Only Fools and Horses: Sleepless in Peckham definitely finishes the series off well. It ties up the major loose ends left by the series and brings together a feeling of warmth. Despite the fact that the actors such as David Jason and Nick Lyndhurst got a bit old, the show never lost its comedy touch (albeit I cant say they live up to the older episodes). It's nice that Rodney and Cassandra finally have the baby they always wanted, and the legend of Freddie the Frog was finally concluded. Overall, it's a happy ending :D Definitely a must see for any OFAH fan. From young, curious Granville all the way to ex-millionaire Del Boy Trotter. Lovely Jubbly!
9 Reviews
A very worthy send off for the Trotters
movieguy969 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Some may disagree, but I consider 'Sleepless in Peckham' a much more satisfying finale than 'Time on Our Hands', which was rewarding in many ways but very bittersweet, especially after Del makes the heartbreaking confession to Rodney in the empty flat that it was the thrill of the chase he found more exciting and life affirming than actually becoming a millionaire, followed by his grudging acceptance that Trotters Independent Traders is no more. The final scene where he's thinking aloud about investing in the global stock market and his playful bickering with Rodney hints at some optimism for the future, but the melancholic music that accompanies it, as well as the knowledge they'll lose Nelson Mandela House (in effect just as an important character of the show as the Trotters) left a real sour note.
If 'Time on Our Hands' left a sour note then 'If They Could See Us Now' left a downright bad taste. After losing the fortune they'd so rightly earned, the Trotters seemed to be at each other's throats with their so-called mates gloating at their misery. It was all very deflating and tragic to see, especially after their futile attempt at trying to recoup some of their losses on a game show.
Fortunately the last two episodes remedy a lot of these issues, and by and large showcase the very best of 'Only Fools...', along with a few unexpected moments of understated poignancy that are more emotionally gratifying than 'Time on Our Hands'. 'Strangers on the Shore' is a wonderful delight, with Del regaining a bit of that glint in his eye and getting the upper hand on Boycie, some warm moments of comedy with Denzil and Trigger, some very funny twists and turns, and a fitting tribute to Uncle Albert. Even though 'If They Could See Us Now' is dedicated to Buster Merryfield this episode feels like a much more apt send off.
'Sleepless in Peckham' is not a perfect episode but...it'll do. In fact, it'll more than do. It felt like a 'best of' compilation more than an episode with a cohesive structure, but that's not a criticism whatsoever. The overriding threat of the Trotters being evicted after their failure to pay the Inland Revenue is ever-present but not given more focus than it needs, and the episode allows time for the usual shenanigans with each of the beloved side characters getting their time to shine. The manner in which the Trotters get bailed out goes a long way at undoing the damage done in 'If They Could See Us Now', in a nicely plausible way that respects the pay off from 'Time on Our Hands'.
The final 15 minutes contains some big revelations and character development that if done in the wrong way could've weighed the episode down or just seem plain clumsy, but it's done so subtly and tenderly with the utmost respect to the characters that it works beautifully, and gives them all the proper happy ending they deserve. The last scenes felt more uplifting and hopeful than 'Time on Our Hands', and the Trotters never felt stronger as a family. It shows that they're richer for the little they have, and the bonds they share, rather than the millions they once had. I'm thankful that John Sullivan gifted us with this treasure and a proper send off!
If 'Time on Our Hands' left a sour note then 'If They Could See Us Now' left a downright bad taste. After losing the fortune they'd so rightly earned, the Trotters seemed to be at each other's throats with their so-called mates gloating at their misery. It was all very deflating and tragic to see, especially after their futile attempt at trying to recoup some of their losses on a game show.
Fortunately the last two episodes remedy a lot of these issues, and by and large showcase the very best of 'Only Fools...', along with a few unexpected moments of understated poignancy that are more emotionally gratifying than 'Time on Our Hands'. 'Strangers on the Shore' is a wonderful delight, with Del regaining a bit of that glint in his eye and getting the upper hand on Boycie, some warm moments of comedy with Denzil and Trigger, some very funny twists and turns, and a fitting tribute to Uncle Albert. Even though 'If They Could See Us Now' is dedicated to Buster Merryfield this episode feels like a much more apt send off.
