Only Fools and Horses (TV Series) Sleeping Dogs Lie (1985) User Reviews

C'mon, Boy! C'mon!!

[Lunerar · 8/10 · 17 June 2020]

First appearance of Marlene in an ever-growing cast of characters.

My partner hasn't seen many OFAH episodes and isn't really a fan but she's been watching some of them with me as I binge through them on Covid lock-down. She did smile a few times at this one.

Best moments: Del's prank on Rodney when he gets into the van; Del trying to talk 'asphetical' in the vet's waiting room; and the reveal at the end.

Up there with The Yellow Peril, A Losing Streak and May the Force be with You as highlights from the early seasons.

Reasonably good episode with some memorable moments

[snoozejonc · 7/10 · 11 October 2023]

Del agrees to look after Marlene's dog when she and Boycie are on holiday.

The plot consists of a Del Boy money-making scheme that goes awry in a typically boisterous fun way. There is plenty of good humour associated with their dog sitting assignment that draws a smile from me, but I did not experience any major belly laughs. I think it finishes very well with a pretty funny reveal and the associated banter.

All the Trotter characters are used well by the writers and the main stars are on great form as always. Boycie and Marlene have a decent cameo too. Del's flirtations with Marlene have an edge that is both funny and cringeworthy (from Boycie's perspective).

For me it's a 6.5/10 and I round upwards.

Well remembered, with a few entertaining moments.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 23 March 2024]

Del and Rodney look after Boycie and Marlene's puppy, Duke, and easy fee quid in the picket, until they discover that Duke is a Great Dane.

It's a solid episode, with a couple of funny moments, maybe not a classic, but it's certainly one that's well remembered. It's well remembered for being the episode that features Dune the dog, but it should be better known for being the arrival of Marlene, played to perfection by the wonderful Sue Holderness.

'Del, shall I get his balls?' there are some very funny lines throughout this one, best of all is that moment where the brothers encounter Duke for the first time.

It's enough to put you off pork for life, that immortal line, I haven't got a GCE in pork!

7/10.

Sleeping Dogs Lie

[studioAT · 4/10 · 6 April 2023]

This is an episode I remember liking the first time I saw it.

It gives us a performance by Buster Merryfield that feels more like the Uncle Albert we'd see throughout the rest of his time on the sitcom, and it's nice to see Marlene for the first time too.

However it's a bit of a ploddy episode and seems to go on forever. There are a fair few slow moments and pointless scenes, which feel very unlike writer John Sullivan, whose scripts are normally fine-tuned and honed. We know that this fourth series was written under the hardest of circumstances, so perhaps that offers some explanation.

Overall, a fair but unspectacular affair.