Cult TV Episode Guides

[unapologetic pedant]

On 12/04/2024 at 17:49, HawkMan said:

May I recommend after Star Cops watching Dark Side Of The Sun on youtube,  then you can tell me what it's all about!!

I've decided Dark Side of the Sun is one of those "Sphinx Without a Secret" affairs. Akin in that respect to The Prisoner.

Perfectly content with an elliptical narrative. Don't need everything neatly tied-up. Can enjoy the journey without a definitive destination.

I cited a couple of provisional reference points in a previous post. Alongside historical themes, could now add Bilderberg Group conspiracy theories, Rosemary's Baby, even Dracula.

You mentioned teleportation in your synopsis. This, and other paranormal elements featured, can be dramatized as real, then explained away as products of hypnosis or delusional psychosis. Several times I thought we were moving in that direction, only to veer off again into the supernatural.

Couple of mundane footnotes - 

Ambivalent about Peter Egan's performance. Accent a bit wonky. Whenever he smirked, couldn't help thinking of Ever Decreasing Circles. Fine in deadpan sinister mode. Would maybe have been better with someone like the bloke who played the drug baron in The French Connection.

Perky 1983 disco up at the castle. A Flock of Seagulls, China Crisis, Aztec Camera. I'd run out screaming if they played any Spandau Ballet.

[HawkMan]

16 minutes ago, unapologetic pedant said:

I've decided Dark Side of the Sun is one of those "Sphinx Without a Secret" affairs. Akin in that respect to The Prisoner.

Perfectly content with an elliptical narrative. Don't need everything neatly tied-up. Can enjoy the journey without a definitive destination.

I cited a couple of provisional reference points in a previous post. Alongside historical themes, could now add Bilderberg Group conspiracy theories, Rosemary's Baby, even Dracula.

You mentioned teleportation in your synopsis. This, and other paranormal elements featured, can be dramatized as real, then explained away as products of hypnosis or delusional psychosis. Several times I thought we were moving in that direction, only to veer off again into the supernatural.

Couple of mundane footnotes - 

Ambivalent about Peter Egan's performance. Accent a bit wonky. Whenever he smirked, couldn't help thinking of Ever Decreasing Circles. Fine in deadpan sinister mode. Would maybe have been better with someone like the bloke who played the drug baron in The French Connection.

Perky 1983 disco up at the castle. A Flock of Seagulls, China Crisis, Aztec Camera. I'd run out screaming if they played any Spandau Ballet.

Have you finished it? I can't make out the ending,  won't elaborate in case you haven't finished.

Maelstrom is the next Michael J Bird effort, also on YouTube , set in Norway,  very enjoyable,  a Hitchcock style mystery.

[Futtocks]

I remember finally getting my hands on a DVD box set of The Prisoner; a programme I'd only ever seen clips of, although I had actually visited Portmeirion by then.

I loved it.

I also remember my disappointment at the rushed and shoddy conclusion to the series when the TV company lost patience and told them to wind it up some way or other.

Edited April 15 by Futtocks

[Futtocks]

Talking of cult TV, I re-watched Children of the Stones fairly recently. Not quite as nightmare-inducing to the adult me as it was back then, but the village of Avebury looks fabulously ominous in it.

Edited April 15 by Futtocks

[HawkMan]

