Only Horses is regarded as one of, if not the best sitcom of all time, but I simply can’t agree if the first episode is anything to go by
The first episode of Only Fools and Horses left me feeling disappointed (Image: BBC)
I went into Only Fools and Horses with high hopes, prepared to be wowed by what is meant to be the greatest British sitcom of all time. It’s one of those timeless classics that people rave about endlessly, and you think with 10 series and 16 Christmas specials, it has to be good. The opening scene shows Grandad watching the TV when he mentions Sidney Poitier, before getting into a back and forth with Rodney about how to pronounce his surname. In comes Del Boy, who jokes the man on screen could be Harry Belafonte – another Black actor.
I understand that this was the early 1980s, a time when television wasn’t exactly known for its cultural sensitivity, but the exchange immediately feels racially tone-deaf. While the comment from Del Boy seems to come from ignorance and not malice, it simply didn’t land for me.
Later in the episode, Del Boy makes a comment about “some Chinese tart,” which is quickly followed by an even worse remark: “Chinese, Japanese, it’s all the same to me.”
Again, I understand that it was a different time, but reducing people to stereotypes for the sake of a cheap gag isn’t the one.
It transpires that Del Boy runs a shady market trading business called Trotters Independent Traders (T.I.T.), selling whatever he can get his hands on.
He acquires a number of briefcases, which he soon realises have been stolen. To make matters worse, they are also missing their keys, making them impossible to open.
This causes a fed up Rodney to confront his brother about wanting more from life, accusing him of being dishonest and manipulative with his constant schemes.
The relationship between Del Boy and Rodney carried the first episode (Image: ITV)
Rodney declares that he can make it on his own, but the argument takes him straight down the pub. I did enjoy the banter between the brothers – their dynamic felt lively and authentic. Meanwhile grandad’s role provided some comic relief, though his lines came across more as clichés than genuinely funny.
But at the end of the day, I felt disappointed. Maybe it grows into something special as it develops. After all, there are 63 more episodes after this one.
However, on the first episode alone, it just didn’t live up to the reputation. It left me feeling disappointed and pretty sure I wouldn’t be turning on episode two.