Ep 1. Communication Problems

Basil Fawlty's communication problems reach new heights in season 2 episode 1 of Fawlty Towers. When a deaf guest named Mr. Johnson checks in to the hotel, Basil struggles to communicate with him and hilariously misinterprets his attempts to sign. Meanwhile, a group of German tourists arrive, causing chaos as Basil and Manuel try to navigate the language barrier. To make matters worse, Sybil is away on a training course, leaving Basil to handle everything on his own.

As the misunderstandings pile up, Basil becomes increasingly frustrated and ends up offending both the German tourists and Mr. Johnson. In his desperation to make amends, he enlists Polly and Manuel to teach him basic sign language and German phrases, leading to some comical scenes as Basil struggles to write down and memorize the signs and phrases.

As the chaos reaches a crescendo, Sybil returns and takes charge, effortlessly communicating with the guests and smoothing over the misunderstandings that Basil has caused. This episode showcases the classic Fawlty Towers combination of physical comedy, witty writing and perfectly-timed performances, leaving viewers laughing out loud at Basil's disastrous attempts at communication.

Overall, this episode is a masterclass in slapstick comedy and demonstrates why Fawlty Towers is still celebrated as one of the greatest sitcoms of all time.