MovieChat Forums > Rumpole of the Bailey (1980) Discussion > Worst Rumpole episode ever?

Worst Rumpole episode ever?

posted 17 years ago by Wika_Wika_WickeD
15 replies | jump to latest

"Rumpole at Sea"- Rumpole acts childishly trying to avoid Courtroom nemises Judge Gerald "Graveyard" Graves whilst going on a second honeymoon with 'she who must be obeyed.'
Rather than the usual entertaining fare of courtroom battle its more like a boring 'murder mystery.' The screenplay is shaky at best- it seems to have (the late) Robin Bailey- undoubtely a fine "act-tor"- as a second rate imitation of Judge Roger "The Mad Bull" Bullingham.
All in all not a worthy episode in an otherwise delightful series?

Please feel free to agree/ disagree

[–] Wayner50 17 years ago

You're probably right that this is the worst episode in the series since it doesn't feature any of Rumpole's usual elements, especially his courtroom histrionics. But' I'll still prefer to watch anything Rumpole compared to most of the drivel that qualifies(?) as a mystery or suspence show these days.

[–] doug65oh 17 years ago

I'll second that sentiment!

[–] Wika_Wika_WickeD 17 years ago

Although I did chuckle in that episode where he talks to an American writer who states something on the lines of:
"So you regularly cross swords with this judge then?"--->(Gerald Graves)
Rumpole: "Oh nothing as gentlemanly as swords... more like chemical weapons"

And when Graves was holding court at the dining table:
Rumpole: "Silence in court!"

And a little while later:
Rumpole: "Never had so much fun since the Luton Axe Killings!"
Graves: "What was that?"
Rumpole: "Absolutely thrilling My Lord!!"

Hehe! Classic!
I hope ITV 3 continue playing the episodes as recently they've stopped... I think they've replaced it with Kavangh QC... though while good... I don't enjoy as much as Rumpole :-(

[–] BerlinDancer 17 years ago

I am a great Rumpole fan but I think the series went on a little too far. The final series made in 1992 was very tongue-in-cheek and most of the episodes (including Rumpole at Sea) were a little disappointing.

[–] intriguement 17 years ago

How about Rumpole and the Children of the Devil? This episode is completely unbelievable and features characters acting unrealistically. First of all, it opens with an absurd scene of a social worker coming to a house in the middle of the night, waking up a sleeping eight-year-old, and taking her away from her parents without even telling the parents what they've done wrong. The parents do not find out their alleged crime until their daughter has been "in care" for several days - and then the crime turns out to be "devil worship"! In his introduction to this episode, John Mortimer explains that this bizarre scenario is based on a real situation he encountered, but I still find it hard to believe that the events portrayed in the episode could happen in a free society. This scenario reminds me more of a sensational crime show (like Law and Order: SVU) than realistic, sophisticated Rumpole.

However, what makes this episode really awful, in my opinion, is that Ms. Liz agrees to prosecute in the case. Radical Lawyer Liz would NEVER side with anyone who wanted to take a child away from downtrodden working-class parents!! In fact, in the previous episode, she cites taking a child away from poor parents as the epitome of a despicable right-wing case. Plus, in this episode, Liz criticizes Rumpole for "siding with the devil," but it's totally out of character for her to see the devil as a symbol of evil. She's much more likely to see him as a radical rebel like herself!

Does anyone agree with me on this one?

[–] mkell_226 17 years ago

Re: Miz Liz's behavior, strangely enough it didn't strike me as incongruent. What it seemed to me was the inevitable change of the character, much like we saw with Portia. She started out young and radical and full of fire and zeal, but as time went on started to become something she was not. In this case, she got overexited in the rush to defend the children (one might say the ultimate underdogs,) and completely forgot herself and what Rumpole'd taught her over the years.

Likewise, Portia used to be rather warm and friendly, then turned into the cold, supercilious fish that she is now. It seems to me that those who are keen to advance are changed by the Game (or System, if you wish,) whereas Rumpole, because of his disdain for such things, remains true to his ideals and himself, and thus remains a junior barrister after so many years in practice.

...or am I talking through my hat here?

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] MurderFaceMesa 17 years ago

I think Children of the Devil is worse than Rumpole at Sea. And My Lords and Lady's if I might plea stupdiity, what is IIRC.

Satan
http://www.myspace.com/murderfacemesa

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] senua 8 years ago

I think he must have been talking about the satanic ritual abuse scandal that happened in the uk in the 80s/90s. Kids were genuinely taken into care because social workers said they were abusing them in satanic ceremonies. It turned out none of the abuse was devil worship in all cases and that there was no abuse at all in some. Children were taken in dawn raids with the police literally tipping them from the arms of their parents. It was utterly disgusting. One of the ring leaders in social services was Judith Dawson. Google her for a flavour of the wild and ridiculous accusations that were made against the parents. If you saw Midwinter of the Spirit on ITV recently that should give you the sort of idea of what the parents were meant to be doing. Only the social workers also claimed there was a vast network of ordinary people involved using secret tunnels and secret rooms and murdering babies left, right and centre. The actual cases were pretty crazy and unbelievable.

[–] marktayloruk (2375) 2 years ago

Difference between a social worker and a rottweiler- you can get your kids back from a rottweiler.

[–] churchr-1 16 years ago

I don't know that I'd call it a bad episode, but Rumpole and the Honourable Member was really hard to sit through. Not so much bad, but really uncomfortable and I'm still not sure that Rumpole was in character.

[–] goflorida10 14 years ago

I liked "Rumpole at Sea" mostly because it provided a change of scenery from Foxbury Mansions and Number 3 Equity Court. I also enjoyed the extra element of mystery with Billy Dee and Butter Cup. Rumpole also bested Judge Graves at the end and that equaled a legal victory.

My least liked episode would be the one involving Rumpole defending a rapist.

[–] edolle-1 14 years ago

"Rumpole and the Family Pride" is my pick for the worst. It seems to me like it is a story stretched out to fill an hour time slot. This is the only episode I usually skip.

"Rumpole and the Old, Old Story" is a close second but only because I think that Marion Mathie was still feeling her way through the role of Hilda. She becomes much better as the series rolls on.

I have to disagree about "Rumpole at Sea". I thought it was a charming episode that really shows Ms. Mathie's comfortably as Hilda. Also, to see Rumpole with a judge outside of the courtroom is funny, especially when they both try their hardest to avoid each other!

[–] dolemite72 (150) 6 years ago

'Rumpole And The Golden Thread' is my least favourite (because it's both too slow and unbelievable a premise)

'Rumpole And The Show Folk' is a great episode, but the climax is a real downer, when Horrace realises that he's just successfully defended a murderer