Only Fools and Horses : Nasty side to Del in 'A Slow Bus to Chingford?'

Nasty side to Del in 'A Slow Bus to Chingford?'

I rewatched this episode for the first time in a while and I think it shows Del Boy in a pretty negative light. Del's always been a bit of a rascal, being known to stitch up his friends and his brother from time to time, but in this episode he seems sly and nasty. Rodney's and his bird, Janice, seem to be getting on well. Del gives Rodney a job working as a trainee NSO (aka night watchman) and as such he can't see Janice any more. So what does Del do? Moves straight on in on Janice, takes her out for steak meals and keeps her sweet, apparently for Rodney's sake. It's even slightly implied they had sex (Del commenting that she doesn't wear a bra).

Rodney, being the sap he is, doesn't realise what's happening. But I think this is pretty despicable of Del. I know Del Boy as a lovable rogue but here he seems like a spiteful snake.

Re: Nasty side to Del in 'A Slow Bus to Chingford?'

I agree. I know it's only suggested but it's a bit nasty. I don't even cross swords with my mates never mind my brother.

24/04/1916

Re: Nasty side to Del in 'A Slow Bus to Chingford?'

'cross swords' great way of putting it mate.

Re: Nasty side to Del in 'A Slow Bus to Chingford?'

Although I've seen most episodes of the series, this is one that seems to have passed me by. In terms of it showing a nasty to Del, one episode that gets brought up as being arguably the worst of the series in A Royal Flush which sees him as being uncharacteristically mean spirited. John Sullivan himself has stated if he had one thing he'd have changed if he had to do things over again was to have have never written it. Strange though that A Slow Bus to Chingford (to my knowledge) has never previously been mentioned on here.

Re: Nasty side to Del in 'A Slow Bus to Chingford?'

Ha ha it's not mine to be honest but I can't for the life of me remember where I heard it.

Hey! You're not old enough to drink! Now go and die for your country!!!

Re: Nasty side to Del in 'A Slow Bus to Chingford?'

It never really made me think too badly of Del as it didn't exactly show him intending to steal her. Because it was shown off screen and hinted at, I guess I saw it as Del just happening to out with Janice due to her now free time, and not done as a nasty prod to Rodders.

A Royal Flush would have to cement Del for me as a nasty and conniving little *beep* though, for lack of a better word. Everything was so off in that episode but Derek was just so over the scale of rogish scamp that it dropped right into making me angry. The corn on the crap cake had to be the ending which followed up a truly hurt and upset Rodney scene with Derek pushing it over the edge and crushing Rod's hand with his own as if he'd not done anything wrong. All the episode needed was Derek toned down and Victoria turning out to be just as snobby as her father.

Re: Nasty side to Del in 'A Slow Bus to Chingford?'

I never liked Del's treatment of Rodney in this one. He expects him to be a watchman at night and a bus driver during the day - and it's only when Rodney points out himself that he'll need to sleep at one point that it seems to occur to him. And even then, Del only tries to sweet talk his way out of it by saying he'll get a guard dog. It's not exactly spiteful, but Del does come across as especially unfeeling and unthinking in his pursuit of a bit of bunce.

Re: Nasty side to Del in 'A Slow Bus to Chingford?'

I think Del came out a right tosser throughout the whole show .As previously stated,he was always conning his brother and his mates,would treat his elderly relatives like *beep* as eating food they made themselves,makin them get up to answer the door).

He even tried to con his pregnant "significant other " out of cash when she sang with Tony Angelino!!! Even left her alone with his son while he effed off to a strip club.

And the less said about A Royal Flush the better....

However he did take a kicking so Rodders could get the flat deposit,again so Tommy MacKay wouldn't come after him and was always there for him when he needed it(miscarriage,old bill fines etc)...so he wasn't the worst character around ,maybe


Re: Nasty side to Del in 'A Slow Bus to Chingford?'

Del definitely had sex with Janice in that ep as remember Rodney says to Del about not getting her into trouble and Del says he hopes not. Meaning he hopes he didn't get her pregnant.


They think we're the demons now - Prue Halliwell ~ All Hell Breaks Loose ~ Charmed

Re: Nasty side to Del in 'A Slow Bus to Chingford?'

of course! never noticed that before.

Re: Nasty side to Del in 'A Slow Bus to Chingford?'

of course! never noticed that before.

Re: Nasty side to Del in 'A Slow Bus to Chingford?'

I think, from the way that Rodney deals with the situation, that he thinks that it's just business as usual.

Anyway, that episode has one of the greatest scenes ever, where Del wakes up Rodney at 9. After a while, Rodney wonders why it's still light outside. When Del tells him that it's because it's still morning, Rodney's reaction is fantastic: "I've only been in bed 20 minutes! My whole body's crying out for sleep!"
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