Fawlty Towers - Review

"Don't mention the war!" – A review of Fawlty Towers. 

Released in 1975 and spanning only 2 series and 12 episodes, Fawlty Towers still proves popular to this day – but how has it endured? I'm very hit or miss with classic comedy, but I must admit that this is one I particularly enjoy.

The series is set in a fictional seaside hotel in Torquay and follows the misadventures of Basil Fawlty (John Cleese) and his wife Sybil (Prunella Scales). Basil is inept, constantly annoyed and desperate to uphold some semblance of respectability, but he has to contend with a seemingly endless supply of strange guests, ridiculous misunderstandings and his own short temper, all of which get him into hilarious situations. Sybil is a formidable, no-nonsense woman, and together the pair create a hilarious environment where normality and order is forever out of reach.

John Cleese is wonderful as Basil Fawlty. He's manic, sneaky, incredibly rude, and to be quite frank, an absolute snob, but his unwillingness to let go and accept defeat makes this pompous anti-hero a hilarious one to watch. Sybil is the perfect match for him; she's never quite likeable but she is efficient, a real authority figure and her humour is deadpan, which I absolutely love. I love the dynamic between these two.

There were only ever twelve episodes of Fawlty Towers, which is a shame in some ways and a godsend in others. I would have loved to have seen the series continue, but honestly it was nice to see it bow out on a high note.

Overall, Fawlty Towers is one of my favourite ever classic comedy series to come out of the UK. I wouldn't call it bingeable; it's the kind of show that I'm happy to take my time rewatching, something familiar that will always make me laugh, and if you've never seen it, I would highly recommend it.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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