Happy New Year everybody, I'm Roy Stantz, and this is my review of Only Fools and Horses episode "Homesick".
Del Boy is preparing himself in the mirror to go out with a pizzeria, just as Rodney comes out of Grandad's bedroom, telling him to get plenty of rest. Rodney points out to Del (and the viewers) that Grandad's legs are hurting because Nelson Mandela House's lifts are broken. So, Rodney is going to the local Tenants Association meeting to sort that out, as well as report out plenty of other things.
Later, at the meeting, the only people in the community hall are Rodney and the chairman Baz. Trigger also shows, and he and Rodney have a humorous conversation about why Trigger calls Rodney "Dave" (which Trigger has been doing since the very first episode "Big Brother" two years earlier). A few minutes later, Baz explains to Rodney that the vice-chairman died a fortnight ago, and he wants to elect a new vice-chairman from the floor, and Trigger votes Rodney to fill the position. Rodders refuses at first, but Trigger tells him that Del doesn't think that his younger brother can handle such responsibilities. Rodney, now determined to prove his older brother wrong, takes a seat, and the meeting starts. The first thing Baz calls to order is his retirement, and Rodney getting promoted to chairman. Rodney reluctantly closes the meeting, and Baz and Trig go off for a drink.
Four hours later, at the market, Del is selling Spanish oranges, until Rodney shows up and tells him all about the meeting as well as Margaret Mackenzie, one of the well-known higher-ups of the Tenants Association. Grandad also shows up after shopping at Sainsbury, though his legs are still hurting. But Grandad's prepared to walk off the pain.
The Trotter brothers return to the flat, only to find Grandad lying out cold on the floor. Rodney prepares to deliver CPR, but Grandad wakes up and explains that he was just walking over to the TVs to change the channel to Crossroads, until his legs gave out and he fell. Del Boy puts Grandad to bed, while Roddy phones for Dr. Becker.
Sometime later, Dr. Becker tells Del and Rodney that Grandad is suffering from exhaustion after climbing 12 flights of stairs due to the broken lifts. What's the most logical solution to this problem? For the Trotter family to move into a bungalow with approval from the chairman of the Tenants' Association. Rodney steps forward and admits that HE is that chairman.
That night, Del sits quietly by Grandad's bedside, as Rodney enters with a bag of sliced oranges to feed their grandfather. Rodney feels that since he's only been chairman for two days, it's not right to call Ms. Mackenzie for a bungalow. But Del is more concerned with Grandad's health. Just then, Grandad wakes up and praises Rodney for looking after him. Then, Grandad gives Hot-Rod a silver cigarette case as carried by Grandad's grandfather in the Boer War. Grandad's story is hilarious. It looks as though the cigarette case is going to turn out to have saved his grandad's life when he got attacked by a sniper in Africa. Instead the bullet "ricocheted up his nose and blew his brains out!" All the emotion is too much for Rodders, so he goes off to phone Ms. Mackenzie about the bungalow, winning back Del Boy's respect in the process.
The next day, Del returns home and meets Ms. Mackenzie. The two have a nice chat about the world of dancing and Nijinsky (although Del is unaware that Nijinsky died in 1950, until now). Ms. Mackenzie signs the document, allowing the Trotters to move into their new bungalow in a week's time.
As Ms. Mackenzie leaves, Grandad enters the lounge, suddenly back on his feet and dancing! Rodney learns that it was all a big plan by Del and Grandad to move into a lovely bungalow in Herrington Road with a nice garden, a garage, and no stairs. Del shortly hears the doorbell ring, and retreats to the hall before Rodney can seriously hurt him. Once inside the hall, Del Boy opens the door to find Ms. Mackenzie, who's decided to have a celebration drink with Del. But then, Grandad and Rodney both walk in unaware, and the jig is up, and their move into that bungalow has now been cancelled. Feeling responsible for everything, an ashamed Rodney resigns as chairman, and the Trotters end up with nothing -- as always!
Fine, as they go, and a heartbreaking episode for anyone watching from Rodney's viewpoint. Once again, his less than scrupulous family ruin things for him in their search for an easy ride. Grandad also steals the show with his scenes.moreless
EDIT
Episode Summary
Del Boy uses Rodney's election as chairman of the local tenants' association to plot a move to ground floor accommodation.
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David Jason
Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter
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Nicholas Lyndhurst
Rodney Trotter
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Lennard Pearce
Grandad
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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Trivia
ADD TRIVIA- Watch the scene where grandad is sick in bed. At one point his shoulders move and moments later you can see David Jason almost smirking at grandad (Who is off camera) It is well known that the actor who played Grandad could laugh by just moving his shoulders and he does this in this scene. Edit
- When exactly do Del Boy and Grandad come up with the plan to get the bungalow? The lifts are broken, Grandad's legs are hurting at the beginning of the episode, and he's back on his feet at the end of the episode, so does that mean it was all planned before Rodney goes to the meeting? Or does Del come up with the plan after Rodney becomes chairman of the Tenants' Association and Dr. Becker saying that the chairman would hold some sway? Either way if it were planned from the start, how would Del know that nobody else except Baz and Trigger turn up at the meeting to vote Rodney as the new chairman? The whole estate was invited. If it weren't planned, why would Del break the lifts if Grandad wasn't well? Plus it is clear that there is nothing wrong with Grandad at the end, yet Trigger is in on it at the start, telling Rodney that he heard Grandad's legs were playing him up. Edit
- When Grandad is in bed, he tells Del and Rodney that he has never had a garden, but in "Mother Nature's Son", the Trotters go to Grandad's allotment, surely that counts as a garden. Edit
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Notes
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Help by adding notes to this episode. Add notes
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Quotes
ADD QUOTES- Rodney: She's very intelligent actually. We got on really well. Del: Yeah, they do say opposites attract, don't they? Edit
- (The doctor has examined Grandad) Doctor: Don't worry, he's got legs like Nijinsky. Del: (puzzled) Nijinsky is a racehorse. Rodney: No, Del, he means Nijinsky the Russian ballet dancer. Doctor: I don't! Edit
- Grandad: Del Boy, I'd like to be cremated. Del: You'll have to wait until the morning. They're closed now. Edit
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Allusions
ADD ALLUSIONS- Del: There are 2,000 stories in the Naked City and this plonker is looking for a basket on wheels. Del quotes the famous line from The Naked City, originally a 1948 film, later a television series. Each episode of the series ended with the narrator saying: There are 8 million stories in the Naked City. This has been one of them. Edit
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