Ep 3. The Waldorf Salad

Basil Fawlty, played by John Cleese returns in Fawlty Towers season 2 episode 3 called "The Waldorf Salad". As the proprietor of a hotel in the seaside town of Torquay, Basil is always up to something new. In this episode, he wakes up early in the morning intent on making a Waldorf Salad for a VIP guest. Basil is determined to make a good impression and cannot let anything hamper his efforts.

However, his plans hit a snag when his chef is unexpectedly absent, leaving him to handle the cooking himself. Basil is not exactly a natural cook and what he thinks are the proper ingredients for the salad, are not. As a result, the salad ends up being a complete mess.

Meanwhile, a group of German guests check into the hotel, which brings back some unfortunate memories for Basil. His plan to hide all German-related items and impose a strict ban on any mentioning of the country fails miserably and things quickly get out of hand.

The episode also focuses on the story of a couple, the Hamiltons, who are celebrating their wedding anniversary at Fawlty Towers. However, things are far from perfect between the two, as they bicker and argue throughout their stay. Basil, being the nosy person he is, takes up a personal interest in their relationship and tries to give unsolicited marriage counseling. This leads to several hilarious situations, as Basil's attempts to fix the Hamiltons' problems only end up making them worse.

Throughout the episode, we see Basil's patience tested as he tries to manage all of these situations at once. As the pressure builds, Basil reaches his boiling point and it's only a matter of time before he explodes.

"The Waldorf Salad" is an iconic episode of Fawlty Towers and is often cited as one of the best of the series. It highlights the best of John Cleese's comedic talents and showcases the absurdity and genius of the show's writing. The episode is packed with hilarious dialogue, clever plot twists, and laugh-out-loud physical comedy. It's a must-watch for fans of classic British comedy.