The final episode of series 4, Fallen Idol is a very popular episode due mainly to a fantastic drunk act by Arthur Lowe. However, I found the episode to be a bit mixed. It explores some interesting ideas, chiefly Mainwaring's susceptibility to peer pressure from officers when he'd much rather be spending time with his own platoon. The awkwardness Lowe depicts amongst the boorish, snobby officers tells the whole story, betraying the fact that Mainwaring's own snobbery is a learned flaw and his reverential attitude to the top brass goes against his instincts. The highlight of the episode is Mainwaring's attempts to take part in a juvenile drinking game which leaves him completely sloshed the night before a training course on explosives. The most famous moment is his staggering return to the platoon's tent, in which he gets tangled in a tent pole and complains "Damn revolving doors." Sadly, the potential for scenes of a hungover Mainwaring training with live ammunition are not really capitalised upon, kept to a minimum of wincing reaction shots before he apparently redeems himself with a heroic act. I found this conclusion unconvincing, with the episode petering out in a cartoon slapstick moment that acknowledges its own ridiculousness with an iris out as Mainwaring races into the distance pursued by a dog carrying a grenade. It doesn't really resolve the question of the divisions between the platoon and feels anticlimactic. Still, with Lowe's performance being the major plus, it's a decent enough ending to a great fourth series.
2 Reviews
Side Splitting end to Series 4.
Sleepin_Dragon23 April 2018
If comedy is your thing, then Fallen Idol is literally the gift that keeps on giving, it's one of those episodes that has you clutching your stomach with laughter pains, Dad's Army here is in its prime, and I think it's fair to say that Arthur Lowe is at his very best, he was a superb actor, but here his charisma and enormous personality stand out. What I loved about this episode was the focus on Captain Mainwaring's character, desperate to climb in terms of his official standing, his ego desperate to push himself away from his platoon, but not comfortable with the Officer's either, you get a true sense of a character out of place socially. Too many hilarious moments, so I'll just add words, Colonel Puff puff, Dog, Grenade, Drunk, need I say more.
I've watched this a few times since recently discovering, and have belly laughed each time, fantastic! 10/10
I've watched this a few times since recently discovering, and have belly laughed each time, fantastic! 10/10
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