Only Fools and Horses - The Complete Series 5 [1986]

Amazon.co.uk Review First broadcast in the autumn of 1986, the fifth series of Only Fools and Horses consists of half-a-dozen half-hour episodes that are absolutely vintage fare. Indeed, after this series, the BBC gave writer John Sullivan freedom to extend his writing to full feature-length episodes. This series, meanwhile, is a masterclass in characterisation, interplay and in delivering the comedic sucker punch that raises the belly laugh when you least expect it. Included here are "From Prussia With Love", in which Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) and Del (David Jason) take in a heavily pregnant German au pair in distress for the night. Uncle Albert assures them he can talk German and addresses her thus: "Vot izz your name?". "The Miracle of Peckham" is especially well-worked, with a plotline involving missing lead from the church roof and a "weeping statue" which attracts the world’s media. "The Longest Night" sees Del and Rodney held hostage in a supermarket by a gun-toting robber. Never has Del delivered the words "You plonker!" with such feeling as when Rodney makes a grab for the sleeping robber’s cigarettes rather than his gun. "Tea for Three" sees Del sabotage Rodney’s chances with Trigger’s niece, Lisa; though it makes no sense here, prepare to guffaw when Trigger says, "My Gran had one with a squeaky wheel". "Video Nasty" sees Mickey Pierce use Rodney’s local council community film project as a means of making a cheap soft porn movie, while the concluding, characteristically poignant episode sees Del given the chance of a new life in Australia. With this series, a sitcom that once seemed like a poor Minder imitation came of age. On the DVD: Only Fools and Horses, Series 5 is presented in 4:3 picture ratio and Dolby Digital stereo. There are no extra features.--David Stubbs Product Description Entire fifth series of the Peckham-based, wheeler-dealer sitcom. In 'From Prussia with Love' Del (David Jason) sees an opportunity for a nice little earner when Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) inadvertantly takes in a pregnant German girl. 'The Miracle of Peckham' sees Del exploiting a miracle at the local church. 'The Longest Night' has Del, Rodney and Albert (Buster Merryfield) taken hostage in a supermarket by the gun-toting Shadow. 'Tea for Three' sees Rodney and Del falling out over Trigger's comely niece, Lisa. 'Video Nasty' finds Rodney's chance to make a community film ruined by his double-dealing sibling. Finally, in 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire', Del gets the chance to realize his lifelong dream, but is he prepared to leave his family behind in order to move up in the world?