concentrate on remembering what he’s asking her to say at least as much as understanding the subtleties of the received pronunciation. Gary’s arrival injects even more comedy into what is already quite amusing, which leads us nicely to the “Teach that one to the King” line.
Gary’s return to the shop sees him selling a mint condition wartime model train for a huge amount of money to a man he addresses as “Mr Hornby”, although the question of whether that really is his name, or just a pseudonym Gary has applied to his as a joke, is left unanswered. Yvonne’s entrance changes the mood slightly, beginning with her slyly belittling comment, leading into her dropping in the fact that she’s going to the ‘Woman Of The Year’ dinner, and finishing with her telling Gary that he’s not invited. Yvonne goes on to say that Gary will be allowed to the after show party, however, Gary is uninterested until she reveals that the party is to be held at 10 Downing Street, when all of a sudden it seems that he can’t do enough to make sure he gets there.
Briefly back to the 40s, and the Mayfair flat, where Gary arrives to find that Noël is looking after Michael, singing him to sleep, whilst Phoebe practices her role as a more upper class lady about town, putting on some of the airs and graces she’s been taught. As the three converse, Phoebe talks at length about Gary’s various musical talents, prompting Noël to press him to give an example, however, a reluctant Gary deliberately chooses the most depressing song he can think of in order to put him off, and it certainly seems to have the desired effect, as Noël quickly makes his excuses and leaves, much to Phoebe’s annoyance.
Even more briefly, we return to the 90s, and Whitehall, where Gary tries to get into the party at Downing Street, only to be turned away by an officious police officer, despite his name being on the list. I can only imagine the willpower he must have used to avoid calling the officer a pleb
Admitting defeat, and heading back to 40s Mayfair, Gary makes a classic schoolboy error in recounting the story to Phoebe, saying that his name was left at the gate, leading him to correct himself by saying ‘on the door’. Changing the subject, they move onto the issue of the butcher’s shop, and decide to teach the snobby butcher a lesson, walking in an posing as officials, and subsequently confiscating the venison that is being sold under the counter to the regular, and more upper class customers.
I’d give this episode a 75% rating. A few big laughs, but not enough Ron for my liking.
Now that Phoebe has made the move out of Whitechapel, she’s naturally keen to source her groceries locally, and she’s having a butcher’s for a butcher’s
When she arrives, the butcher immediately takes a dislike to her lower class demeanour, and talks down to her. At first Phoebe doesn’t seem to notice, but it soon becomes apparent, and she returns to the flat empty-handed. When Gary arrives, he finds her quite upset and takes immediately to trying to calm her down, however, his efforts backfire somewhat, leaving Phoebe with the impression that even he thinks of her as common. Whilst she worries about being thought of as such, Gary seems far more concerned that his eyes might be too close together, sending him running to the mirror to check. Reg then arrives with supplies, and adds his own comedic contribution into the mix of this scene, giving us plenty more laughs in the process. This scene also features one of the lines I always recall whenever think about Goodnight Sweetheart in general, as Gary and Phoebe muse about Noël Coward, “Running a boy’s club up there”, highlighting something of the different way in which people consider sexuality from the 40s and 90s.Sitting in the shop, having fallen asleep, Gary receives something of a rude awakening from Ron, on a number of levels, starting with him banging on the counter to wake Gary from his slumber, and then introducing Gary’s main issue for this episode, Yvonne’s recent appearance on a TV chat show. Much of the level of disparity between the way Gary treats people, and the way he expects to be treated is evident, as he complains about Yvonne’s relationship with Clive, and his pony tail. Rushing over to Cricklewood, Gary confronts Yvonne, who initially has other things to deal with, leaving Gary reduced to the role of telephone answerer, as he grapples with a fairly impressive array of late 90s mobile phones and other gadgets from Yvonne’s handbag. Yvonne’s dismissive reactions to not only Gary’s accusations, but Gary in general, are brushed aside as she shows him the plans for the new house, pointing out all the areas that Gary will probably find of interest. Then, further sidestepping the issue Gary raises about the bedroom, she breezes past him and leaves for her trip to Brazil.
Back to the Mayfair flat, and Gary’s 40s issue for this episode is in full swing, as Phoebe is sitting with Noël, having her elocution lesson, trying to concentrate on remembering what he’s asking her to say at least as much as understanding the subtleties of the received pronunciation. Gary’s arrival injects even more comedy into what is already quite amusing, which leads us nicely to the “Teach that one to the King” line.
Gary’s return to the shop sees him selling a mint condition wartime model train for a huge amount of money to a man he addresses as “Mr Hornby”, although the question of whether that really is his name, or just a pseudonym Gary has applied to his as a joke, is left unanswered. Yvonne’s entrance changes the mood slightly, beginning with her slyly belittling comment, leading into her dropping in the fact that she’s going to the ‘Woman Of The Year’ dinner, and finishing with her telling Gary that he’s not invited. Yvonne goes on to say that Gary will be allowed to the after show party, however, Gary is uninterested until she reveals that the party is to be held at 10 Downing Street, when all of a sudden it seems that he can’t do enough to make sure he gets there.
Briefly back to the 40s, and the Mayfair flat, where Gary arrives to find that Noël is looking after Michael, singing him to sleep, whilst Phoebe practices her role as a more upper class lady about town, putting on some of the airs and graces she’s been taught. As the three converse, Phoebe talks at length about Gary’s various musical talents, prompting Noël to press him to give an example, however, a reluctant Gary deliberately chooses the most depressing song he can think of in order to put him off, and it certainly seems to have the desired effect, as Noël quickly makes his excuses and leaves, much to Phoebe’s annoyance.
Even more briefly, we return to the 90s, and Whitehall, where Gary tries to get into the party at Downing Street, only to be turned away by an officious police officer, despite his name being on the list. I can only imagine the willpower he must have used to avoid calling the officer a pleb
Admitting defeat, and heading back to 40s Mayfair, Gary makes a classic schoolboy error in recounting the story to Phoebe, saying that his name was left at the gate, leading him to correct himself by saying ‘on the door’. Changing the subject, they move onto the issue of the butcher’s shop, and decide to teach the snobby butcher a lesson, walking in an posing as officials, and subsequently confiscating the venison that is being sold under the counter to the regular, and more upper class customers.
I’d give this episode a 75% rating. A few big laughs, but not enough Ron for my liking.