Tonight at 19:40 BBC2 will show the episode A. Wilson (Manager?). This episode was originally screened on 4th December 1970 as part of the fourth series of Dad’s Army.
As Dad’s Army progressed through its third series and into the fourth it is fairly apparent that Jimmy Perry and David Croft had run through the range of storylines that had inspired the series in the first place and that formed the basis for the episodes of the first two series. Quite simply there was a limit to how many more struggles to get the platoon equipped and trained, how many more brushes with the higher powers they could come up with while keeping it fresh. At this stage many sitcoms start to fail, introducing ever more far-fetched situations and outlandish characters to keep them going (Last of the Summer Wine suffered in this way from about 1980 onwards).
However, Perry and Croft had two things, apart from their talent, in their favour: they had created a large and diverse cast of characters and then brought it to life with actors of real depth, experience and talent. Instead of looking outside of the platoon for cheap laughs they went deeper into the characters they had created.
Nowhere is this exploration of character deeper or more touching than this episode. Here we see the civilian lives of Mainwaring and Wilson laid bare – ambition, disappointment, frustration, blame and revenge all in one 30 minute episode.
Synopsis
Mainwaring is having a trying morning: in a matter of minutes he is telephoned by Mr West of Head Office to tell him that Wilson has been promoted to manager of a neighbouring branch. Moments later the Colonel calls to say that Wilson has won a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in Cpt. Square’s Eastgate platoon. He is even more vexed to discover that Pike had known about it for a while. Furious he calls in Jones, promotes him to Sergeant on the spot; he dictates an order announcing the promotion and instructs Pike to circulate it to all platoon members. Unfortunately Pike gets hold on the wrong end of the stick and by that evening’s parade everyone but Pike has been
This is not a typical Dad’s Army episode as it ignores the ensemble and concentrates largely on the Captain and Sergeant. Nevertheless, like Branded before it and Mum’s Army still to come this is one of the episodes that gives us the insights into the characters we have come to know and love. One to watch, more than once!