It is surprising in hindsight how quickly One Foot in the Grave established the theme of a sitcom with a melancholy and dark undercurrent from the very beginning.
The second episode sees Victor being accused of exposure by the female window cleaner in his own bathroom. When he thinks he has been visited by the police they turn out to be off duty as they are Jehovah's Witness in their spare time.
The theme is death, Victor's cousin has died soon after taking early retirement. This makes Victor worried about his own health. His attempt at keep fit ends in disaster as the keep fit instructor dies during a class.
The only solace Victor gets is looking after a robin in his garden but he local cat has other ideas about that.
Already Victor is established as quiet a character, grouchy, angry frustrated with what life throws at him which includes neighbours playing music too loud and littering his garden. Victor also shows his tender side as well with the scenes with the robin and of course the slapstick bit as well when he wakes up in the garden in the mist and steps on the rake.