 ALERT SERIES 7 REVIEWS WITH SPOILERS

S7 E3 NINE LIVES KAT
How an earth does one describe this episode, with difficulty that's how.
Kat, short for Katerina is a copper with the nickname '9 lives' is investigating a child's disappearance. But she's been removed from the case, she's an alcoholic, using vodka to wet her breakfast cereal instead of milk. She's assisted by a copper Ezra Jones, keeps turning up at her house with news of the search for the boy.
Then Kat awakes......was it a dream?
In her bed is copper Barnabus Bull ,nothing sexual going on, they both got drunk and crashed out the night before. Bull is her partner on the case. In the kitchen Kat has her usual Vodka and cereal as the case is further discussed. When Jones here again helps Bull make tea in the kitchen this leaves Kat free to rifle through Jones jacket and in a wallet finds a photo of Jones with the missing boy.
Kat confronts Jones, and wants to know why he keeps turning up in her house when she never gave him a key. Jones says it's not actually her house, he says he's tried so hard with Kat but it's not working out ,her character is not shaping up. He's an author and Kat is fictional, a drunken copper with issues and an odd police partner in Barnabus Bull. Kat wants to know why Jones has a photo of the missing boy. Jones just used his son in this story to help him create the character. Jones tests his characters believability by making them real inside his head and playing out scenes in his imagination, but Kat is a failure and the notes on her creation must be placed in storage in the bottom drawer of his writing desk.
Kat insists she's real with a daughter asleep upstairs, Jones asks Kat what her daughter's name is, Kat can't answer, Jones says that's because he didn't give her one, the child was a last minute character tossed in to make Kat more interesting, but it hasn't worked out.
Bull is apparently a better bet, he can envisage a series of books with him as lead character.
Barnabus Bull, in the kitchen too, but er...fictional suggests titles such as Red Rag To A Bull, Bullseye, Kat chimes in with " Bullsh*t." Jones closes a folder of notes on his character Kat and tosses it in the drawer.
And Ezra Jones awakes......what a strange dream!!
Jones is now an award winning author, his Bull detective books have won him awards a-plenty. He lives with his wife in a beautiful home, but trouble as his wife wants to know where their son is, why didn't Ezra pick him up from school. Ezra shows her his phone and a text from her saying not to pick him up as she'll do it. But the wife says she lost her mobile and didn't send the text. Someone has kidnapped their son. Days go by no news is heard, Matilda Gordon police liaison officer comforts them.
Next day Ezra wakes, goes downstairs and finds Matilda Gordon dead on the settee throat cut.
In the kitchen is the fictional Kat who's just come back to see how the story ends..
Kat taking revenge for being dumped by Ezra for being a character he no longer wants to keep. Kat has the wife's lost mobile that she says Ezra had all along, and is framing Ezra for the kidnapping and Matilda Gordon's death. She opens the larder door and the dead Bull falls out. Jones is confused and says " I didn't write any of this." The wife turns up in the kitchen and she and Kat embrace in a long lesbian kiss. Jones asks Kat what she wants, she replies that she wants to solve the case, beat alcoholism and toss her police badge in the river. Jones agrees, blackmailed by his own characters! The wife chips in with, " erm am I still a lesbian?"
Bull gets up from the floor asking if he's still supposed to be dead.
A woman cries out shouting at everyone to shut up.
In the study is Matilda Gordon alive at her computer stating that this ending is ridiculous and trite and unbelievable, as an author she just can't do endings. This project started off as a good idea, an author Ezra Jones haunted by his own characters but has turned into a sub standard Stephen King. Ezra Jones insists he's real, an award winning author, but Matilda says " sorry darling but you're really not"
Jones grabs one of his books, but on opening it sees all the pages are blank.
Matilda says sorry Ezra, but into the bottom drawer you go. Matilda gets her folder notes about her character Ezra Jones and throws them in the drawer, to which Jones can only say, " oh sh*t."

Edited April 15 by HawkMan

[unapologetic pedant]

49 minutes ago, HawkMan said:

Have you finished it? I can't make out the ending,  won't elaborate in case you haven't finished.

Yep. Finito.

Can only repeat that I don't think we're intended to fully fathom the ending.

Apt that @Futtocks should mention Children of the Stones. The bit right at the end of Dark Side of the Sun where another version of Lavalliere appears is reminiscent of the new Hendrick persona (Sir Joshua Litton) arriving at the manor in the final scene of COTS. Implication being that all the foregoing events take place in a time loop.

Extra footnote -

I know the Greek actress Betty Arvaniti was also in Who Pays the Ferryman. She's still a lot more recognizable than her credits would warrant. Best guess as to why is that she looks very like Sylvia Sims.

[HawkMan]

