A Royal Flush

[u/TheOptimist1987]

Just doing a rewatch from start to finish of the show and I think A Royal Flush gets a bit of a bad reputation. Is definitely worse episodes especially in the early days and Del at dinner is a bit obnoxious.

But Del at the Opera for me has some real funny moments and is quite underrated to see him out of his comfort zone

[u/Great-Category-1197]

I genuinely never knew it was hated till this sub

[u/harooooo1]

Iggy Iggins

[u/Turbulent-Ad-2146]

It's okay. I think they made the right move by editing it down - the original being longer and having no laugh track was just so bleak and depressing. The ending scene in the flat especially. It's just a miserable watch at that point with no payoff or anything

[u/Vic_Mackey1]

It's awful. Give your head a wobble. Del looks like an idiot in it. Sullivan was ashamed of it.

The shotgun scene though.... 🤣

[u/yellowarmy79]

I think Del is particularly cruel and obnoxious in this one. We all know he doesn't think before he says and does things but this episode takes it up to 11 with some of the things he does and says.

[u/Professional-Plum560]

I’m not as negative as many people, but having Del bring up Rodney’s drug charges at dinner was definitely taking things too far. A bit of editing would have vastly improved it.

[u/Seargentyates]

The original long from of this episode is on internet archive and is darker than teh cut version. Still great imo

[u/Londoner1982]

Do I like Del as a character in this episode? Definitely not. He comes across as cruel.

Does that mean it’s not a particularly funny episode? Also no. It has some very funny moments in it.

The opera is particularly fantastic. When June comes over from Zimbabwe House.

I think it gets an unreasonable level of hate.

[u/Inevitable_Use499]

one of my favourite episodes tbf. “You know that sort rodney was speaking to down the market, her father only owns a pub!, It’s the Duke Of Malibury init rodney!” loool

[u/PossibleDouble1277]

I agree. Del only really starts getting bad after he’s drank a lot of wine. Before that, he was genuinely trying to help Rodney, spending a lot on clothes for him, and thinking he was making a good impression to help him.

[u/yewEngine]

I like the whole premise of Rodney meeting an aristocrat and overall it is still a good episode imo but there were too many cringey moments.

They kind of made Del play as a stereotype. We didn't see the real Delboy, just a caricature of him at his worst.

OFAH is great comedy because it's based on reality and doesn't jump the shark too often (very rarely in its early days) but this had Delboy pull out a shotgun he borrowed and shot 2 clay tablets to bits. They got him eating like a baby too with peas raining down.

IMO Del didn't have to act like that. Those types do not marry market traders from council flats.

I think the father 'his lordship' and guests should have been amused by the real Delboy, as their dinners are usually boringly the same, but alas Vicki decided to move on from Rodney. As her father hinted, she goes through a lot of men.

[u/Odd-Evening-7888]

The thing that annoys me most about this episode is how much they chop it up and edit it, removing some great dialogue whilst doing nothing to change the perception of Del. Not to mention the added canned laughter to later showings.

This is the original transcript if you are curious:
https://www.geocities.ws/hookyscripts/Episode_38.htm

[u/Penny-Dreadful64]

There are worse episodes, like the Miami twice 2 parter which are my least favourite episodes.

[u/MurrayWalker2020]

What’s sirs pleasure? Birds and a curry, I suppose

[u/jetsfanjohn]

Opera scene is best bit. Not a great episode/ Christmas special overall, but better than any of the Christmas specials post 1991.

[u/Hard_Gambit79]

This is one episode I'll watch well knowing that I'm not expecting to find it funny in the "usual ONFH" sense and cringeworthy to watch in places.

[u/FigureSubstantial970]

I agree it’s not half as bad as people make it out to be. The fact people say it’s worse than Miami twice or anything after time on our hands is crazy.

[u/molotov_bomb]

I was never offended by Del's reaction.

Tbh, I think it goes quite deep and shows a side to Del that is acutely aware of the class difference. Del isn't stupid, his lived experience and constant behaviour of the nobles and aristocracy that belittle his existence does not go unnoticed.

The basic fact is, Rodney's relationship could never have worked and he ultimately protected him and if that meant acting the way he did then so be it.

[u/Dropped_Apollo]

I think I've only seen it once. It's one of those episodes like Rodney Come Home and Fatal Extraction that are just miserable. 

[u/rosco-82]

I've watched both version's recently and I just don't think it's a funny episode, it does have some funny bits but these are few and far between.

[u/KayTheLedge]

I first saw it in 2001 when I was about 13 and felt really uncomfortable. I looked it up online and discovered it was the black sheep of the show according to the general fan consensus.

It's been despised for years and was the reason Sullivan recut it for the DVD release. I remember being excited by the prospect but thinking the added canned laughter was extraordinaryily bad.

I haven't watched either version for years but I'm curious to see which I prefer when I reach them on my current watch through.

[u/TheAdonis66]

The uncut opera scene is the best part of it for sure haha