Only Fools and Horses by the Numbers: Vol. II

A few years ago HERE I rated every episode of Only Fools and Horses. Today, after years of re-watching many, many times, I’ve updated these ratings. Some have gone up, some down, some stayed the same. And as I hadn’t gotten to see most of the Christmas specials back then, I have no previous data on them. They’ll be a separate post. Enjoy!

(Previous rating in parentheses)

SEASON ONE


Big Brother 10 (10)
Go West Young Man 7 (10)
Cash and Curry 4 (4)
The Second Time Around 10 (9)
A Slow Bus to Chingford 8 (7)
The Russians are Coming 7 (6)

SEASON TWO

The Long Legs of the Law 5 (6)
Ashes to Ashes 8 (8)
A Losing Streak 8 (8)
No Greater Love 7 (8)
It Never Rains 6 (7)
A Touch of Glass 10 (10)

SEASON THREE

Homesick 9 (9)
Healthy Competition 10 (10)
Friday the 14th 10 (10)
Yesterday Never Comes 6 (8)
May the Force Be with You 8 (8)
Wanted 5 (6)
Who’s a Pretty Boy? 9 (7)

SEASON FOUR

Happy Returns 10 (10)
Strained Relations 10 (10)
A Hole in One 8 (6)
It’s Only Rock and Roll 5 (6)
Sleeping Dogs Lie 9 (10)
Watching the Girls Go By 6 (6)
As One Door Closes 6 (6)

SEASON FIVE

From Prussia with Love 10 (10)
The Miracle of Peckham 7 (9)
The Longest Night 8 (9)
Tea for Three 9 (9)
Video Nasty 10 (10)
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? 7 (6)

SEASON SIX

Yuppy Love 10 (10)
Danger UXD 10 (10)
Chain Gang 10 (7)
The Unlucky Winner Is… 7 (7)
Sickness and Wealth 7 (9)
Little Problems 10 (9)

SEASON SEVEN

The Sky’s the Limit 6 (7)
The Chance of a Lunchtime 8 (7)
Stage Fright 8 (7)
The Class of ’62 10 (7)
He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Uncle 10 (9)
Three Men, a Woman and a Baby 8 (10)

NEW SEASONAL RANKING

Season 6: 9.00
Season 5: 8.50
Season 7: 8.33
Season 3: 8.14
Season 4: 7.71
Season 1: 7.50
Season 2: 7.33

PREVIOUS RANKING

Season 5: 8.83
Season 6: 8.67
Season 3: 8.26
Season 7: 8.00
Season 4: 7.71
Season 2: 7.71
Season 1: 7.67

BIGGEST JUMPS

Chain Gang (3) - After I really knew the characters, it became a thrill when most of them were all in the same scenes. Chain Gang and Class of ’62 are the two best examples of this.
A Hole in One (2)  - mostly due to a hilarious opening scene, then at the end revealing Albert had done what he did to try and help buy a tombstone for Grandad.
The Class of ’62 (2) - see above
Who’s a Pretty Boy - if only for Denzil & Mike being introduced in this one episode.

BIGGEST DROPS

Go West Young Man (3)
Yesterday Never Comes (2)
The Miracle of Peckham (2)
Sickness and Wealth (2)
Three Men, a Woman and a Baby (2)

EPISODES THAT MADE THE LEAP TO A 10

The Second Time Around - just an all-round hilarious episode, plus the first time showing some pathos re: Del Boy wondering if he’ll ever find the love of his life.
Chain Gang - see under Biggest Jumps.
Little Problems - classic, classic ending scene of Del watching Rodney get married, knowing thing’s could never again be the same with them.
He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Uncle - a so-so episode pulled through in the end by Uncle Albert’s stunning speech about his neighbors during WWII.

EPISODES THAT DROPPED OUT OF 10 STATUS

Go West Young Man (7)
Sleeping Dogs Lie (9)
Three Men, a Woman and a Baby (8)