'Sleepless in Peckham' is not a perfect episode but...it'll do. In fact, it'll more than do. It felt like a 'best of' compilation more than an episode with a cohesive structure, but that's not a criticism whatsoever. The overriding threat of the Trotters being evicted after their failure to pay the Inland Revenue is ever-present but not given more focus than it needs, and the episode allows time for the usual shenanigans with each of the beloved side characters getting their time to shine. The manner in which the Trotters get bailed out goes a long way at undoing the damage done in 'If They Could See Us Now', in a nicely plausible way that respects the pay off from 'Time on Our Hands'.
The final 15 minutes contains some big revelations and character development that if done in the wrong way could've weighed the episode down or just seem plain clumsy, but it's done so subtly and tenderly with the utmost respect to the characters that it works beautifully, and gives them all the proper happy ending they deserve. The last scenes felt more uplifting and hopeful than 'Time on Our Hands', and the Trotters never felt stronger as a family. It shows that they're richer for the little they have, and the bonds they share, rather than the millions they once had. I'm thankful that John Sullivan gifted us with this treasure and a proper send off!
"Boycie you've had a firm in"
ygwerin18 January 2024
Both Denzil and Marlene have mysteriously disappeared, is this a mere coincidence or something far more significant, and just why has Boycie been acting quite so secretively?
The Official Receiver has been threatening to evict, the Trotter clan from their flat in Nelson Mandela House, Del is desperate not to open the official letters, that have been bombarding him, for fear of upsetting the family equilibrium.
An old photo of the very first ever Jolly Boys Outing, in 1960 depicts the original Pecham Posse, and proves to be the proverbial blast from the past.
Cassandra and Rodney have finally something to celebrate, a truly blessed relief from their previous tragic experience, as they commence their own chapter, of the Trotter family saga, with their daughter Joan.
The Official Receiver has been threatening to evict, the Trotter clan from their flat in Nelson Mandela House, Del is desperate not to open the official letters, that have been bombarding him, for fear of upsetting the family equilibrium.
An old photo of the very first ever Jolly Boys Outing, in 1960 depicts the original Pecham Posse, and proves to be the proverbial blast from the past.
Cassandra and Rodney have finally something to celebrate, a truly blessed relief from their previous tragic experience, as they commence their own chapter, of the Trotter family saga, with their daughter Joan.
Good if you give it a chance
CecigiPeugeot17 April 2010
Warning: Spoilers
In the third and final chapter of the early 2000's Only Fools and Horses Christmas trilogy, "Sleepless in Peckham", the Trotter family are only a few weeks away from getting evicted from their flat, and they must find enough money to pay the Inland Revenue. Along the way, Del Boy and Rodney investigate the disappearance of Marlene, and Rodney finds out who his real father is, as well as preparing to become a father himself since Cassandra's pregnant.
OK, now we get down to business here. "Sleepless in Peckham" helped tie up a huge lorry-load of loose ends, such as Rodney finally discovering his true parentage, and having his own child to boot. I sincerely believe that the early 2000s trilogy was made for a good reason.
Anyone who's not a real OFAH fan just takes the lazy way out and says "Oh they should have left it at them as millionaires." But there's a real deep meaning in which the final scene with Del and Rodney at the graveyard has helped me see.
It's about the love of two brothers and their family, and it doesn't matter how much money they've got, as long as they're both healthy and happy. The last scene in the graveyard proved that, because the Trotters would easily give up £10 million to be a happy family and be all together.
The reason why Only Fools and Horses is the best comedy is because it's emotional. These are very true characters that make us laugh and cry. Bad comedies show no personality or love between the characters. This just goes to show you that John Sullivan, God rest his soul, preferred to write OFAH as a funny drama instead of a cheap sitcom.
OK, now we get down to business here. "Sleepless in Peckham" helped tie up a huge lorry-load of loose ends, such as Rodney finally discovering his true parentage, and having his own child to boot. I sincerely believe that the early 2000s trilogy was made for a good reason.
Anyone who's not a real OFAH fan just takes the lazy way out and says "Oh they should have left it at them as millionaires." But there's a real deep meaning in which the final scene with Del and Rodney at the graveyard has helped me see.
It's about the love of two brothers and their family, and it doesn't matter how much money they've got, as long as they're both healthy and happy. The last scene in the graveyard proved that, because the Trotters would easily give up £10 million to be a happy family and be all together.
The reason why Only Fools and Horses is the best comedy is because it's emotional. These are very true characters that make us laugh and cry. Bad comedies show no personality or love between the characters. This just goes to show you that John Sullivan, God rest his soul, preferred to write OFAH as a funny drama instead of a cheap sitcom.
