Full videos: Sanford and S01E01: “Crossed Swords”
The first episode of “Sanford and Son,” titled “Crossed Swords,” begins with Lamont Sanford, the son of Fred Sanford, discovering an old porcelain piece at a junk sale. Lamont is a young, enthusiastic man with big dreams of making it rich, hoping that this piece could be their ticket to a fortune. He buys the porcelain item at a low price and brings it back to the family’s junkyard, hoping to sell it for a high profit.
Fred Sanford, Lamont’s retired father and the owner of the junkyard, is initially unimpressed with the item Lamont brings home. Fred is an older man with a blunt and sarcastic personality, often skeptical of his son’s get-rich-quick schemes. He doesn’t believe the porcelain piece has any real value and thinks Lamont has been tricked into buying it.
However, after further research, Lamont discovers that the item might be extremely valuable, potentially a priceless antique. He decides to take the piece to an auction house to have it appraised and sold. Upon arrival, they find out that the porcelain piece is indeed a rare 18th-century artifact that could be worth thousands of dollars.
At the auction house, both Fred and Lamont are excited about the possibility of the piece making them rich. However, as the item is about to be auctioned, Fred becomes nervous and accidentally drops it, shattering the porcelain into pieces right in front of everyone. This moment is one of the funniest scenes in the episode, highlighting the contrast between Lamont’s hopes and Fred’s clumsiness.
The episode concludes with Lamont feeling disappointed that their chance at wealth is gone, while Fred, with his usual sarcastic wit, remarks that they’ve just returned to “normal” after a foolish dream. The episode ends on a light-hearted note, with a lesson about the real value of life and family, emphasizing that even in the face of failure or misfortune, family remains the most important thing.
“Crossed Swords” is an excellent start to the “Sanford and Son” series, establishing the main characters’ relationships and providing viewers with an insightful look into the challenges and joys of their everyday lives.
