Communication Problems

"Communication Problems" is one of the only episodes to focus almost entirely on one of the hotel guests - Mrs. Richards, who is visiting the hotel from Brighton. Portrayed flawlessly by the late Joan Sanderson, I think anyone would be hard-pressed to find anyone more acerbic and tactless than this old battleaxe. But it's a familiar problem in hotels - guests like this come along often and all the staff can do is deal with them until they finally check out. Then, of course, there is the subplot of Basil secretly betting on the horses after a long absence (Sybil: "We don't want that avenue of pleasure opened up again, do we, Basil?!" Basil: "No YOU don't, dear.") which serves as the lead-in to the story's punch line. Thanks to Andrew Sachs, the Mrs. Richards head-banging scene stayed in (Basil: "Is this a piece of your brain?!") In a recent interview, he mentioned that John Cleese and Connie Booth didn't think it was any good and wanted to replace it. The entire scene is screamingly funny. Ballard Berkely (the Major Gowen) is at his most virtuosic as the dense and forgetful old codger. Many great lines, but the best have to come from the confrontation between Polly and Mrs. Richards regarding the toilet paper, and the one between her and Manuel ("Si que what?!")

Basil puts a sneaky bet on a horse behind Cybil's back while dealing with a particularly demanding guest.

This is a great episode that combines an intricate and ironic plot with some excellent performances.

I was firmly on Basil's side in this one as he not only contends with Cybil's domination but also with an unreasonable guest who is hard of hearing.

John Cleese is as great as ever but this episode is hijacked by Joan Sanderson in a brilliantly obnoxious role as Mrs Richards. The regular supporting characters also contribute some memorable moments.

I've got to hand it to Joan Sanderson: she plays a very convincing battle-axe. As the selectively deaf Mrs. Richards in Communication Problems, she is quite the horror, finding fault with all those around her, always insisting that she is in the right even when she isn't. Watching her performance, I could feel my blood pressure rising just like poor Basil Fawlty, who has trouble with the old witch after she loses a sum of money in the hotel. While trying to sort out the issue, Basil desperately tries to hide a similar amount of cash—his winnings from a secret bet on the gee-gees—from wife Sybil.

This simple set up leads to loads of hilarity, with Polly and Manuel trying to help Basil keep his winnings, but this being Fawlty Towers, the poor hotel owner is destined to lose his money, closely followed by his composure.

I like the bit where he won the money but was too scared to tell his wife

How do you even begin to comment on something, which for many, myself included is comedy perfection. I don't think I've encountered anyone that hasn't seen or at least heard about this episode, the terror poor Basil faces at the hands of the obstinate, frustrating battle-axe Mrs Richards.

Every single thing about this episode is perfection, the writing, performances, delivery, even the plot itself knits together beautifully, Basil's bit of luck, his terror at being found out by Sybil, and of course the Major's fabulous outburst.

Joan Sanderson did a famous line in battle-axes, her and Peggy Mount are the two best I can think of, Joan appeared in Mixed Blessings, After Henry, Please Sir, but this has to be the best of her performances, she is fantastic as the unreasonable, hard of hearing guest who torments Basil, like no other guest manages to.

Too many scenes to highlight, but The Hanging Gardens of Babylon segment has to be my favourite, agonisingly funny.

First rate britcom. 10/10.