Thicker Than Water Episode Review
Brief: It’s Christmas Day at Nelson Mandela House, and Del and Rodneys’ dad, Reg is back, 18 years after walking out, suffering from a hereditary blood disorder – ‘Some people get wise men bearing gifts We a get a wally with a disease!
Transmitted: 25.12.1983
Duration: 30 minutes
Viewing Figures: 10.8 million
Reg Trotter, absentee father to Del and Rodney, unexpectedly arrives to celebrate Christmas with his boys.
Reg explains that he has been living in Newcastle, and after a visit from the infirmary, was diagnosed with hereditary blood disorder. Scared for their well-being, he decided to tell his two sons.
However, several tests later, Reg is given the all clear but it seems Del Boy and Rodders have different blood types. It would seem the wayward father has some explaining to do.
Reg explains that he frequently argued with their mother before they split. She had several dalliances with other men, and Del is the mystery child. Fortunately a visit to the family quack gives him news to put the smile back on his face.
Episode Observations
- In Thicker than Water, when del and rodders get the letter about there blood group del says it is negative. but when del is in the pub and the camera shows the letter it says positive.
- In Thicker than Water, when Del is talking to Rodney, look at Del as he picks up a drink, it touches his lips but you can see him pretend to swallow.
- In Thicker than Water, Del says to his dad when you left and shut that door back in 1965 you closed it for good.But in the programme a loosing streak Del tells Rodney at the bar dad left home on his 16th Birthday while there mum was still alive! If she died in 1963 how was this possible.
Thicker Than Water Script
The script will be downloadable from here
Did You Know?
This episode hints at a fact that only comes out exactly 20 years later to the day, Del and Rodney may not have the same father. See Sleepless in Peckham and The Frogs Legacy for clarifacation,
What was the missing line?
what a film do Grandad and Rodney watch the beginning of the episode? does anybody know?
I think we are going to have to accept the fact, that the line has been removed forever.
there is no way a piece of dialogue (which had been removed due to somebody’s death) would be restored back into the episode.
even if – a new boxset was released, with all missing scenes intact – I still think that line would be missing – that wouldn’t be added back (in my opinion).
The episode is on itunes with the missing dialog
I do find cutting that line a bit extreme.
Lennard Pearce was a professional, he would have wanted the show to go on – he wouldn’t have wanted the great OFAH fans robbed of that piece of dialogue being cut.
I mean it’s not like Del said : ‘I wish grandad dead’ all he said was: ‘if grandad was dead or alive’
In my opinion series 3 is perfection. In fact series 3,4 and ‘To Hull and Back’ is where the chemistry of the actors, Jason, Lyndhurst, Pearce and Merrifield, was at it’s best. The humour was before it’s time the acting top draw and the story lines so clever and detailed they are still to this day mind blowing.
Couldnt agree more with series 3 being perfection, most people say 6 is the best, but for me series 3 is by far the greatest. Although i wasnt as keen on series 4 if im honest, still great because its OFAH, but dont enjoy it as much as the others for some reason.
My favourite series too, agree with you both. They really nailed it acting wise, the camaraderie of the lads, Del’s drive and buzz for life, he’s really sharp at this point and clearly in charge of looking after the family. The fact the episodes were only 30 minutes left you wanting more.
was that the italian boy?
30 years old today, my favourite Christmas episode.
Yeh was a great episode Reg was particularly funny its also the last episode with Grandad.Merry Christmas!!!
i know its a long shot but i was wondering if you find the cut to this episode with the missing line
Somebody had the clip on youtube a few months ago – however I’m not sure if the person who had uploaded it, had taken it down – but you can always check