Although
this late episode is only mildly funny, it’s still worth watching as a good
example of Esmonde & Larbey's storytelling skills.
Corporal Marsh is still enjoying his status as a modest military hero, believed to have carried his dying colleague through snowy wastes for two days. The episode starts with his telling the tale once again, this time to an adoring audience in a Church Hall. This heroic tale is undercut by flashbacks of his cowardice in action - with the snowy wilderness rather hopefully realised through a lot of polystyrene snow being thrown at Tony Selby in a little corner of the Teddington studio.
The four young airmen are in the audience for this event, which is hosted by Lilley's Vicar father. Despairing at watching Marsh take everyone in, the milksop character of Lilly reasons that if you can't beat them join them, vowing to now follow Marsh's example. Sitcom audiences always appreciate an 'out of character' story, and derive some pleasure through watching this wet character indulge himself with drinking, leering and attempting some PG certificate swearing.
The end of the episode is particularly interesting. Lilley's colleagues get fed up with Lilley as a bully and braggart, and send for his vicar father to come over and see him right again. Lilley comes into possession of an incriminating diary from the dead man in the snow, offering ample evidence of Marsh's lies and cowardice. The episode ends with Marsh pleading Lilley for a copy of the diary, and the Reverend Lilley handing it back to Marsh. The priest's reasoning is that, instead of shopping him, the best course of action is to leave the matter to Marsh's guilty conscience. Its a curiously unprescriptive and ambiguous ending which makes the viewer consider the morality of actions, and a moment that lends the preceding merriment considerable depth and thoughtfulness.
Corporal Marsh is still enjoying his status as a modest military hero, believed to have carried his dying colleague through snowy wastes for two days. The episode starts with his telling the tale once again, this time to an adoring audience in a Church Hall. This heroic tale is undercut by flashbacks of his cowardice in action - with the snowy wilderness rather hopefully realised through a lot of polystyrene snow being thrown at Tony Selby in a little corner of the Teddington studio.
The four young airmen are in the audience for this event, which is hosted by Lilley's Vicar father. Despairing at watching Marsh take everyone in, the milksop character of Lilly reasons that if you can't beat them join them, vowing to now follow Marsh's example. Sitcom audiences always appreciate an 'out of character' story, and derive some pleasure through watching this wet character indulge himself with drinking, leering and attempting some PG certificate swearing.
The end of the episode is particularly interesting. Lilley's colleagues get fed up with Lilley as a bully and braggart, and send for his vicar father to come over and see him right again. Lilley comes into possession of an incriminating diary from the dead man in the snow, offering ample evidence of Marsh's lies and cowardice. The episode ends with Marsh pleading Lilley for a copy of the diary, and the Reverend Lilley handing it back to Marsh. The priest's reasoning is that, instead of shopping him, the best course of action is to leave the matter to Marsh's guilty conscience. Its a curiously unprescriptive and ambiguous ending which makes the viewer consider the morality of actions, and a moment that lends the preceding merriment considerable depth and thoughtfulness.
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