Strained Relations
Encyclopedia
"Strained Relations" is an episode of the BBC
sitcom, Only Fools and Horses
. It was the second episode of series 4, and was first screened on 28 February, 1985.
and Rodney
, as their Grandad
has died. They have attended Grandad's funeral, along with Mike, Boycie
, Trigger
, and the North London branch of the Trotter family.
Back at the wake in Nelson Mandela House, Rodney is extremely upset to find that Del is cheering himself up by telling his mates lots of jokes. Del and Rodney also meet Grandad's younger brother, their Uncle Albert
, who also tells Del that he and other brother George flipped a coin to decide who would become Del's godfather.
Later that night, everybody had gone home, and it's just Del and Rodney alone in the flat, until they find Albert in the bathroom. He tells his nephews that their cousins, Stan and Jean, went home to North London and left Albert behind. Del decides to let Albert stay for the night, but doesn't allow him to sleep in Grandad's bedroom, since it's now a shrine to him and a storage area.
The next morning, Albert follows Del back to the flat to tell him and Rodney that Stan and Jean moved again because they have a mobile home. Del decides that Albert should go to the Seaman's Mission. As Albert goes off to the kitchen to have a cup of tea, Rodney berates Del for not caring when Grandad died, but Del Boy snaps back at Rodney, explaining how he doesn't know how to grieve, "I ain't even started yet bruv. And you wanna know why? Because I don't know how to." Del reveals how he resents being this figure, and the false admiration that he feels he has received all his life, "Bloody family! I've finished with them! What do they do to you, eh? They hold you back, drag you down, and then they break your bloody heart!", which really makes Rodney truly understand what Del's going through.
Later, at the Nag's Head, Albert shows up again claiming that the Seaman's Mission has been torn down. Del finally gives in, decides to let Albert stay with him and Rodney, and a new era for the Trotters has begun. As they leave to get a curry, Mike quickly gets a hold of Albert and informs him that the Seaman's Mission just called saying they have a room available. He's quickly told to be quiet by Albert.
", was added in at the last minute, due to Lennard Pearce
's death, so the series wouldn't begin with a funeral. This left the producers with eight episodes instead of the standard six episodes in the series. "From Prussia With Love
" was moved to the fifth season leaving seven episodes in the fourth season.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
sitcom, Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses is a British sitcom, created and written by John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom between 1981 and 1991, with sporadic Christmas specials until 2003...
. It was the second episode of series 4, and was first screened on 28 February, 1985.
Synopsis
It is a day full of sorrow for Del BoyDel Boy
Derek Edward Trotter, better known as "Del Boy", is the fictional lead character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses and one of the main characters of its prequel, Rock & Chips...
and Rodney
Rodney Trotter
Rodney Charlton Trotter is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, played by Nicholas Lyndhurst.-Personality:Rodney's personality was based on the experiences of series creator John Sullivan, who also had an older sibling and, like Rodney, claimed to have been a dreamer and...
, as their Grandad
Grandad (Only Fools and Horses)
Edward Kitchener "Ted" Trotter better known simply as Grandad, was a character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses from 1981-1984...
has died. They have attended Grandad's funeral, along with Mike, Boycie
Boycie
Terrance Aubrey Boyce best known as Boycie is a fictional character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses played by John Challis. His story is continued in the spin off series The Green Green Grass, which began filming in June 2005, in which Boycie and family have fled from a gang of...
, Trigger
Trigger (Only Fools and Horses)
Trigger is a character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. He is played by actor Roger Lloyd Pack....
, and the North London branch of the Trotter family.
Back at the wake in Nelson Mandela House, Rodney is extremely upset to find that Del is cheering himself up by telling his mates lots of jokes. Del and Rodney also meet Grandad's younger brother, their Uncle Albert
Uncle Albert
Albert Gladstone Trotter is a fictional character from the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. He was introduced during the fourth season as a replacement for the character of Grandad due to the death of actor Lennard Pearce...
, who also tells Del that he and other brother George flipped a coin to decide who would become Del's godfather.
Later that night, everybody had gone home, and it's just Del and Rodney alone in the flat, until they find Albert in the bathroom. He tells his nephews that their cousins, Stan and Jean, went home to North London and left Albert behind. Del decides to let Albert stay for the night, but doesn't allow him to sleep in Grandad's bedroom, since it's now a shrine to him and a storage area.
The next morning, Albert follows Del back to the flat to tell him and Rodney that Stan and Jean moved again because they have a mobile home. Del decides that Albert should go to the Seaman's Mission. As Albert goes off to the kitchen to have a cup of tea, Rodney berates Del for not caring when Grandad died, but Del Boy snaps back at Rodney, explaining how he doesn't know how to grieve, "I ain't even started yet bruv. And you wanna know why? Because I don't know how to." Del reveals how he resents being this figure, and the false admiration that he feels he has received all his life, "Bloody family! I've finished with them! What do they do to you, eh? They hold you back, drag you down, and then they break your bloody heart!", which really makes Rodney truly understand what Del's going through.
Later, at the Nag's Head, Albert shows up again claiming that the Seaman's Mission has been torn down. Del finally gives in, decides to let Albert stay with him and Rodney, and a new era for the Trotters has begun. As they leave to get a curry, Mike quickly gets a hold of Albert and informs him that the Seaman's Mission just called saying they have a room available. He's quickly told to be quiet by Albert.
Mistakes and Errors
- When Del is seen staring into Grandad's bedroom, Mike Fisher, the landlord of the Nags Head comes over to speak to him, and as Del turns, the shadow of the camera can be seen for a second in the doorway of the bedroom.
Episode cast
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Production
This episode, along with "Happy ReturnsHappy Returns
"Happy Returns" is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. It was the first episode of series 4, and was first screened on 21 February, 1985.-Synopsis:...
", was added in at the last minute, due to Lennard Pearce
Lennard Pearce
Lennard Pearce was an English actor who worked mostly in the theatre, but also appeared in a number of British television programmes. He landed his most notable TV role during the final few years of his life, starring as Edward "Grandad" Trotter in the popular sitcom, Only Fools and Horses from...
's death, so the series wouldn't begin with a funeral. This left the producers with eight episodes instead of the standard six episodes in the series. "From Prussia With Love
From Prussia With Love
"From Prussia with Love" is an episode of the BBC sitcom, Only Fools and Horses. It was the first episode of series 5, and was first screened on 31 August, 1986.-Synopsis:...
" was moved to the fifth season leaving seven episodes in the fourth season.