Ep 3. A Losing Streak

Albert, Rodney, and Del Boy are all getting ready to go and watch the big boxing match headlined by Randolph 'Tex' Cobb, however, their plans are put on hold when the main TV breaks down. In an attempt to fix it, they visit Mike the barman who has previously fixed their TV set, but to their dismay, Mike’s abilities have rusted over the past year. Instead, Mike agrees to rent out his own TV set for the evening, but demands that they also take his wife’s auntie’s pet turtle along with them on their trip much to Del Boy’s dismay.

Meanwhile, Boycie is eager to win back his money from Del Boy that he had lost during a poker game with him. Del Boy, however, is not willing to pay and instead offers him a bet to double or quits on the horses. Having lost five races in a row, Boycie eagerly puts up his £200 winnings in hopes of doubling it, but Del Boy’s luck comes back around and he wins the bet despite Rodney’s suspicions.

Back at home, Grandad offers up his own TV set with an old aerial which he believes to be of good quality. However, Del Boy and Rodney are quick to put it down and question Grandad’s ability to properly tune it. Grandad takes offense to this and challenges them to a challenge involving the two aforementioned activities. Eventually, they agree to the challenge, and Grandad quickly begins to outdo Rodney at tuning the TV set. Del Boy, however, is skeptical and insists that he tests it for himself, eventually breaking the TV set in frustration.

After much scavenging for metal, the trio finally arrives at the venue just in time for the main event: a fight between Randolph Cobb and Joey Carbona. However, their plans are once again foiled when they realize that Mike’s TV set cannot get a clear signal. Despite their attempts to fix it, the TV reception remains poor, and they are unable to watch the match. Disappointed, they return back to their flat, unaware that their broken TV set had received a free upgrade to a newer model from the local council.

A losing streak might not have seemed like the most exciting episode of Only Fools and Horses, but it certainly had its moments. The bets laid out between Del and Boycie, the three-way tussle over various TVs, and the comedic moments involving the pet turtle all add to the charm and humor of the episode. The disappointment of the broken TV and the realization that a free upgrade had been missed by the characters in their absence caps off a fantastic episode of the legendary sitcom.