An interesting second half which is clumsily tacked on to a sub-par episode
BrickNash3 November 2020
The final ever episode of Only Fools and Horses fails to live up to the perfect ending we got in 1996. It's a perfectly serviceable watch, but it lacks any of the fireworks and sense of finality that we had seen before, and it only serves to strengthen the fact that the show should not have been brought back.
In saying that, the second half of this episode is genuinely interesting, and we pick up on a story arc from years ago regarding Rodney and Freddy the Frog. If this section had been its own 20-30 minute standalone episode then it would have actually served as a really magnificent setup for the rather Good "Rock and Chips" prequel series that we got in 2010. However, it's clumsily tacked on to the end of some silly unconnected murder story which happens in the first half, and ultimately it feels smothered by being part of these bigger episodes.
I also felt that the Trotters ending up with just a few hundred grand each was a bit mean considering that they had millions before, and it would have been better to put them back in the millionaires' world which was referenced so much during the shows run.
Still, the end scene is genuinely emotional, and while it's not quite as good as the Trotters walking into the sunset, it did bring a tear to my eye.
However, i still believe that these three post-2000 specials were unnecessary.
In saying that, the second half of this episode is genuinely interesting, and we pick up on a story arc from years ago regarding Rodney and Freddy the Frog. If this section had been its own 20-30 minute standalone episode then it would have actually served as a really magnificent setup for the rather Good "Rock and Chips" prequel series that we got in 2010. However, it's clumsily tacked on to the end of some silly unconnected murder story which happens in the first half, and ultimately it feels smothered by being part of these bigger episodes.
I also felt that the Trotters ending up with just a few hundred grand each was a bit mean considering that they had millions before, and it would have been better to put them back in the millionaires' world which was referenced so much during the shows run.
Still, the end scene is genuinely emotional, and while it's not quite as good as the Trotters walking into the sunset, it did bring a tear to my eye.
However, i still believe that these three post-2000 specials were unnecessary.
Not bad but not great
davybyrne-0788724 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
A Fitting end but more drama than comedy here and a lot of explaining to do in it ..
Trying to finish it off like they should have 5 years ago , however it does have some great moments too
It's just all a bit silly they came back but they tie up lose ends and nice for Rodney to have the babog in end .
Crass and anticlimactic retread of old themes
phantom_tollbooth21 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I fell in love with Only Fools and Horses because of John Sullivan's brilliant writing, which often involved intricate plots, clever scams, surprise twists and brilliant characters and dialogue. The original final episode, Time on Our Hands, provided a satisfying, moving and thematically fitting ending. But, whether because of offers of money, a desire to see his old mates or a genuine feeling that he could improve on his original ending, Sullivan was persuaded to bring the series back for three Christmas specials across 2001, 2002 and 2003. The first of these was abysmal, the second, while not good, was a small improvement. But the third was set to become the new official ending to the series, something that was sealed by Sullivan's subsequent untimely death. So what was the plot to be of this momentous, historic episode? How about this: Del and Rodney think Denzil and Marlene, who have both disappeared, have been having an affair and that Boycie has killed his wife as a result. It turns out that Denzil had piles and Marlene was having a boob job. Sounds great, get it written!
OK, I'm being unfair. While this ludicrous plot is featured heavily, ultimately the focus shifts to the much more appropriately weighty issue of Rodney's parentage, with the reveal that he has a different father from Del setting up the emotional climax. But here's the problem: we already knew all this. Defenders of Sleepless in Peckham (clever pun on Seattle there) claim that Sullivan had to go back to tie up the loose ends left by previous special The Frog's Legacy, in which the story of Rodney's alleged Dad, the gentleman thief Freddie "The Frog" Robdal, was introduced. But the doubt about Rodney's parentage had been a running theme throughout the series, with his obvious physical differences from the other Trotters deliberately designed to imply something from the start, before it was directly addressed first in Thicker Than Water and then The Frog's Legacy. But those episodes implied without the need to confirm. We gain nothing by "solving" the mystery.
Although the gravitas of Sleepless in Peckham's final act befits a finale, the writing gets heavy-handedly sentimental and the jokes just stop altogether. Still, given the crass gags that precede it, this is something of a relief! The jokes include the piles and boob job nonsense, a scene that implies Trigger, now unbelievably stupid, doesn't understand how blinking works, and Rodney discussing his fears of being raped in prison. And having managed to come up with the perfect closing line for the entire series in Time on Our Hands, Sullivan bizarrely chooses to end Sleepless in Peckham with a bland bit of dialogue that isn't even really a joke and feels completely anticlimactic. So there you have it: an episode that ends the series by confirming what we already knew and doing it badly. An unfortunate ending to a classic series.
