I've often Wondered

Bora Natty

Bora Natty

Dedicated Member
Do you think there was any thought of actually getting Compo and Nora together, maybe even married? There would have been huge comedy dividends with them living together, but maybe it was better left as it was? What do you lot think?
 
I don't think that would have been an option to be honest, there is no way Compo would have married her, if you go back and watch Some Enchanted Evening when Wally leaves Nora for a rest the moment Compo thinks Nora wants marriage he bolts for the hills and I don't actually see Nora putting up with his ferrets or slovenly ways.
 
I think often that Compo was in love with the idea of being in love with Nora. Despite many dalliances with highly unsuitable choices she was the mountain he could never climb but always had his rucksack ready!I

It probably started as drunken lust and whilst never true love the levels of affection steadily grew over the years for both parties and he still clung to previous aspirations as they were part of his eternally youthful spirit.

Reggie, although played well, never worked for me either and I'd have preferred a return of Babs - not the vacuum of talent attached to Mrs Avery - or even the reopening of her short lived feud with Ivy or perhaps starting one with Marina to give Nora more consternation than his final cheeky grin.
 
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Commitment Phobia.

In 'Some Enchanted Evening', Compo was in hot pursuit of Nora who was reciprocating nicely, until he found out Wally wasn't returning and realized that Nora was actually pursuing him for real (gulp!). He quickly went into the run-Forrest-run mode and relapsed into his former phobic self.

Reggie Undsworth was what is called a "GU" (geographically undesirable), too far away to see often enough to develop a real relationship. These situations foster intense but infrequent encounters upon which Peter Pans thrive.

Compo looked up former girlfriends, a process called "recycling". As he learned with with Babs, this is dangerous territory in which to tread. People change, which can lead to hideous situations and rash emotional outbursts when old resentments kick up from within. Recycling is not for the feint of heart.

Compo was married the better part of a fortnight. No mention of his wife's name was ever made, which says something. He probably fell face first into this condition while well inebriated. Although he complained about the chuffing Pole who swept her off her feet and away from him, he probably was more relieved to be relieved of old what's her name, than resentful.

Compo was not the only one who exhibited commitment phobic behavior in Summerwine. In 'Of Passion and Pizza', Alvin told Entwistle that he was once engaged for 27 years. Entwistle enquired "why so long?", to which Alvin blithely replied, we couldn't decide on the curtains. This stall tactic is called a "lateral" (the antiquated term was side step), no actual movement in the relationship, but it has the implied feel about it of forward movement. It is like presentation of a friendship ring which is a lateral to delay or avoid presentation of an engagement ring.

I think we all have a bit of commitment phobia in ourselves, it is part of the human condition. Some have a lot more than others. Some have reason to have a lot more than others. It even spills over into the married population which explains the popularity of laybys (you can figure that one out for yourselves).

No, I do not think Compo was capable of marrying Nora. I think he felt safe pursuing her because he realized she was definitely not interested in a second marriage and felt safe in his own phobia.

Summerwine came out long before the commitment phobia phenomenon was really understood or publicized. This embodiment of the concepts in the Summerwine scripts reflects the deep understanding of human nature that the writer possessed and shared with us.

Aw, shut up Seymour and eat your choc ice.
 
Roy Clarke understood that the fun of the Compo/Nora relationship was that it would never result in marriage. It reflects the idea that Compo was having fun in the chase but wasn't really interested in winning. He would have spent the night with her (as was his goal in Some Enchanted Evening), though. The later Truly episode where a former neighbor comes looking for him that he really didn't want but had apparently flirted with for years (while avoiding his own wife) is another example of this.
 
Seymour Upperthong said:
Commitment Phobia.

In 'Some Enchanted Evening', Compo was in hot pursuit of Nora who was reciprocating nicely, until he found [ ... ] enon was really understood or publicized. This embodiment of the concepts in the Summerwine scripts reflects the deep understanding of human nature that the writer possessed and shared with us.

Aw, shut up Seymour and eat your choc ice.
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... someone is hiding a sociology degree under their bussell!
 
Bora Natty said:
Do you think there was any thought of actually getting Compo and Nora together, maybe even married? There would have been huge comedy dividends with them living together, but maybe it was better left as it was? What do you lot think?
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No. Don't forget he had Reggie on the side too didn't he.
Compo was a rascal.
What an inspiration.
 
Barrychuckle said:
To be fair to you, a lot of the ideas which came at the end of the series made less sense than your valid question. For example the Reggie Unsworth storyline made no sense to me whatsoever! Keep firing in the idea's Bora it's great to consider different scenarios to our much loved sitcom :D
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That's true. I mean, if Reggie had been Compo's "Thursdays" for years, why would we have not heard of her before, or at least known he had a "Thursday" ladyfriend?
 
imitation700mb said:
That's true. I mean, if Reggie had been Compo's "Thursdays" for years, why would we have not heard of her before, or at least known he had a "Thursday" ladyfriend?
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My thoughts are Compo 'inherited' her from a friend some time back. What started as a grateful scratching of an itch over the years mellowed into somebody he could confide all his exploits to and not be coerced into matrimonial servitude.

He could tell most things to Clegg but with Reggie the fascade of a lovable scoundrel could be dropped and could potentially outdo the ladies in the gossip stakes if he so wished knowing he wouldn't drop any of his friends in the proverbial.

...of course I could be lying...
 
imitation700mb said:
That's true. I mean, if Reggie had been Compo's "Thursdays" for years, why would we have not heard of her before, or at least known he had a "Thursday" ladyfriend?
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Remember, Reggie was part of the three of episodes quickly written after Bill Owen passed away, so it was probably easier for Roy to include a new character than trawl through already known possible lady friends. Also, while it was convenient for Compo to have a secret ferret lover, it was not entirely out of character for Compo considering all his past dalliances! There were mentions of over 50 female counterparts from his past.
 
theatrically_inclined said:
Remember, Reggie was part of the three of episodes quickly written after Bill Owen passed away, so it was probably easier for Roy to include a new character than trawl through already known possible lady friends. Also, while it was convenient for Compo to have a secret ferret lover, it was not entirely out of character for Compo considering all his past dalliances! There were mentions of over 50 female counterparts from his past.
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50? he's the male version of Our Rose!!!!
 
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