The Second Time Around

One of the better episodes in a weak first series.

It's got lots of nice interactions between the three leads, we see Del's longing for a family, but the trip to see 'Auntie' falls a bit flat, as does the final moment.

It still has more good moments in it though than some episodes in the first year though.

Typical of the first season really. The writers and actors are still trying to find out what works and what doesn't. This doesn't. Early 80s but feels more late 70s.

The visit to their auntie's house provides a laugh or two but they are rare in this one as they are so often in the first season.

Del picks back up with an old flame who moves into the flat and disrupts the harmony of the Trotters.

This is the first of several love interest episodes involving Del that happen periodically throughout the earlier seasons. I found myself struggling to see him change character into someone who is more annoying than funny. Pauline who is more of a caricature than a character who just grated on me whenever she opened her mouth. Perhaps it's all intentional, but that doesn't make it enjoyable.

Thankfully Rodney saves this one from getting dragged down by the above. Some of his lines are absolute classics and Nicholas Lyndhurst drops them with perfect timing. One quick fire line he says in the Nag's head relating to the demise of Pauline's previous husbands makes me laugh out loud whenever I think about it.

Other areas of the script is nowhere near John Sullivan's best. Del being in love one minute and then running off with Rodney and Granddad because of a wind-up he professes not to believe feels a bit lazy. Also, the scene at the 'Auntie's' house involves a pretty long winded build up to a rather obvious and only moderately amusing punchline.

The final scene is a funny concept and helps the episode to a strong finish,