'Flood' is definitely one of the best episodes of 'The Young Ones'. It contains everything a Britcom should have; a cat-comedian, a flooded London, a plot to eat a hippie and a homicidal axe-wielding maniac. This episode, and indeed the entire two series of 'The Young Ones', is a cult classic, and delightfully quotable. Something the Americans can't quite get a hold of is the fact that violence is only funny when there's no blood. This is because it is the exact opposite of reality. In 'Flood', Rik can be seen ramming a pin into Vyvyan's head, before an enraged Vyvyan picks up the nearest axe and advances on a blubbering Rik with it. This is only before Neil enters, panicky and stating that Rik's bedroom is on fire! They then discover that their house is at the bottom of the sea; London's flooded! It is now that the students' already insane landlord hacks a hole in the door with an axe, having become a homicidal axe-wielding maniac! Oh well, in the words of Neil: "Out of the frying pan, into another frying pan..."
2 Reviews
The day that the rain came down!
Rabical-9120 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
A wonderful conclusion to the first series of 'The Young Ones'.
A rain downpour leaves the four overcome with boredom. Even a game of hide and seek does nothing to lift their spirits. However, the rainfall soon turns into a flood of gargantuan proportions ( 50 feet to be precise ). And so, survival tactics are on the cards, especially to evade Mr. Balowski, who has turned into an axe-wielding maniac after drinking a special potion made by Vyvyan ( which is concealed in a Coca Cola can )...
Spoofs are plain for all to see here- firstly Vyvyan's hamster meets 'Jaws' ( ''can I have your autograph?, I've seen all your films!'' he says ), then there is a 'Chronicles Of Narnia' send-up in which Vyvyan has an altercation with an evil snow queen. Even Alexei Sayle indulges in a hilarious spoof of Stephen King's 'The Shining' ( ''Here's Jerzei!'' he says as he smashes through a door armed with a hatchet ). Also in-keeping with the 'stranded' theme is Neil pondering the possibility of starvation - ''wouldn't it be terrible if we had to each other, like in that film 'We Ended Up Having To Eat Each Other'!''.
There was no musical performance in this episode but a lion tamer made an appearance, performing to 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' by Tight Fit.
Funniest bit - Rick sending Vyvyan downstairs to phone the police. Vyvyan darts downstairs, rips the phone from the wall and then returns upstairs with it. It is only when he tries to make a call that he realises that it is no longer usable.
A rain downpour leaves the four overcome with boredom. Even a game of hide and seek does nothing to lift their spirits. However, the rainfall soon turns into a flood of gargantuan proportions ( 50 feet to be precise ). And so, survival tactics are on the cards, especially to evade Mr. Balowski, who has turned into an axe-wielding maniac after drinking a special potion made by Vyvyan ( which is concealed in a Coca Cola can )...
Spoofs are plain for all to see here- firstly Vyvyan's hamster meets 'Jaws' ( ''can I have your autograph?, I've seen all your films!'' he says ), then there is a 'Chronicles Of Narnia' send-up in which Vyvyan has an altercation with an evil snow queen. Even Alexei Sayle indulges in a hilarious spoof of Stephen King's 'The Shining' ( ''Here's Jerzei!'' he says as he smashes through a door armed with a hatchet ). Also in-keeping with the 'stranded' theme is Neil pondering the possibility of starvation - ''wouldn't it be terrible if we had to each other, like in that film 'We Ended Up Having To Eat Each Other'!''.
There was no musical performance in this episode but a lion tamer made an appearance, performing to 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' by Tight Fit.
Funniest bit - Rick sending Vyvyan downstairs to phone the police. Vyvyan darts downstairs, rips the phone from the wall and then returns upstairs with it. It is only when he tries to make a call that he realises that it is no longer usable.
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