MovieChat Forums > One Foot in the Grave (1990) Discussion > The ending of this show was awful

The ending of this show was awful

posted 8 years ago by burun100
5 replies | jump to latest

Just watched the whole series back again for the first time since I was a boy. It holds up brilliantly. Its easily one of the best written series of all time but sadly I have to say the ending was dreadful.

To start with I think it went too far in killing him. There were a few times where One Foot in the Grave I think went too far in terms of being dark.

I don't mind dark comedy but I think it has to either be cartoonish like the Young Ones, Bottom, Black Books, Blackadder 2 and 3 or it has to have a point like the ending of Blackadder Goes Forth.

One Foot in the Grave a few times, not most of the time, but a few times it seemed was just miserable for the sake of it. Its darker qualities helped it seem wild at times like Hearts of Darkness that was great, but in others like when that blind old man was murdered it crossed the line to the point where it wasn't funny. Sadly I think this was a case of that. It was just sad and bleak for the sake of it and possibly made Margaret a murderer!

Also it sucked as a goodbye to the show. That was the the last time we were going to see that world and we didn't get to see all the people we love like Mrs Warboys, Patrick and Pippa and their nice but mad Neighbour. Why they hell would they not be there for Margaret during her darkest time? Its not like they all liked Victor more anyway? Hell if anything Margaret's relationship with Patrick and Pippa would be much better if Victor wasn't around.

Terrible, terrible ending. I think it should have been like black books that had no ending. Just a good last episode. I think Black Books and the Young Ones had the best endings to any Brit coms IMO.

[–] lilactime2014 8 years ago

There was a point to it though.

It was the *END*, no quibbling, no take-backs. No disappointing sequels or re-boots. Don't forget, with hindsight admittedly, David Renwick has form here. Look at the awful mess that Jonathan Creek has become. Series 01 to 04 were up there....really UP THERE... as one of the best TV programmes the BBC has been associated with. It's legacy is being massacred.

As OFITG was so brilliant it is tempting to want more but Renwick took a decision to kill Victor off so that he could never be tempted to bring him back. That would have been a massive mistake. As you say it holds up brilliantly, it is beautifully dark, a similarity to the best Creek episodes is the perfect use of "Darkness" to counterpoint the humour.

It's sad that Victor died but he died for all of the right reasons. Imagine the pressure there would be for Christmas specials and a few one-offs and then a new series. However much we might hope it could only ever spoil the magic that is One Foot in the Grave. Get out at the top... Victor certainly did that.

'tler

[–] burun100 8 years ago

I can understand that but really Renwick should have just had more self control. Rik Mayall didn't do any more Young Ones, Rowan Atkinson didn't do any more Blackadder series after Goes Forth (apart from one film), John Cleese famously didn't do any more Fawlty Towers, and also its not always bad to come back for more.

Look at Alan Partridge he has come back again and again and been hilarious each time. Imagine if Steve Coogan had killed him off what we would have missed out on.

Really I think it was just a weak way to end Victors story. I am just glad they didn't have Mrs Warboys kill Victor. God imagine how awful that would have been.

[–] cris-07026 8 years ago

It's easy to say 'Have more self control' but when the temptation is their it must be hard, They even made the comic relief special after killing Victor (Even though they made that work)

Killing him off was the only way to make it final, And Victor had to die as life was never ever going to give him a break

[–] avia2 8 years ago

This is my favourite show by far, but the ending was appropriate (or at least... the death was the least bad thing in that episode).

It's "One Foot in the Grave" for a reason, and we always knew at some point the other foot would go in.

It was a comical 10-year saga of life between retirement and death.

[–] BondFan90 8 years ago

Things Aren't Simple Anymore is my least favourite episode, because of how sad it is. The montage at the end at least brings a smile to my face.

James?
I think it may be time to go home
take me round the world one more time
Why not!