User Reviews

An absolutely amazing episode from the fourth series of "Only Fools And horses" really show's John Sullivans writing at it's finest , all the regulars are a on good form too.

It's a cold snowy winter's morning in Peckham and it's the morning of Grandads funeral following the funeral Del and Rodney gather around their grandfathers grave , throwing in what they think is his trademark trilby ( Or so they thought ). After that it's all back to the flat for a wake where Rodney becomes extremely upset at how easy Del seemingly finds getting over Grandads death. At the wake they encounter Grandad's long lost bother Albert a very unsuccessful sailor. Later that evening everybody has gone home or so they thought until they encounter Uncle Albert who had "Conked out on one of them beds" , as it is too late they decide to let Albert stay the night and drive him back to North London in the morning.The next morning, Albert follows Del back to the flat to tell him and Rodney that Stan and Jean moved again because they have a mobile home. Del decides that Albert should go to the Seaman's Mission. As Albert goes off to the kitchen to have a cup of tea, Rodney has a go at Del for getting over Grandads death so easily, Del snaps back at him by saying he doesn't know how to grieve and all his life he's always played the though man and now he doesn't know how to be anybody else and they say's " Bloody family! I've finished with them! What do they do to you, eh? They hold you back, drag you down, and then they break your bloody heart!", which really makes Rodney truly understand what Del's going through. The next day at the Nags Head they see Albert again claiming the seaman's mission has closed down so Del finally gives in and lets him stay and the rest is History..........

This episode really is perfect from start to finish never has a piece of television had me laughing and crying so much at the same time. John Sullivan's writing is absolutely beautiful in this episode also the acting from David Jason and Nicolas Lyndhurst is of a very high standard. A perfect way to say goodbye to the very dear character of Grandad and welcome Uncle Albert.

Best bit - Del Boy: Get over it?! What a plonker you really are Rodney. Get over it. I ain't even started yet!!! Ain't even started bruv! And do you know why? Because I don't know how to!!! That's why I've survived all my life with a smile and a prayer! I'm Del Boy ain't I! Good old Del Boy - he's got more bounce than Zebedee! "Here you are pal, what you drinking? Go on! Hello darling, you have one for luck!!" That's me, that's Del Boy innit? Nothing ever upsets Del Boy. I've always played the tough guy! I didn't want to, but I had to and I've played it for so long now, I don't know how to be anything else! I don't even know how to... Oh it don't matter! Bloody family! I've finished with them! What do they do to you, eh? They hold you back, drag you down, (on the verge of tears) and then they break your bloody heart! Rodney: (whispers) I'm sorry.

Such a powerful scene beautifully acted by the two actors.

This episode shows off the genius that was writer/creator John Sullivan.

Who else would choose to show the funeral of a character onscreen when the actor who played him had passed in real life too? And in a comedy!

John Sullivan, that's who. And he pulls it off in fine style in what must have been the hardest of cirumstances.

So often 'Only Fools and Horses' mirrors life. It's funny, it's tragic - often with both strands running hand in hand.

It's again to his credit that he's able to bring in Uncle Albert in a way that doesn't make it seem like the sitcom is just doing so in order to stay afloat.

Del's 'family' speech is a classic moment too.

We do miss John Sullivan.

This episode is in a nutshell why OFAH is so good. It can switch from sombre, reflective and serious to silly seamlessly, something which isn't easy to achieve in comedy. The scene between Del and Rodney in the flat hits me hard every time I see it even after all these years. It's no doubt made all the more raw and real by the passing of Leonard Pearce so soon before the filming of the episode.

It also manages to perfectly introduce Uncle Albert, immediately connecting the viewer to the character in such an amazing way. Del's face when he's explaining how he became homeless previously is one of his best yet.

Amazing stuff and the next episode after this is even better. What an achievement!

The sad passing of Lennard Pierce was felt in the previous episode of Only Fools even though Grandad was still alive in the last episode we knew his death was round the corner and this heartbreaking episode was the first really done by a sitcom where the comedy was sort of sidelined by more dramatic acting and its thanks to Only Fools the likes of One Foot In The Grave,Blackadder and Goodnight Sweetheart also had moments of true emotion especially in their finales.

Its the funeral of Grandad(the late Pierce)and both Del Boy(David Jason)and Rodney(Nicolas Lyndhurst)are very upset with the loss of their moaning but loving grandfather.After Del mistakes Grandads hat for the vicars they go back to their flat for the wake in which the likes of Trigger(Roger Lloyd Pack),Mike(Kenneth MacDonald)and Boycie(John Challis)are invited and also distant relations of Del's including Grandad's estranged brother(the boy's great uncle)Albert turn up. After being left behind by Del's cousin Albert stays for the night but the morning after the boys find out the relations have moved off with the caravan they were living in abandoning Albert in the process. After arguing when Del says Albert can't live at the flat and also when Rodney thinks Del got over Grandads death too easily they agree to let Uncle Albert(as he became known as)stay with them.

There have been a few episodes where this special sitcom broke the mould by having genuine moments of sadness(most notable when their Dad turned up,when Rodney fell for a older lady and when Del fell for a married lady with a little boy)but this one was the first where nearly all the way through there was likely to be a tear in your eyes probably because you knew that both character and actor had passed away.

Both Jason and Lyndhurst are outstanding and both prove their dramatic side of their acting(to be proved by both in later life)and are so strong that when they are upset you are upset,something not easy to do. Del saying why he doesn't seem upset about Grandad's passing will break the hardest of hearts and even after many viewings it still upsets you.

That isn't to say that comedy is neglected far from it.My favourite bits are when Del drops the wrong hat onto Grandad's coffin,Trig giving Rodney endless packs of cigarettes,Del wanting a discount for cash from Mike,Del almost caving in Albert's head with a bottle(my bloody head,you almost got your head caved in then you soppy old sod),Albert already driving Rodders mad with his war tales,Albert telling us about his constant living situation(I got a funny feeling Del,so have I Rondey,i fell like a turkey who's just caught Bernard Matthews grinning at him)and finally in the pub when Del is telling Rodney that Albert is well capable of taking care of himself(that bloke has been in shark infested seas,he's been attacked by kamikaze pilots and blown up more times than a beach ball).The comedy is told as well as ever.

A beautiful episode with acting that should of had nominations for both Jason and Lyndhurst,a lovely send off for dear old Grandad,the arrival of a new fan favourite in Uncle Albert(the wonderful Buster Merryfield),proper moments of sadness and as funny as its ever been.

It may not be remembered as other OFAH episodes but this is a Only Fools masterpiece and it at its very best.