Watching this for the first time on DVD. Updating as I'm getting through them. I had only watched the movie back in the early eighties as the show was never repeated on TV.
So, yes it's very racist, but also misunderstood by many critics. Did it promote racism or mock the bigotry? Depends on your point of view. Both sides seems valid. My view is both, but any promotion of it was unintentional, and unforeseen at the time due to less culture awareness during the 1970's. These days, racism is far worse than it ever was back then (and not due to this show). Besides, both Rudolph Walker (who still defends the show) and Nina Baden-Semper would never have taken part otherwise. Who'd think they'd be naive enough to? Personal view over.
This show reverses political sides from "Til' Death Us Do Part". Alf Garnett is a right wing Tory whilst Eddie Booth is a left wing socialist. It showed that anyone can be racist. What's even more interesting is that Bill is a tory. For back then that is progressive which shows that nobody is politically pigeonholed.
Although Bill is black, he only ever retaliated with racist remarks back at Eddie after he is pushed to by him. Bill's wife understands his frustration but reminds him that his racist slurs back are unacceptable too. Why stoop to Eddie's level as Bill clearly isn't a racist she is really saying. Onto a brief review of each series.
Series 1-3: Starts off strong. It has plenty of great comedic moments. Few duff episodes towards the end of series 3 with some overly silly moments.
The movie adaption was released between series 3 & 4. Worth a watch.
Series 4-5: Apart from the racial slurs from Eddie they then tamed it right down turning it into a more mild conventional ITV comedy sitcom, moving the focus more away from Bill & Eddie onto other characters, and then just making them all completely bonkers making less sense. They even broke the fourth wall right at the end of series 4. I'll say no more on that. Series 5 was marginally better.
It becomes too repetitive with weaker storylines and jokes and doesn't get any better as it goes on. They made Eddie more a clueless gullible buffoon than before. Stories become a bit too ridiculously silly. Bill also becomes way too soft on Eddie's racism, and that's apart from Bill still often threatening to give him "a bunch of black fives" in anger and never does. Gets old quickly by then. Why does he still try so hard to be friends with someone so continuously unbearable? His own added gullibilities and foolishness helps kill these seasons. He should remain the more sensible if the two.
Series 6 & 7: Better storylines. Making it more fun to watch again. Eddie is still gullible as ever. Fewer duff moments, particularly a silly medieval dream scene. Haven't gotten around to watching the final eighth series yet, so will update again in due course.
Barbie is is very likeable but also a bit too sweet, she should have been just as cutting as Joan (who's hilarious). The original Joan in the unaired episode was too nice for Eddie, so good switch. They both put up with cheating hubbies though. I'm more dismayed by the wive's attitudes of only mildly chastising their husbands for whenever being caught cheating, like they were just being late home from the club. This kind of further tarnished their characters a little for me too. I feel this aspect is more dated today rather than anything else. Eddie always seems like a fool for anything though.
Jacko & Arthur are great extras though. Particularly "I'll have half" Jacko. Always perplexing Eddie. "...Pardon?". Arthur on the other hand often cracks funny jokes about his mostly unseen overbearing wife. The original landlord was more background. The new meaner landlord who is more hostile towards Eddie plays a bigger role, but his character quickly gets toned down into someone more likeable.
I feel that they missed a big opportunity in not making the racist slurs cut both ways equally towards each other. Eddie's slurs are continuous whilst Bill's remain too few and far between. Perhaps more people might have understood the shows intentions better if they had not these few issues. This is worth watching at least once or twice anyway. It has never been aired on TV since its original run but is available in a complete DVD boxset.
