Following the disappointing Season 2 opener, this instalment sees a cracking return to form for 'The Other One'. In fact, its a strong contender for the title of best episode ever.
Brian and Ralph are on their way to Cirencester when the latter recognises a village they are passing through as the one he was evacuated to during the war. He stayed with farmer 'Collins' ( Leslie Dwyer, of 'Hi-De-Hi' ) and his wife ( Myrtle Devenish ), who called him their 'Little Prince of London'. The elderly couple give the pair a warm welcome, but when Mrs.Collins recognises Ralph her husband tries to shoot him with a twelve-bore.
Brian is curious as to why Ralph is hated by the locals. No-one in the local pub will tell him. He finds out from the 'Vicar' ( Frank Gatliff ). During the war, Ralph struck up a friendship with the Collins' impressionable young son 'Ronald', and managed to convince him he could fly. Ronald attempted to prove his anti-gravity credentials by jumping hundreds of feet into a quarry...
Like I said, a great episode, mainly because it shines a light into Ralph's past. His tendency to lie his head off is not a recent development, he has been doing it all his life, and it once resulted in a tragic death. In fairness he was back in London by the time Ronald died, but the locals do not care. They hold Ralph personally responsible. Brian, ever the loyal friend, decides not to tell Ralph the truth about why he is now hated in a place in which he was once loved. Among the hostile locals is Michael Ripper ( as 'Stukely' ), veteran of many a Hammer horror film.
Funniest moment - overjoyed to be back among people he grew up with, Ralph buys the men round after round in the pub. Then he announces who he is, and they suddenly round on him: "Hang him! Hang him!". Brian and Ralph beat a hasty retreat back to the car!
Brian and Ralph are on their way to Cirencester when the latter recognises a village they are passing through as the one he was evacuated to during the war. He stayed with farmer 'Collins' ( Leslie Dwyer, of 'Hi-De-Hi' ) and his wife ( Myrtle Devenish ), who called him their 'Little Prince of London'. The elderly couple give the pair a warm welcome, but when Mrs.Collins recognises Ralph her husband tries to shoot him with a twelve-bore.
Brian is curious as to why Ralph is hated by the locals. No-one in the local pub will tell him. He finds out from the 'Vicar' ( Frank Gatliff ). During the war, Ralph struck up a friendship with the Collins' impressionable young son 'Ronald', and managed to convince him he could fly. Ronald attempted to prove his anti-gravity credentials by jumping hundreds of feet into a quarry...
Like I said, a great episode, mainly because it shines a light into Ralph's past. His tendency to lie his head off is not a recent development, he has been doing it all his life, and it once resulted in a tragic death. In fairness he was back in London by the time Ronald died, but the locals do not care. They hold Ralph personally responsible. Brian, ever the loyal friend, decides not to tell Ralph the truth about why he is now hated in a place in which he was once loved. Among the hostile locals is Michael Ripper ( as 'Stukely' ), veteran of many a Hammer horror film.
Funniest moment - overjoyed to be back among people he grew up with, Ralph buys the men round after round in the pub. Then he announces who he is, and they suddenly round on him: "Hang him! Hang him!". Brian and Ralph beat a hasty retreat back to the car!