OK, I'm being unfair. While this ludicrous plot is featured heavily, ultimately the focus shifts to the much more appropriately weighty issue of Rodney's parentage, with the reveal that he has a different father from Del setting up the emotional climax. But here's the problem: we already knew all this. Defenders of Sleepless in Peckham (clever pun on Seattle there) claim that Sullivan had to go back to tie up the loose ends left by previous special The Frog's Legacy, in which the story of Rodney's alleged Dad, the gentleman thief Freddie "The Frog" Robdal, was introduced. But the doubt about Rodney's parentage had been a running theme throughout the series, with his obvious physical differences from the other Trotters deliberately designed to imply something from the start, before it was directly addressed first in Thicker Than Water and then The Frog's Legacy. But those episodes implied without the need to confirm. We gain nothing by "solving" the mystery.
Although the gravitas of Sleepless in Peckham's final act befits a finale, the writing gets heavy-handedly sentimental and the jokes just stop altogether. Still, given the crass gags that precede it, this is something of a relief! The jokes include the piles and boob job nonsense, a scene that implies Trigger, now unbelievably stupid, doesn't understand how blinking works, and Rodney discussing his fears of being raped in prison. And having managed to come up with the perfect closing line for the entire series in Time on Our Hands, Sullivan bizarrely chooses to end Sleepless in Peckham with a bland bit of dialogue that isn't even really a joke and feels completely anticlimactic. So there you have it: an episode that ends the series by confirming what we already knew and doing it badly. An unfortunate ending to a classic series.
Bonjour to Del and Rodney
studioAT29 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
And so ends the 01-03 'Only Fools' trilogy, and the series as a whole, due in part to the sad death of the writer, John Sullivan.
This is a hit and miss episode. I didn't like the 'Del and Rodney play at being film producers' storyline, because it wasn't that funny, and also Del has done this before, both in another 'Only Fools' episode and in 'Rock and Chips'. The Marlene and Denzil affair plot wasn't much better.
John Sullivan cleverly rounds up the show in terms of Del and Rodney's financial situation and also groundwork for what would become his 'Only Fool's prequel 'Rock and Chips' but apart from that I wasn't a huge fan of this episode upon broadcast or now.
The 01-03 trilogy will always divide 'Only Fools' fans. For me while there were some nice moments, it should have been left alone after the 1996 ending.
This is a hit and miss episode. I didn't like the 'Del and Rodney play at being film producers' storyline, because it wasn't that funny, and also Del has done this before, both in another 'Only Fools' episode and in 'Rock and Chips'. The Marlene and Denzil affair plot wasn't much better.
John Sullivan cleverly rounds up the show in terms of Del and Rodney's financial situation and also groundwork for what would become his 'Only Fool's prequel 'Rock and Chips' but apart from that I wasn't a huge fan of this episode upon broadcast or now.
The 01-03 trilogy will always divide 'Only Fools' fans. For me while there were some nice moments, it should have been left alone after the 1996 ending.
A silly way to end, in my opinion
jon_a3 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The whole episode revolves around Del's problem at trying to find a way of telling Rodney about his real father and Rodney worrying about telling Del. In the episode thicker than water, Del and Grandad had no such problem, they just came straight out and told him, whereas the one of the main areas is the difficulty at how to break the news.
To me, the last three episodes were very unnecessary, again in my opinion, it should have ended when they became millionaires, if you were going to carry on beyond the millionaire episode, it would have been fun to see what they spent their money on or different places they could have gone with their money, Del becoming a trader in another country or adventures in Brazil or other countries.
It was a good series which I enjoy watching again and again. In my opinion John Sullivan was a great writer but if I had to say a mistake I feel he made it was the introduction of Cassandra and Raquel. I feel that the comedy came from Grandad Del and Rodney/ Uncle Albert, in my opinion all Raquel and Cassandra did was make them family men with family responsibilities whereas the real comedy I feel came from them having no family commitments. When you look back on the adventures they had, if they had family commitments from the start, most of their adventures would never have been possible, for example, the episode where they go to Spain with Grandad, they would have taken Cassandra and Raquel and Damien with them.
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