What’s the lesson in all of this, apart from the obvious advice to never buy a “bargain” camcorder from a bloke in a pub? It’s that the best stories don’t end when the characters get what they want. They end when we understand why they wanted it in the first place. Del Boy didn’t want a mansion; he wanted to be respected. He didn’t want a watch; he wanted a future for his family.
Only Fools and Horses to be revived for one-off Sport Relief sketch
And let’s be honest, doesn’t that hit a little too close to home? We all have our own “get rich quick” fantasies, our own delusions of grandeur in a three-wheeled van. Maybe your “priceless watch” is that promotion, that house, or even just finishing a project. The finale whispers that the real success isn’t the thing itself; it’s the people who’ll still sit on a car bonnet with you when you’re dead broke.
So here’s to the Trotters. Here’s to thecushty catchphrases, the falling-through-the-bar moments, and the chandelier that still makes me wince. The last ever episode wasn’t an ending; it was a victory lap for a family we all wished we were part of. Even if our own family never quite had a “Dave” in the front room.
And if you ever find yourself relating a little too hard to a man who sells “broken” microwaves from the back of a hatchback? Well, don’t worry. You’re in good company. Lovely jubbly.
