Bomb (The Young Ones)


"Bomb" is the fourth episode of British sitcom The Young Ones. It was written by Ben Elton, Rik Mayall and Lise Mayer, and directed by Paul Jackson. It was first aired on BBC2 on 30 November 1982.

Plot

The episode opens with footage of a flying bomber dropping a payload, revealed to be a huge red atom bomb that lands into the quartet's house unexploded. Neil fails to notice the real reason for an enormous hole in the ceiling when he gets out of bed to do the breakfast, assuming that one of his flatmates had put it there somehow. Eventually Vyvyan points out that the atom bomb is perched against the refrigerator. The initial panic is diverted by the arrival of a sadistic television licence officer who wants blood, but soon the quartet returns to the emergency at hand.
Mike tries negotiating with Libya in an attempt to make a profit out of the bomb while Rick uses the bomb with attempts to make threats to the British Government. Neil, ever the pragmatist, sets out his personal survival plan and Vyvyan tries to quicken up the detonation procedure. The final tick of the clock prior to 'explosion' proves to be a little disappointing, with the bomb hatching like an egg and a small aeroplane emerging out of the bomb, flying out of the room and circling outside the house.

Characters

As with all episodes of The Young Ones, the main four characters were student flatmates Mike ; Vyvyan ; Rick and Neil. Alexei Sayle starred as Reggie Balowski, a wisecracking used car dealer and son of the students' landlord Jerzei. Roger Sloman appeared as the television license officer named "Right Bleedin' Bastard".

Reception

The episode features a performance from Dexys Midnight Runners performing a cover of Van Morrison's "Jackie Wilson Said ".
A cut-away sketch 'Dicky and Dino' parodies The Rat Pack, primarily their family-friendly image as depicted in television specials.