One Foot in the Grave (TV Series) Things Aren't Simple Any More (2000) User Reviews

I can't look at Hannah Gordon in the same way.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 4 November 2019]

I don't watch this one regularly, because even now I find it utterly heart breaking even now. Victor is perhaps my favourite TV character of all time, and he got a dramatic end, one the character deserved. It's a dark comedy, but even for One foot in the Grave, this episode is dark. Annette Crosbie gives, arguably a show's best performance, she is exceptional. Gordon also is very, very good.

Of course it has a few good jokes, the videos scene makes me laugh, I remember many times trying to get the cellophane off those things.

The question is, did she do it? She loved her moaning grouch of a husband, of course she did.

Many thanks to all concerned for making me laugh for many years. RIP Victor. 10/10

The End Of The Line

[stevenm-07117 · 9/10 · 28 December 2019]

Finishing a beloved series of any kind is never easy and One Foot in the Grave isn't immune from that. Before continuing any further, while I don't like giving away spoilers in my reviews, I need to establish one thing immediately: Victor dies. Clearly doesn't think of this as any kind of secret, it's written very plainly in their own mini overview of the episode. What I won't reveal is HOW that happens.

I will touch on overall reaction to it and the episode in general. Inevitably public opinion was and to this day remains very much divided. Personally, I think it's a slightly ironic but fitting ending that suits the tone of Victor Meldrew and the series in general, with audiences left to make up their own mind over Margaret's decisions (I'll go no further there) towards the end of the episode.

I feel that the episode's format of moving between the present and the past works well, while the closing montage is a lovely touch on two levels: One Foot ends on a relatively jolly note after an inevitable somberness at many points, whilst we finally get to see some of the more ridiculous things that Victor would often moan about after he got home later.

This show went out on top, David Renwick did absolutely the right thing in ending the series in a way that meant he couldn't be pestered into bringing back, inevitably diluting a masterwork of not only his career, but also televised situation comedy. As Richard Wilson said at the time: "Goodbye, Victor."

Fantastic end to an almighty series.

[plumbelliott · 10/10 · 20 February 2016]

Watch from the beginning and I believe you will understand why this episode was the only way to end the show.

We hear that the context surrounding the show was also a decider with David Renwick and Richard Wilson both wanting to finish One Foot in the Grave.

A tragic but dark ending to an absolutely wonderful series that I can watch over and over again.

Annette Crosbie was absolutely fantastic in this. If you haven't seen this episode, grab some tissues and settle down for the final episode of One Foot in the Grave!

What did Margaret put in the orange juice?

[ShadeGrenade · 10/10 · 11 October 2006]

After six excellent seasons, 'One Foot In The Grave' finally bowed out in 2000. David Renwick could have kept it running, but wisely quit while he was ahead.

It opens with Margaret, now a widow, speaking into a phone made to look like a big slipper, a piece of tat Victor brought home one day from the junk shop. Court action is threatened after an incident in which Victor threw a hypodermic syringe at the bare bottom of a boy racer. She points out that her husband has been dead five months. He was run over outside a pub whilst returning from an army reunion in which no-one but him turned up. An artist ( Jonathan Cecil ) arrives to collect payment for a portrait in oils of her and Victor. She refuses to pay as Victor looks more like the actor Alistair Sim. The story of Victor's death is told in flashback. Right the way through we see the aftermaths of various incidents, such as Victor being caught in a fake snow storm outside his house during the filming of a Christmas commercial. It is only at the end do we get to see these incidents in all their glory, accompanied by an upbeat number - 'Its Alright!' - from 'The Travelling Wilburys'.

The hit and run driver turns out to be Glynis ( Hannah Gordon ), one of Margaret's close friends. It is implied that Margaret takes revenge by putting too much paracetamol in the woman's orange juice.

Paul Merton makes a cameo as the moustached 'barman'. It would have been easy for Renwick to have closed the show with Victor's death, and the end credits rolling in silence. But even with a story as tragic as this, he finds humour. It really is British comedy at its best.

Such was the impact of 'Grave' that the spot where Victor died was strewn with floral tributes and messages of sympathy within hours of the episode's transmission. Not bad for a fictional comedy character. How mean-spirited then of I.T.V. to spoil the finale by deliberately trailing in advance Judith 'Egghead' Keppel's win on 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire', ensuring a ratings advantage. No matter; 'One Foot In The Grave' will be remembered long after Chris Tarrant's shabby greed fest is forgotten.

Funniest moment - Victor coming home to find strangers worshipping a tapestry of the Virgin Mary in his lounge. Margaret's advert in the local newspaper described it as having two small tears ( meaning damage ), but this got mistaken by religious fanatics for 'tears' ( as in crying ), hence the transformation of the Meldrew home into another Lourdes.

I think she did it

[wendy-406 · 10/10 · 16 July 2008]

This was a truly wonderful exit for Victor Meldrew and in my opinion Margaret DID put something in the orange juice. Why do I feel this is so...? Because all through the series Margaret found Victor's constant 'vigilante acts' in retaliation towards his fellow mans inhumanity a constant distraction. Then, in the final episode, she speaks about how she had finally realised that Victor's quest to 'do something' was his way of coping with life. 'Nobody does anything about anything'...is what she tells the priest. I feel that Margaret decided, in this final episode, that this was something worth 'doing something' about; the way she regards Glynis when she realises her new friend is the reason she is a widow. The way she climbs into her car and takes a deep breath - a tremendous burden has been lifted from her shoulders. She seems relaxed for the first time in the episode. She carried out her promise to herself; otherwise Glynis would have accompanied her out to the car wouldn't she...? This show was always a great highlight in my week and I miss it tremendously. But I do agree, it would have been nice to have seen Mrs Warboys or Mr Swainey in the last show. However Margaret being comforted by sympathetic well wishers would have changed the storyline - Margaret would only draw comfort from one thing. I think Margarets revenge serves that purpose well enough.