"Inside No. 9" Tom & Gerri (TV Episode 2014) Poster

(TV Series)

(2014)

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9/10
Superb episode.
Sleepin_Dragon10 October 2018
I absolutely loved Tom and Gerri, it's such a wonderfully dark and twisted episode, there is so much more going on then you first realise, plenty of twists and turns, this one is fiendishly clever, with a surprise ending in store. The Twelve days of Christine remains my all time favourite, and this one almost seems like a grounding for that wonderful episode. In so many episodes I heap praise on the guest actors, but here it is definitely the combination of Shearsmith and Pemberton that impress, they are both outstanding in this. It takes maybe one or two watches before you fully understand what's going on, I would definitely urge those of you that have it seen it once to watch again.

Brilliant, a sign of future episodes. 9/10
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8/10
Tales of Ordinary Madness
southdavid28 June 2021
The rocketing start to this first season continues with "Tom and Gerri", the third episode and another establishing the nearest thing the show has to a format - a funny, dark story, with a darker twist at the end.

Tom (Reece Shearsmith) is a primary school teacher but aspiring novelist who begins and interaction with Migg (Steve Pemberton) a homeless man who finds his wallet. Migg tells Tom that he knew Charles Bukowski and soon one drunken night evolves into Migg moving in and convincing Tom to leave his job. As Migg recovers and re-establishes a more traditional life, Tom descends, first losing his girlfriend Gerri (Gemma Arterton) and eventually stopping shaving and bathing whilst waiting for his gyro to arrive.

I mean, it's hard not to start with the idea that Tom is punching above his weight with Gerri who is much younger than him. It does perhaps pay back into the story though, when you consider some of the concerns that Tom mentions about the relationship - about her borrowing money from him to fund her acting dreams. The episode is again a funny one, particularly whenever Conleth Hill makes an appearance as Stevie, a fellow teacher.

It cleverly hides its real twist behind one that was slightly more predictable. (Indeed, the one twist that perhaps shouldn't be allowed to be done anymore.) Really good stuff again though.
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9/10
The darkest episode so far.
ivix-0285625 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This episode is such a superb episode. It is the best episode so far. I love how the episode makes you think how Migg is the person who is only in Tom's head, and you feel so confident and feel that the episode is not really good, cause you spotted the plot twist right away. And then when you are 100% sure that this is it, that you were correct about everything, Stevie comes and shows us the reality. Acting is like always unbelievably good, the plot and everything is almost perfect. The only thing I didn't like about this episode is the duration of some dialogues, in which at some parts are too boring. All in all, absolutely great episode. 9/10
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10/10
This ain't Tom and Jerry
safenoe24 November 2020
This one definitely isn't for kids. The ending has been dissected beyond dissection, and it is a shock to the system. Special mention to Conleth Hill as Stevie, the friend who's there when you need one most. This is a most assured episode of Inside No 9, and really set the tone for the future of the series.
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8/10
Decent with nice twists and turn
chunkylefunga5 September 2020
Defo worth a watch.

Great thing wiith #9 is you never know the characters are all about till the end.
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The proverbial Cuckoo? Or something else?
eppingdrwho29 January 2020
This is a great episode. It is very dark and sinister at points, and there are interesting twists and turns. The mundane humdrum setting adds to the atmosphere.
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10/10
Unhealthy coping mechanisms
norxilla7 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This episode was originally based on a play during their league of gentlemen days, before even the Fringe, when Steve and Reece were sharing a flat together while unemployed. It has evolved into a brilliant TV play that strives to trick the audience into believing they see the ending coming. It's cleverly inter-laced throughout, keeping Migg away from the other people in Tom's life, it implies that Migg may only be a figment of Tom's imagination.

It is naturalistic for the most part, mundane conversations add depth to the world and furthers the atmosphere of normality. Tom's character develops as we learn little by little, usually through the characters of Migg and Gerri (potential voices in his head). He is a school teacher, hates his job, wishes to be a writer (or Charles Bukowski). The various characters that interact with him act as his conscience, rays of hope, corrupters, disrupters and betrayers. It's an interesting exploration of depression.

The way Migg begins to look better and Tom worse, feels like Migg is a sort of vampire, sucking the life force out of Tom until he is a shell of a man. Once Migg is out of the picture and Gerri is back, his appearance changes for the better. This is just surface level, however, as Gerri is the real delusion and his coping mechanism. It's a clever episode for trying to trick the audience and woven symbolism. Brilliant episode, one of my favourites, a great study of naturalistic dialogue.
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7/10
Tom & Gerri
Prismark1015 December 2018
Tom has it all. A beautiful girlfriend Gerri who aspires to be an actress. A flat. A nice job as teacher. He might be overworked but he still has time to pursue his dream of being a writer on Charles Bukowski.

One morning he spots a tramp outside his flat begging in a strange place. Later the tramp knocks on his door as he has found Tom's wallet. Tom rather embarrassed, gives the tramp £40 and sends him away.

A while later, the tramp who is called Migg returns with a bottle of wine. Tom strikes a conversation with Migg and finds out that Migg once knew Charles Bukowski in New York.

Before you know it, Gerri has walked out on Tom because of his behaviour. Tom has packed in his job, started to drink, his flat is a mess. Migg has moved in.

It seems Migg is taking Tom's money as Tom claims his Giro never arrives nor does he get any post or telephone messages. As Tom's life, health and hygiene deteriorates, things are looking up for Migg, he even gets a job.

Then Gerri tells Tom some disturbing news about Migg.

As with other episodes in the first series of Inside No 9, you wonder where it is going and astounded that they managed to entice Gemma Arterton to appear in it.

Tom & Gerri comes with a two punch combination twist, delving on mental health issues.
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