Things Aren't Simple Any More

Watch from the beginning and I believe you will understand why this episode was the only way to end the show.

We hear that the context surrounding the show was also a decider with David Renwick and Richard Wilson both wanting to finish One Foot in the Grave.

A tragic but dark ending to an absolutely wonderful series that I can watch over and over again.

Annette Crosbie was absolutely fantastic in this. If you haven't seen this episode, grab some tissues and settle down for the final episode of One Foot in the Grave!

I don't watch this one regularly, because even now I find it utterly heart breaking even now. Victor is perhaps my favourite TV character of all time, and he got a dramatic end, one the character deserved. It's a dark comedy, but even for One foot in the Grave, this episode is dark. Annette Crosbie gives, arguably a show's best performance, she is exceptional. Gordon also is very, very good.

Of course it has a few good jokes, the videos scene makes me laugh, I remember many times trying to get the cellophane off those things.

The question is, did she do it? She loved her moaning grouch of a husband, of course she did.

Many thanks to all concerned for making me laugh for many years. RIP Victor. 10/10

Finishing a beloved series of any kind is never easy and One Foot in the Grave isn't immune from that. Before continuing any further, while I don't like giving away spoilers in my reviews, I need to establish one thing immediately: Victor dies. Clearly doesn't think of this as any kind of secret, it's written very plainly in their own mini overview of the episode. What I won't reveal is HOW that happens.

I will touch on overall reaction to it and the episode in general. Inevitably public opinion was and to this day remains very much divided. Personally, I think it's a slightly ironic but fitting ending that suits the tone of Victor Meldrew and the series in general, with audiences left to make up their own mind over Margaret's decisions (I'll go no further there) towards the end of the episode.

I feel that the episode's format of moving between the present and the past works well, while the closing montage is a lovely touch on two levels: One Foot ends on a relatively jolly note after an inevitable somberness at many points, whilst we finally get to see some of the more ridiculous things that Victor would often moan about after he got home later.

This show went out on top, David Renwick did absolutely the right thing in ending the series in a way that meant he couldn't be pestered into bringing back, inevitably diluting a masterwork of not only his career, but also televised situation comedy. As Richard Wilson said at the time: "Goodbye, Victor."