The Anniversary

This was one episode of Britain's classic sitcom I'm very much familiar of yet can't say for sure it's my current favourite episode.

I could be wrong that this is seemingly the only Fawlty Towers episode without hotel guests or service even though Major appears briefly.

This is bit the opposite to Keeping Up Appearances episode "Hyacinth is Alarmed" with husband Richard - Basil pretends to forget his wedding anniversary to Sybil as he's planned friends to have drinks later on their arrival.

Unfortunately, Sybil has taken off, definitely angry thinking Basil has genuinely forgotten.

I really don't think I like how Basil lying about Sybil is actually very sick concocting idea even with Polly posing as Sybil in bed.

Rest in peace to several characters including Ken Campbell as guy Roger - one who made the Basil Brush reference with "Broom, broom!".

I like the bit where he pretends to forget but she gets really angry

For the first time (except maybe in "Gourmet Night"), Basil really makes an effort to do something nice for someone - and it of course goes totally sour. "The Anniversary" takes the meaning of 'fancy footwork' to a whole new level. The storyline itself is definitely not the best or most entertaining of the series, but it's still fairly fun. Basil and Sybil have had a fight over Basil forgetting their 15th wedding anniversary - but Basil didn't really forget - he's throwing a surprise party. Meanwhile, Manuel and Terry the chef fight over who will cook the Spanish Paella for The Fawlty's anniversary dinner. The performances are good (namely Ken Campbell as Roger, the wise party guest who isn't fooled by Basil's lies as to why Sybil isn't at the party). Una Stubbs is also a very good addition to the cast, playing the ultra-sweet friend Alice (wife of Roger), with a high-register soprano vocal inflection. There are a few good short bits between Basil and Manuel, particularly the one where Basil sneaks away from the madness for a quick drink of booze, only to be interrupted once again by Manuel, who only exacerbates things once again.

Basil is planning a surprise party for his 15th wedding anniversary, having invited Sybil's friends over to help celebrate; unfortunately, Sybil believes that Basil has forgotten and leaves. To avoid embarrassment, Basil concocts a story about his wife having fallen ill, but this only causes more problems, with Polly having to pretend to be the sickly Sybil.

I thought that the story in the previous episode felt very forced, and the same thing applies here: why would Basil lie to his friends about Sybil having left the building? They would probably find the whole situation rather amusing and would be able to corroborate Basil's story should she arrive, but then that wouldn't allow for the craziness that ensues, would it?. Once again, the humour doesn't flow naturally.

With only one more episode to go, I can almost certainly say that the first series is far superior overall.

One of the brightest, most gleefully ridiculous episodes of this series has Basil seeming to forget his wedding anniversary. But, knowing full well how much heat he caught for forgetting last year, he's planned a surprise party. All of his plans go awry when the distraught Sybil drives off in a huff after he keeps the ruse going.

This is another case of Basil ending up digging himself a BIG hole, and only getting deeper & deeper. All of this could have been avoided, of course, if he just told the TRUTH, but then we wouldn't be subject to all this hilarity, including a darkened room, slapstick mishaps, barbed & sardonic quips from Roger (Ken Campbell, "A Fish Called Wanda"), Polly being roped into masquerading as Sybil (!), and a flat-out donnybrook between Manuel & Terry when the former plans on making a paella and the latter is insulted that he wasn't asked to do it.

Absolutely hilarious, although you do have to wonder how Basil would EVER make it up to Sybil after his actions here.

Nine out of 10.