Ep 2. The Reluctant Traveller

The episode titled "The Reluctant Traveller" of the classic British sitcom Open All Hours revolves around Arkwright, the owner of the corner store, and his perpetual search for ways to increase sales and maximize profits. The episode begins with Arkwright's increased efforts to encourage his customers to buy more as he's concerned the shop sales have been dropping. Enter the character of Granville, his loyal and long-suffering nephew, who is always there to help Arkwright with his schemes and ideas.

The episode's plot thickens when Arkwright decides to take his sales strategy on the road. He sets out to sell his wares at a local market, but he's not very keen on going. In fact, he's reluctant to leave the shop unattended, fearing a loss of business while he's away. Granville sees an opportunity here and gets Arkwright to agree to go by convincing him that he'll lose more business if he doesn't go and that the benefits of going far outweigh the risks.

Arkwright's concern for the shop's security leads him to install a state-of-the-art lock, which he demonstrates to Granville. The scene is comic, as Arkwright's over-the-top showmanship takes center stage, including cracking a nut with the lock. But in the end, the lock is so complicated that Arkwright locks himself out, leaving Granville to the rescue.

When they finally arrive at the market, Arkwright is in his element, up selling everything from toothpaste to toffees to visiting shoppers. Granville can hardly keep up as his uncle shifts between conversation to mixing and matching his merchandise. However, the moment Arkwright lets his guard down, it's Granville's turn to step up and sell some items to the marketgoers.

As the day goes on, Arkwright's adventurous spirit seems to start rubbing off on him, and by the end of the episode, he finds himself enjoying the whole experience of being away from the shop and mingling with new people. The episode concludes as they make their way back to the shop, tired but satisfied with their success and promising to make it a regular thing.

Overall, the episode is full of witty one-liners and classic British humor. The dynamics between the characters are delightful, with Arkwright's larger-than-life personality and Granville's more cautious demeanor providing a perfect balance. The episode's theme of stepping out of one's comfort zone and embracing change resonates with viewers, making it an all-around entertaining and enjoyable installment of this beloved series.