Fun Friday The Green Green Grass

 

WARNING SPOILERS

The Green Green Grass,

The Green Green Grass is a spin off and written by the writers of ‘Only Fools and Horses’. The first episode is a good strong solid start to the series, and in-keeping with the ‘Only Fools and Horses’ nature of it. So the Boyce family have arrived at ‘Winterdown Farm’, Boycie (John Challis) Marlene (Sue Holderness) and their son Tyler (Jack Doolan).

The second episode and the Boyce family are settling in. it turns out ‘Winterdown Farm’ is a farm with staff. We first met the very definite ‘Farm Manager’ Elgin Sparrowhawk (David Ross) ‘Farm Manager’ in the first episode and now there is the ‘Herdsman/Stockman’ Bryan (Ivan Kaye) and the ‘Ploughman’ Jed (Peter Heppelthwaite). Boycie after being charmed and realising there is an advantage to be had, running the farm agrees to run their new place as a farm, and so the comic staff meeting begins. Last of all we meet the, what can only be described loosely as ‘The housekeeper’ Mrs Cakeworthy (Ella Kenion), my favourite character due to her talents and her gift, who has also been there years. It is now good to see Elgin does know a bit about farming, farmer Boyce is getting a bull, at a price in more ways than one though.

The next episode, it is funny to hear Marlene’s reaction to running a farm, and Marlene is going to be a ‘Farmers wife’. Which includes sadly cooking and buying Farmer Boyce a coat and the bull a dog toy. All this making for some very funny scenes. And now we meet the Boyce’s neighbour Llewellyn (Alan David), it seems the blackberries are not on Farmer Boyce’s land. It is good to see that the script includes the realism of a woman changing her mind. Now ‘Rocky’ the bull has gone missing and with four points on the compass and four people searching, it should be easy, should, to find and get ‘Rocky’ back. It isn’t, but it is amusing to watch, although not fun for Farmer Boyce.

The next episode it is fun to see Farmer Boyce is still getting to grips with farming. A really amusing part, which is cleverly all in the context of the situation, who knew there are ‘Mucky’ magazines out there for bulls? I didn’t, which is what makes the scene so brilliant. There is a great idea for a new boat race mentioned in this episode, call it ‘The Spanish Armada’. Now thank goodness for electronic communication, when you are on the run and a family to consider. There is another clever and really funny scene, only to get funnier still when you find out who Elgin is on the phone to. The Boyce family has grown, as they now have a herd of cows, just a few and more than the six Marlene wanted. Gay rights have now hit the Boyce family, but all is not lost, Farmer Boyce can now get revenge on Llewellyn.

The next episode, the continuity seems to be out from the last episode, Rocky the bull is still gay, and this still makes for some amusing scenes. It doesn’t take much to set Bryan of on one of his rants. The similarity between E as in exam results and E numbers in a drink is brilliant. Also when people say ‘Don’t try this at home’ I can see why now and Marlene should have taken notice, much to Aubrey Boyce (Yes that is Farmer Boyce’s first name, he is mostly embarrassed by it so doesn’t use it until he chooses to) discomfort. When is a free ticket not a free ticket? When you have to pay rail fare and a hotel stay, but it is heart-warming to see Farmer Boyce ask Jed to do Marlene a favour. Tyler now likes his new school and this episode highlights that the teachers are getting younger. The recording Jed does for Marlene to listen to is so funny but for Marlene it is a marvellous outcome.

The next episode Marlene thinks a potion could be a quick fix, also there is nothing better than a routine ‘Turning right every Thursday’, is very well known by the locals. It is good to see that Tyler no longer has interest in his English teacher, so you could say ‘crisis adverted’, until farmer Boyce goes to visit Rhian (Karen Paullada) AKA said English teacher. Marlene’s quick fix potion, it turns out it is not for the male specious, that one is elsewhere, the two potions are not the same, this is amusing to find out. there is a part that is a bit clichéd a ‘Punch up at an anger management class’. Continuing on it is good to see there is still a connection between Boycie and Marlene.

The next episode, it seems greed has taken over ‘Winterdown Farm’, it also seems Brussels has moved to France, but that is the least of Farmer Boyce’s worries. I will not be taking advice from this episode, on how to get over a lack of sleep problem, shooting yourself is a bit extreme. A potion works better and faster, but there are side effects. It is lovely to see Elgin, Bryan and Jed had Farmer Boyce’s back and that is a big duck Llewellyn. Also that is strong glue as we see three months later. Shame Tyler’s guitar skills haven’t improved, after the thoughtfulness of Boycie buying him it. As a lead guitarist having one helps a bit.

The next episode, Farmer Boyce has his sights on being the new mayor and Simon (Ian Boner) has his sights on Mrs Boyce. However, sadly, in this episode Bryan seems to be suffering the most. Despite all the suffering it all still makes for another amusing episode.

The next episode, it looks like Farmer Boyce has a decision to make, but he has to make the right one otherwise he could be in for some worrying events. It is heart-warming to hear Marlene say what she does about Mrs Cakeworthy. In her male filled world, you can see why Marlene said it, and all is not lost.

The next episode, ‘Animal Rights’ and a skeleton are the big things in it. Marlene has decided to have a clear out and has re-invented herself. It also seems Farmer Boyce has a bird problem. It is amusing to watch when Marlene gets her books muddled up. Yes, what are those birds called the ‘Black ones?’ they might just be ‘Blackbirds’ this is amusing to watch. It is good but not quite what Marlene had in mind as a good cause but is a solution for keeping the crows from eating the newly planted seeds.

The next episode, the comedy starts right at the beginning, Jed and Bryan have been reading and Tyler and Beth (Lisa Diveney) get a letter from Mrs Cakeworthy via the postman. The comedy timing is perfect. With Tyler not wanting to go to France the result is another clever reference to ‘Only Fools and Horses’. We all know that in France they speak French, a different language to English. This sometimes creates a what is known as a ‘Language barrier’ this is highlighted in this episode as a boy’s name can cross over genders. This sparks chaos in the Boyce household and it is amusing to watch events unfold. However, the speech Marlene gave Tyler is an in-depth life lesson. And with again reference to ‘Only Fools and Horses’ Farmer Boyce finds out some disturbing information.

The next episode, Farmer Boyce, still getting to grips with farming is feeling generous. It is amusing to watch when he tries to teach his staff ‘Cockney rhyming slang’. It is clever how they set up Llewellyn trying to come up with some money. Farmer Boyce has now got 5000 problems to solve and a team of his staff to help solve them. This highlights that you should never trust a welsh enemy when making an apology. However, Tyler may not be good at welsh saying sorry, but he saves Farmer Boyce, but no one can save Llewellyn, sorry Gareth.

Thank you for reading

Sandra