After a couple of horror themed episodes, "Inside Number 9" comes back with an episode that is almost a one act play, with only its final scene breaking the run.
Four friends enjoy a meal at a Tapas bar, following a game of Badminton at their local club. Around the table sit club treasurer Malcolm (Steve Pemberton), penny pinching Kevin (Jason Watkins), Archie (Reece Shearsmith) and Archie's new friend Craig (Phillip Glenister) up from London for a course. It's been a fun evening, that is until the bill arrives, at which point bitter jealousies escalate to the point of tragedy.
I really liked this one, for the most part, I have some issues with the ending, which I'll come back too but I really enjoyed the one continuous scene aspect of it. It felt a little like some of the scenes they did back in the "L. O. G" days, even before the show started on BBC, they used to do an escalating sketch about a group of friends playing cards, that they redid with the Geoff Tips character. The feels like a spiritual successor to that.
The three guest players are all excellent, Watkins excels as the timid man until the last few scenes. Glenister too as the blowhard the goes as soon as he realises what's really going on. Their interplay is great and really very funny. The final scene is the only slightly underwhelming bit to me. It's a nice reveal, but it doesn't really make any sense.
Tremendously funny episode though, the show's really hitting it's stride now.
Four friends enjoy a meal at a Tapas bar, following a game of Badminton at their local club. Around the table sit club treasurer Malcolm (Steve Pemberton), penny pinching Kevin (Jason Watkins), Archie (Reece Shearsmith) and Archie's new friend Craig (Phillip Glenister) up from London for a course. It's been a fun evening, that is until the bill arrives, at which point bitter jealousies escalate to the point of tragedy.
I really liked this one, for the most part, I have some issues with the ending, which I'll come back too but I really enjoyed the one continuous scene aspect of it. It felt a little like some of the scenes they did back in the "L. O. G" days, even before the show started on BBC, they used to do an escalating sketch about a group of friends playing cards, that they redid with the Geoff Tips character. The feels like a spiritual successor to that.
The three guest players are all excellent, Watkins excels as the timid man until the last few scenes. Glenister too as the blowhard the goes as soon as he realises what's really going on. Their interplay is great and really very funny. The final scene is the only slightly underwhelming bit to me. It's a nice reveal, but it doesn't really make any sense.
Tremendously funny episode though, the show's really hitting it's stride now.