Father Ted (TV Series) Going to America (1998) User Reviews

Thanks for the laughs Father Ted.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 1 January 2021]

I always watched this episode with a sense of sadness, sad for the early passing of Dermot, sad that the show ended, and sad that with the content of the episode.

I now need to rethink how I look upon this episode, it's another quality piece in the wonderful jigsaw that is series three. More absurdity, more outrageous laughs, the way Ted dances to the music whilst his poor guest is feeling so dark inside, and of course that scene when Radiohead are played.

That montage at the end reminds us just how incredibly funny this special series was, it never dates.

Would the show have carried on had Dermot not passed away, I'm not so sure, I feel like it had reached its natural conclusion. 8/10.

Season 3: Solid bowing out of the show, with quality mostly high and consistently so

[bob the moo · 9 October 2015]

I remember watching this season when it was originally broadcast, and it came so in the wake of actor Morgan dying from a heart attack. This did rather cast a poignant tone to the season and, while time has made this less in my mind, there is certainly that knowledge while rewatching this a few decades later. Aside from the plot of the final episode giving a sense of closure (or continuation), and a montage at the end, the season is pretty much what is has been before. The characters acknowledge the ridiculousness of their situations each week, but mostly the plots have enough laughs to sell their silliness.

Although the plots are daft, the writing is strong and each one is funny rather than silly. Racism, a sheep contest, Speed 3 (better than Speed 2), a crossover with another popular sitcom of the day, and other devices are all well used and consistently the quality of the show is high all the way to the end. The cast respond well and deliver great comic performances across the board. Of course it is sad to hear of the stresses that were on Morgan – and particularly the suggestion that repeatedly dancing to Shaft on the day before he died may have put more strain on his heart, however mostly you do not see the sad – only the strong timing and delivery. Likewise all of the others are very good – O'Hanlon yet again reminding me that he is very unlikely to ever be funnier or better than he was here.

I am not sure if the show would have run longer had Morgan not died, however it is a moot point since he did. The season ends in a satisfying way that doesn't feel abrupt and, most importantly, it ends with a funny and consistently enjoyable season with maintains the high quality of the show all the way to the end.