Allo! Allo!

Freed from the endless variations of one plot (how to get the airmen out of France) Allo Allo returned to form in this eighth season. Several plotlines are interwoven and the large cast of actors works well in different combinations. There seems to be more location work, which allows for better comedy editing and - again - more variety. The fight between the resistance girls in the barn offered a wonderful example of good directing. Only Crabtree's idea of having a bull charge into the barn reminds us of the somewhat stranger plans of the past. The competition between the different sections of the resistance is actually quite realistic for once, although it remains unclear why every French girl has the hots for René ...



Without doubt the best part of the episode is Gruber's impersonation of Hitler His constant switching between Gruber's fey personality and Hitler crazed larger than life character proves to be both laugh-out funny and - from an actor's perspective - quite amazing.