Mum's Monday: Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em - Series 1 to 3

Series 1 to 3

WARNING: SPOILERS FOR THE WHOLE SERIES

The first episode, The Job Interview, it is a shame but inevitable that Frank Spencer (Michael Crawford) only has to smile to cause chaos. He can also cause chaos just by talking at an interview and there is not much left of the lift or the product or the staff come to that. Swapping between scenes of Frank and Betty (Michele Dotrice) discussing the interview and the staff and interviewer is perfectly done showing two very different prospective.

The episode, George’s House, at the start you just know gadgets and Frank are not going to mix. This episode could be seen as a little predictable. It is good, if that is the right word, to see Frank see/find his slippers. The ending of this episode is funny, but I knew and could see it coming, but it still contained some well executed surprises though.

In the episode, Love Thy Neighbour, it was funny to hear Frank think Dracula was the Prime Minister. Now we see him at the neighbours and you have to question ‘How on earth did that happen to the type writer?’ also I am glad to see the doctor eventually arrive at the right address. Betty actually manages to describe Frank very well in this episode and the whole episode is described by another character, referring to a well-known board game.

In the episode, Have a Break, Take a Husband, how hard is it to catch a train? Answer, very in Franks case. When packing for a holiday or for a small break, or even a second honeymoon, one of the things that doesn’t normally gets packed into the suit case is a lino knife. The trouble is some of the blame could be placed on the hotel maintenance.

In the episode, The Hospital Visit, first of all the title filled me with dread, one Frank is on his own at home, well he hasn’t been alone exactly and two who in their right mind lets Frank into a hospital? The inevitable chaos follows.

In the episode, The Psychiatrist, I can see why they made this episode. This proves that ‘one way fits all’ doesn’t always work. It is nice to see a flashback into how Frank and Betty met. When the psychiatrist is left needing therapy, you could say ‘Frank doesn’t do things by half’. Some people go through all their lives not knowing what they truly are, but Frank knows exactly what he is.

In the episode, The Employment Exchange, learning to drive sometimes is not normally funny, but now we have Frank learning. Mr Bradshaw (George A. Cooper) cannot fathom a person being unemployable, so forget the challenge of finding Frank a job, it is a challenge to convince Mr. Bradshaw about Frank. Let the fun begin and ensue, Mr. Bradshaw is at last convinced.

In the episode, Cliff hanger, during the interview scenes the script is well written, there are double meanings and miss understandings and it is all interweaved to make a great outcome for Betty’s day out. Betty lets Frank drive away from the picnic site, but we see Frank, a car and a cliff edge don’t mix, well they do to make some great ‘Edge of your seat’ scenes. Add a dog, some fertilizer and a coach load of lads and it all ends well Frank thinks.

In the episode, The RAF Reunion, this episode shows that if determination was the only qualification needed to get into the RAF then Frank could have gone far. He takes the reunion very seriously and in a flashback we see what really happened in his RAF days.

In the episode, The Public Relations Course, it looks like Frank is off back to school. However, where you would think there would be chaos concerning Frank there wasn’t it was in an entirely different situation at first. Once in the class we might actually learn something from the lesson, but maybe not what we were meant to.

In the episode, Frank and Marvin, there is some wonderful news in the Spencer household and what a lovely reaction from Frank with him asking ‘What do I need to do?’ At the holiday camp however, I sense Frank is out of his depth, but he is, as always ‘Keen’.

In the episode, Fathers’ Clinic, the episode starts off with Frank in a photographic dark room the scene doesn’t end well. Following the good news in the previous episode Frank whilst holding a garden gate in the kitchen is discussing parenting classes for fathers with Betty and the children she looks after. I have noticed through-out the episodes so far especially this one, where Frank can mean something so innocent, but what he actually says comes out meaning totally the opposite. Also there is nothing wrong in Frank wanting his beret back, however, a monkey has it. The stunts are getting bigger, that wouldn’t normally be the first thing you would think of about roller skating, but Frank ends up in a baby’s cot after a bus journey and an encounter with a lorry.

The episode, The Baby Arrives, we see an overzealous Frank at the hospital again. He means well and true to form he is throwing himself into being there for Betty. When they say ‘try the patience of a saint’ you could say Franks tries the patience of a priest. It is nice to see Betty has been helped by Frank and that he has done his best. It is heart-warming that Frank realises his mum would have been a grandmother. It is also a good thing Frank knows where the kitchen is. It’s a girl! The beret is lovely to see on her.

The episode, Moving House, this can be stressful at the best of times, but with Frank in charge as predicted things don’t exactly go to plan, with a few surprises thrown in. I am not sure if it is safe or would be allowed for Frank to travel in the back of the removal van, but it is certainly safer than where he left, on second thoughts maybe not. And we meet Mr Lewis (Glynn Edwards), I sense we will see a lot of him in future episodes. It is heart-warming to see Frank as a father to Jessica (Jessica Forte). Also now Frank has well and truly met the neighbours Mr and Mrs Lewis (Jean Boht). Also there is now a new addition to the spencer household.

In the episode, Wendy House, super glue and Frank don’t mix, well they do if you want to end up in hospital. I can see why Frank would want to go and find a doctor but the other two, I would have thought they would have talked him out of it. I am sure there are better ways of getting a wendy house home, and not via the hospital again.

In the episode, Scottish Dancing, I don’t think Frank likes baby food. I also felt sorry for Frank, he was so enthusiastic about the Scottish dancing. However, as Frank is the main character with the help of a train and a lost brief case, Frank got his way in the end. Good job done I’d say, well watch til the very very very! end.

In the episode, Men as Women, who in their right mind has let Frank anywhere near a demolition site? This makes for ‘Edge of you seat’ scenes. Two amusing lines in this episode follow on from frank receiving a letter from his grandfather wanting Frank and his family to go to Australia and help out on the sheep farm he has out there, one where Frank and Betty are talking about the Australian Flying Doctors and Frank says that he would be a ‘flying shepherd’ and the second where he says that he is the last of the Spencer’s he says ‘I’m his heir sole’ he means sole heir but it comes out as ruder and funnier. As the title suggests there are men dressed as women causing great confusion for Frank and Betty, and true to form Frank gets himself involved. Unfortunately, this time calling the family doctor will do no good at all and Grandpa Spencer arrives from Australia and promptly makes a miss identification. This is amusing to watch.

In the episode, King of the Road, we see Frank on a scooter, we also see someone else dressed like him resulting in chaos. There is an amusing line where frank says ‘You can’t have a messenger with nothing to mess on’ it is clever how they used the part of the word that works well to from a comedy script. It is surprising where you can end up when your throttle is stuck and who knew a construction worker could run so fast? Thank goodness there was some carefully placed boats across the river, but sadly not a carefully placed tent. It does get a bit ridicules though however, great stunts are acted out. Frank is now in court so the scene is set for some comedy, and we are not let down.

In the last episode, Australia house, the interview goes Franks way in a manner of speaking, also a few minutes is all it takes to do something to a boiler. Now it looks like Frank and Betty are going to go to Australia, but is Australia ready for Frank, someone should warn the whole of OZ.         

   

All throughout the scripts are well written and the comic timing is brilliant. Betty is ever the optimist; she sees the best in Frank, you can see she really does love Frank, despite everything that has gone on. However, I have noticed not everything is Franks fault. It is amazing how the writers came up with so many different ideas where Frank could cause chaos. In one of the episodes we even get a possible insight into how Frank may get on in Australia, yes, he miss-places all the sheep!