The Loneliness of the Long Distance Walker is one of the lost episodes of Dad's Army but I'm so enjoying watching the series chronologically and seeing how it develops that I was loath to just completely miss this one out of the process. Fortunately, there are other ways to at least experience an approximation of what this episode might've been like. A radio version with the original cast exists, as does a 2019 remake featuring a new cast including Kevin McNally as Mainwaring, Robert Bathurst as Wilson and Kevin Eldon as Jones. Since neither of these versions are the original, I can't comment on performance or direction, but I can focus on the David Croft/Jimmy Perry script which is very good indeed.
It's a real shame that this is one of the lost episodes, since it was a rarity for Walker to be the main focus and this story puts a nice twist on that confident character by placing him in a vulnerable position, having received his call-up papers. Usually deploying wisecracks from the sidelines, here it is Walker who is put through the physical and emotional ringer. There's a nice tribunal scene in which Mainwaring and Wilson try and appeal to the Military Service Hardship Committee, a really good piece of Abbott & Costello style wordplay involving Walker's name, and then a series of attempts to sabotage Walker's medical by wearing him out in advance. This gives us a strong mix of Dad's Army's penchant for both verbal and slapstick comedy and the combination works well.
I really like the cynical angle this episode takes. Following the patriotism that drove previous episode The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage, it's quite surprising to see the platoon trying to prevent Walker from being called up because they benefit from his black market activities. But it's good to see these human flaws written into the characters, making them more than just perfectly heroic ciphers. The final twist puts a nice bow on things, with an unexpected deus ex machina saving the day. I'm so glad I didn't just skip over this episode as the script alone makes it clear that the series was going from strength to strength at this point.
It's a real shame that this is one of the lost episodes, since it was a rarity for Walker to be the main focus and this story puts a nice twist on that confident character by placing him in a vulnerable position, having received his call-up papers. Usually deploying wisecracks from the sidelines, here it is Walker who is put through the physical and emotional ringer. There's a nice tribunal scene in which Mainwaring and Wilson try and appeal to the Military Service Hardship Committee, a really good piece of Abbott & Costello style wordplay involving Walker's name, and then a series of attempts to sabotage Walker's medical by wearing him out in advance. This gives us a strong mix of Dad's Army's penchant for both verbal and slapstick comedy and the combination works well.
I really like the cynical angle this episode takes. Following the patriotism that drove previous episode The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage, it's quite surprising to see the platoon trying to prevent Walker from being called up because they benefit from his black market activities. But it's good to see these human flaws written into the characters, making them more than just perfectly heroic ciphers. The final twist puts a nice bow on things, with an unexpected deus ex machina saving the day. I'm so glad I didn't just skip over this episode as the script alone makes it clear that the series was going from strength to strength at this point.
