Upton's newest patient is Victor Bligh, an elderly man with strange behavioural problems such as twitching uncontrollably, muttering gibberish, and blowing raspberries. Mike recommends him to a psychiatrist. Dick, now working at a psychiatric clinic, introduces Mike to Lionel Morris, who turns violent whenever anybody says the word 'nose'.
But Mike's encounter with Morris is nowhere near as bizarre as the one he has with eminent psychiatrist Sir Robert Joyce. Joyce thinks Upton is stark staring mad, no matter how much the young doctor protests to the contrary...
Mental illness may not strike one as being a suitable subject for comedy, but this has not stopped people attempting to mine the vein for laughs over the years. Twenty-nine years before Jim Carrey's 'Me, Myself & Irene' caused a furore over its comic depiction of a schizophrenic, this episode explored similar territory. When you have David Jason as the patient, however, you know that the caricature is never going to be particularly offensive. He had appeared in 'In The House' as 'Mr.Drobnic' in 'What Seems To Be The Trouble?'. This was his second contribution to 'At Large', the first being 'Congratulations!- Its A Toad!". With his thinning patch of white hair, moustache and dirty raincoat, Bligh resembles Jason's 'Captain Fantastic' character from 'Do Not Adjust Your Set'.
Freddie Jones is 'Sir Robert Joyce'. a wild-eyed, bow-tied psychiatrist considerably madder than his own patients. His office is a masterpiece of design; behind his desk is a disturbing mural of a foetus in a womb, the flowerpots contain microphones, and visitors are dazzled by flashing psychedelic lights. You half expect Steed and Mrs.Peel to appear. Hats off to Brian Bagge and Rodney Cammish.
The scene where Upton and Joyce talk at cross purposes drags a bit, and makes the episode somewhat hard-going. Jason's reappearance towards the end thankfully gets it back on track.
Graham Chapman later poked fun at psychiatry in the 'In Charge' episode 'Hello Sailor!".
Funniest moment - Mike's first meeting with Bligh.
But Mike's encounter with Morris is nowhere near as bizarre as the one he has with eminent psychiatrist Sir Robert Joyce. Joyce thinks Upton is stark staring mad, no matter how much the young doctor protests to the contrary...
Mental illness may not strike one as being a suitable subject for comedy, but this has not stopped people attempting to mine the vein for laughs over the years. Twenty-nine years before Jim Carrey's 'Me, Myself & Irene' caused a furore over its comic depiction of a schizophrenic, this episode explored similar territory. When you have David Jason as the patient, however, you know that the caricature is never going to be particularly offensive. He had appeared in 'In The House' as 'Mr.Drobnic' in 'What Seems To Be The Trouble?'. This was his second contribution to 'At Large', the first being 'Congratulations!- Its A Toad!". With his thinning patch of white hair, moustache and dirty raincoat, Bligh resembles Jason's 'Captain Fantastic' character from 'Do Not Adjust Your Set'.
Freddie Jones is 'Sir Robert Joyce'. a wild-eyed, bow-tied psychiatrist considerably madder than his own patients. His office is a masterpiece of design; behind his desk is a disturbing mural of a foetus in a womb, the flowerpots contain microphones, and visitors are dazzled by flashing psychedelic lights. You half expect Steed and Mrs.Peel to appear. Hats off to Brian Bagge and Rodney Cammish.
The scene where Upton and Joyce talk at cross purposes drags a bit, and makes the episode somewhat hard-going. Jason's reappearance towards the end thankfully gets it back on track.
Graham Chapman later poked fun at psychiatry in the 'In Charge' episode 'Hello Sailor!".
Funniest moment - Mike's first meeting with Bligh.
