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Porridge: A Day Out (1974)
The Amazing Disappearimg Fletcher
One thing that surprised me watching this again is that, even though the focus is on the day out with a work party, only half the episode is set outside the prison.
There were two things, two suspensions of disbelief, that really did stretch the imagination so far as to detract slightly from the full enjoyment of this story. No matter how soft and compliant the warden might be, Fletcher would NEVER have been entrusted with an unsupervised solo trip to town! Also, the patrons at the bar would have identified Fletcher as a prisoner immediately by the prison-issue uniform he wears! One star out of 10 off for each of those.
The episode is really funny. Each of the actors is very strong with comic timing and there are many laughs to be had as we witness the shenannigins of a field trip for a selected few, digging ditches.
Best joke - Godber's running gag about gravy stains from Fletcher not keeping his mouth closed while eating is marvellous, and it is reprised more than once in the half hour.
A lot of fun!
Porridge: A Night In (1974)
Bide Your Time
A good album will often take you through a journey of different moods and styles of music. Watching the whole series through, this episode of Porridge stands apart as having a much more introspective and contemplative feel to it. That is not to say there is no humour, or even necessarily less, but it is different.
Almost all the usual comic devices have been removed. Multiple characters, varying scenes, physical comedy ..... all of that is pretty much absent here. The entire episide consists of dialogue between two men locked in a cell. Their relationship develops as the episode progresses. Fletcher is antagonistic to Godber at the beginning, but there is a depth to their mutual respect by the end.
Best joke - you have to wait to the very end for this, after the last word is said. The reality check of the scene as the closing credits begin to roll is both funny and jarring, after the journey the dialogue has taken us through.
This, I think, is my favourite episode of Porridge. It is brilliant in every regard and leaves us with something to think on about the purpose of our lives and the nature of freedom.
Porridge: The Hustler (1974)
The Yolk's On You
This one is based on the prisoners indulging in a taboo. There's an episode of Fawlty Towers in which Basil gets a bet on a horse with the comedy resting in the secrecy of this from his wife, Cybil. John Cleese has said it is a fairly weak taboo, but it enabled him to set up the ever-increasing farce of the situation. The staff at Grace Brothers all fall for the secret obsession of gambling at work in one episode of Are You Being Served, too. Mr Humphries relaying the events of a horse race through CCTV using charades is one of the funniest scenes of that show.
But I digress .....
It works well here. Gambling is rife at Slade Prison and the inmates put up anything they can get their hands on as stakes (even steaks, if they can "knock 'em 'orf from the kitchen"!) and they are prepared to bet on the outcome of any random event - even which chicken at the farm will lay the first egg.
A range of new characters are inserted into the story, establishing more of the broad spread of people that will be encountered in prison life.
Best joke - it is wonderful to see 'Orrible Ives get his comeuppance a couple of times and the moment when Mackay pats him down to discover contraband eggs in his pockets is very funny.
As an early episode, it's still setting the scene for us to a degree. The layers of gambling on gambling on gambling are intricate and most amusing. It is very well written, and most enjoyable!
Porridge: New Faces, Old Hands (1974)
Any Point? None at all!
It's a while since I've watched the whole series through ..... do the episodes get any better? I've given a 9/10 here to give myself room, just in case they do.
You could probably get by without watching the pilot, Prisoner and Escort, as good as it is, but so much happens in this episode that it is pretty much essential viewing to get the gist of what is going on.
We meet Lennie Godber for the first time, played marvellously by Kate Beckinsale's father. We are also introduced to Heslop, whose interjections are golden gems of scriptwriting genius and immaculate timing. The other important character we see for the first time is the governor. "You've got to get to know your governor", Fletcher advises.
Best joke - a telling visual gag with a dinner tray that expands upon the interplay in the pilot between Fletcher, the prisoner, and Barraclough, the warden. Also worthy of mention is the brilliant early scene in which Mackay spells out the daily routine to the new inmates. The rapid-fire cross talk between Fletcher and Mackay, after the warden asks if there are any questions, is a great example of this old-time skill of English comedy.
We can already see why this show is just so, SO good!
7 of 1: Prisoner and Escort (1973)
A Strong Start
Three characters. A simple storyline. Ronnie Barker. No wonder this pilot was picked up and developed into a much-loved and brilliant show!
Best joke - the Rugby reference. Fletcher was getting under Mackay's skin from their first exchanges.
We are introduced to the characters so well in the first five minutes that we know all we need to for the story and interactions and power struggles to be enjoyed through the rest of the episode and the series.
Fletcher's futile escape scene is a masterful example of advancing a narrative without a single word being said. He achieves at least some little wins in this episide and these little wins sustain him through adversity and give him hope as the series progresses.
Recommended!