Ep 1. Crossed Swords

Sanford and Son is a classic television sitcom that aired from 1972 to 1977. The show revolves around the lives of two junk dealers, Fred Sanford, played by Redd Foxx, and his son Lamont, played by Demond Wilson, who run a business together in Watts, Los Angeles.

Season one, episode one, titled "Crossed Swords," introduces viewers to the world of Sanford and Son. The episode opens with a brief introduction to the main characters, including Fred's sister-in-law, Esther, played by LaWanda Page, and their neighbor Julio, played by Gregory Sierra.

In "Crossed Swords," Fred and Lamont come across a valuable pair of antique swords while on a junk-hunting trip. While Lamont wants to sell the swords for a profit, Fred wants to keep them as a personal item, stoking the classic generational divide between greed and sentimentality. This sets up the central conflict of the episode: will Fred and Lamont be able to come to an agreement about what to do with the swords, or will this be the beginning of a long and tumultuous working relationship?

As the episode progresses, the characters continue to butt heads on how to proceed. Lamont wants to sell the swords to a museum for a tidy sum of $600, but Fred is not convinced that they can trust the museum and thinks they should hold out for a better offer. Meanwhile, Esther intervenes and tries to convince Fred to give the swords to a local church, which leads to a hilarious scene where Fred and the pastor negotiate the terms of the donation.

In true sitcom fashion, the episode is a mix of slapstick humor and snappy one-liners. The comedic chemistry between Foxx and Wilson is immediately apparent, as they bounce off each other with ease and chemistry.

Despite the initial conflict over the swords, the episode eventually pivots into a heartwarming moment of familial bonding. After a heated argument with Lamont, Fred realizes that the swords are more important to him than any amount of money. In a touching scene, he explains to Lamont that the swords were actually a gift from his deceased father, and that he wants to keep them in the family for sentimental reasons.

The episode's resolution, while sentimental, does not wrap everything up in a neat bow. The final scene shows Fred deep in thought, still conflicted about whether he did the right thing by keeping the swords. It sets up an ongoing tension - whether Fred is making the right decisions for him, or if he's letting his attachment to the past get in the way of better business decisions.

Overall, "Crossed Swords," the first episode of Sanford and Son, is a strong introduction to the world of Fred, Lamont, and their colorful cast of characters. It sets up the central conflict of the show - old school sentimentality vs. the bottom line - and shows viewers that Sanford and Son is a series full of humor and heart.