Auf Wiedersehen Pet Season 1 Episode 1 If I were a Carpenter

If I were a Carpenter is the first episode of season one of the British comedy-drama television series, Auf Wiedersehen Pet. The episode follows the story of a group of seven British construction workers who are all out of work during the recession of the early 1980s. They come together to seek employment opportunities in Germany, and the episode introduces us to these characters and their backstories.

The episode opens with the introduction of Dennis Patterson, played by Tim Healy, who is a bricklayer and the first of the workers to be seen on-screen. Dennis is struggling to make ends meet as he is out of work, and his wife is pressuring him to find a job since they are falling behind on their rent. Dennis is also dealing with a personal crisis, having recently separated from his wife, and he is struggling to cope with being separated from his children.

The episode then introduces the rest of the characters, including Oz, played by Jimmy Nail, a white-collar worker who was made redundant, and Wayne, played by Gary Holton, a heavy-drinking plasterer who is struggling with personal issues. The group is joined by Barry, played by Timothy Spall, a site manager who is struggling to find work due to his bad reputation.

After struggling to find work in the UK, the group decides to look for employment opportunities in Germany and they travel to Düsseldorf, where they meet up with their agent, Leonard Pearson, played by Christopher Fairbank. Pearson takes them to their new accommodation, a run-down hut on the side of the building site they will be working on. The group is told they will be working on a refurbishment project, but they soon realize the situation is not as easy as they thought. Enduring language barriers and German bureaucracy, the group must adapt to their new environment and bond as a team.

The episode shows the cultural differences between the British and Germans, with the workers struggling to adapt to their new surroundings. The workers' situation is further complicated by the introduction of another gang of British workers, led by Neville Hope, played by Kevin Whately. Neville and his group are working on the same site, but they have already settled in and are enjoying a more comfortable lifestyle, with better accommodations than what the first group was given.

As the episode progresses, the group faces troubles and learns that they must work together to overcome them. One member of the gang grows ill, which requires the others to work harder to keep the project on track. The group also faces challenges from their German colleagues, as they are not as welcoming as they had hoped. Through it all, the crew bonds together, proving that they can work as a team, and ultimately succeed in completing the project.

If I were a Carpenter sets the tone for the series, introducing the audience to the group of blue-collar workers and the challenges they face. The episode highlights the difficulties of being out of work, personal struggles, dealing with culture shock and adapting to difficult situations in a new country. It also showcases the humor and wit, which are hallmarks of the British comedy-drama genre, providing a welcome dose of laughter amid the struggles.