Fawlty Towers

Admittedly, John Cleese was trying a little too hard at times (and I say that as a big fan of his) and some scenes were forcefully funny, but the result was simply excellent. Fawlty Towers and Blackadder are, along with Red Dwarf and IT Crowd, my favorite British sitcoms, and Basil Fawlty comes second in the competition for the worst hotel owner. First place, of course, goes to Norman Bates. (08/13/2017)

The first season of Fawlty Towers introduced me to Basil Fawlty, a slimy small-town guy for whom an encounter with hotel guests is an excruciating ordeal. Unless they are aristocrats or particularly important individuals, then Basil turns into a butt-kisser who tries to ingratiate himself at any cost. Anytime Basil gets too confident, he is consistently put down by his wife Sibyl, he is undermined by being misunderstood by Manuel, who, though he speaks no English, makes up for it by being from Barcelona, and he is ignored by Polly, an amateur artist who, when in need, does not hesitate to turn to the person who has the final say in the hotel. Especially in the early episodes, I felt as if John Cleese was slightly overacting to always be in the spotlight, but things eventually evened out, all the characters were given space, and especially Andrew Sachs as Manuel was excellent. (08/12/2017)

I was introduced to the perfectly obnoxious Basil Fawlty, a man who decided to run a hotel despite considering hotel guests (right after his wife) one of life's greatest evils — unless they happen to be aristocrats. In that case, he transforms from a rude boor to a despicable sycophant. John Cleese nails both extremes effortlessly, though sometimes it felt like he was overacting a bit. Among the other characters, Manuel stood out the most. Despite the language barrier, his unending enthusiasm saved the day. (08/12/2017)

I enjoyed the second episode even more than the first. Basil's relentless attempts to cut costs, no matter the consequences, were both fascinating and hilarious. Manuel was his predictably incompetent self, utterly unable to handle anything, let alone a crisis. Meanwhile, Basil stood up to his wife’s orders — until she raised her eyebrow, that is. (08/12/2017)

The third episode had me in stitches, especially with Manuel’s hungover attempt at waiting tables and his final collapse. Basil’s desperate efforts to maintain the hotel’s moral decency — and later his own — were absolutely hilarious. I had a great time watching, and Sybil’s laughter was just the cherry on top. (08/12/2017)

Not bad, but the main plot felt a bit overdone. It was pretty clear from the start where the story was heading, leaving no room for surprises. I expected something a bit more unpredictable from John Cleese. (08/12/2017)

The fifth episode had me hooked from the start with the hilarious lesson for Manuel. Later, while waiting for the duck, Polly and Manuel's antics with the guests were priceless. Olé! Watching Basil's growing desperation was highly entertaining, culminating in the near-archaeological search for the main course. (08/12/2017)

I loved Basil's talent for mumbling just loud enough to defy his wife while never admitting any fault — why would he when he had so many others to blame? His "skills" peaked during the fire drill, with Manuel desperately trying to tell him there was a fuego in the kitchen. Basil's attempt to cheer up the Germans was almost deadly hilarious, and his march brought to mind the Ministry of Silly Walks. (08/12/2017)

Despite a four-year hiatus, the second season picked up where the first one left off. The guests were so annoying this time that I actually sympathized with Basil despite all his faults. I especially enjoyed it when things got so critical that he even stood up to Sibyl without thinking of the consequences. (08/13/2017)

The start of the second season wasn't bad, but it wasn't amazing either. Mrs. Richards is exactly why I could never run a hotel — next to me, Basil Fawlty would seem like a compassionate saint. I've always admired service staff who endure endless complaints from difficult guests without reaching for a knife or blunt object. (08/13/2017)

The episode had me laughing out loud. Basil’s crusade for decency hilariously backfires, making him look like a complete pervert. His wall and window inspections were hilarious, as was Sybil’s flirting with Mr. Johnson. (08/13/2017)

The episode showcases a direct clash between two cultures divided by the Atlantic. I was entertained by the list of deficiencies in the hotel dining room and the guests' utter inability to stand up for themselves. The highlight, however, was Basil's final emotional outburst, with the situation on the front changing every moment. (08/13/2017)

The more I get to know Basil’s guests, the more I sympathize with him. Polly’s revenge for the sneaky bite in the dining room was absolutely satisfying. Aside from the main plot, I loved the doctor’s relentless quest to finally enjoy his breakfast sausages and Manuel being completely exhausted, both mentally and physically. (08/13/2017)

This episode clearly showed that even the best intentions can land you in huge trouble — unless you're Basil Fawlty, who can turn a simple issue into a complex mess but still find a way out. At times, I even found myself feeling a bit sorry for the guy. (08/13/2017)

Manuel and his prized Siberian hamster face prejudice, misunderstanding, gunfire, poison, and intolerance. Since I don’t frequent restaurants anymore, I thoroughly enjoyed the chaos surrounding the preparation of the perfect veal cut. It was fascinating to see the journey a piece of meat sometimes has to take before finally landing on the plate. (08/13/2017)