S7 E4 KID|NAP
A split screen is used during most of this tale involving kidnapping, hence the split title.
Lara is the wife of hedge fund manager Dom and is kidnapped from her home by Shane , a bungling ex army man posing as the postman.
Using Chloroform Lara is knocked out and Shane takes her to a bungalow and she awakes tied to a chair.
Shane phones Dom at his office and using a hand held voice distorter demands Dom in person comes to the cottage and transfer over 1 million pounds into an account.
Shane is just a hired hand, hired by Clifford who comes to the bungalow to take charge.
Dom has called the police in and Clifford phones him and threatens to cut off Lara's ears and send them to him to show he means business. Shane is sent out by Clifford to get some food, and when Clifford and Lara are alone the twist is revealed.
Clifford and Lara are in cahoots, the kidnap is a fake, they are lovers, squeezing husband Dom out of cash because he won't give her a divorce.
Unexpectedly early Shane returns to see Lara free, after Clifford untied her, so to keep up the pretense Lara grabs a knife and puts it to Clifford's throat to make out she's escaped capture. But Immediately she surrenders and keeping the illusion for Shane Clifford ties her up again.
Shane has drawn his gun and is reluctant to put it away when Clifford asks him to. It is clear that Clifford and Lara's plan was to keep Shane out of the loop and not even pay him. Clifford tries to grab the gun off Shane but unfortunately it goes off, and Clifford dies.
Shane remorseful is now intent on carrying out the plan, starting with removing Lara's earrings and lobes. Lara pleads with Shane telling him it was all fake.
Dom surrounded by police receives a package containing earrings and purportedly Lara's ear lobes. On police advice he is going to the bungalow to transfer the money, but he'll have a bullet proof vest on and a wiretap device and helmet on for protection.
Arriving at the bungalow Dom enters nervously as the SWAT team armed wait outside. Inside Lara tied to the chair, a bloodstained scarf around her head covering her ears is terrified as Dom gets online and transfers the cash. But it's a trap, Lara leaps up, Shane uses the chloroform on Dom, then undresses him.
Lara uses the voice distorter knowing the police are listening to trick the police into thinking she and Dom have overpowered Shane, and can escape.
Shane posing as Dom and Lara emerge from the bungalow and head for the getaway car provided by the police as part of the deal they made with Shane.
The police think it's Dom in the car driving Lara to safety, they enter the bungalow and find a bemused Dom awakening from the chloroform and also find the dead Clifford and wonder what the hell has happened.
Clifford's earlobes have been sliced off and they realise they've been duped.
Lara and Shane drive off to a waiting plane and off to a new life.
We presume Lara just as Shane was going to cut her ears off made a deal with him. Whether she'll betray him we'll never know.

 

Edited April 16 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

Last two episodes of series 7 are my personal top two episodes of the whole show. In second place;

S7 E5  A RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS 
This episode has a staggering twist and surely no one could forsee this, but some clever clogs on YouTube claim they did.
Zach is a surly bad tempered teenager studying physics at college hopefully to go on to University. He lives with his mother after his father has left home and set up with a new partner in Singapore. This makes Zach incredibly vicious and aggressive to his mum Helen, who is a bit sad and desperately wants companionship. Zach has no intention to be his mum's surrogate pal.
They constantly bicker and after another shouting match Zach goes to his bedroom and on his laptop gets on with his physics course work. Suddenly something is heard banging the window of his bedroom and it appears a sparrow has flown into the glass and lays stunned on the grass.
The front doorbell rings and a man is there , he has picked up the bird and wants to bring it into the house to recuperate. Helen desperate for company says yes and the man enters gently holding the bird.
By cutting up a cereal box Helen makes a little cot for the bird and places it on the kitchen floor. The man places the bird in the box and introduces himself as Bob Bliss.
After a while the bird recovers and flies about the kitchen, Helen releases it.
Zach is introduced to Bob and when Helen reveals Zach is studying physics Bob reveals he is a physicist and studied at the Uni that Zach is aiming for. Another argument ensues when Helen suggests Zach needs extra tutoring and Bob agrees to come round and give Zach extra lessons.
Things go well, Zach makes progress and Helen finds Bob charming company.
Interspersed with these scenes we have seen a couple of times a Dr Brann making school videos on the subject of physics, he makes videos used as teaching aids.

Meanwhile Bob sets Zach a problem, using physics can he predict who will win a horse race, using data such as jockey weights, ground density, horse bio data etc.
Helen receives a phone call that she's been dreading, from a hospital with results of her scan, she has to go to the hospital to get the results. Before she leaves she notices the cereal box is still on the kitchen floor.
She picks it up and notices the barcode on the box, the number of the barcode is 55179909, when read upside down reads Bob Bliss. Bob is a phoney, that isn't his name, but who is he?
Zach returns home with news that the horse he predicted to win has won and Bob is coming over with £2000, half he'll give to Zach. Helen forbids him to take it, and doesn't want Bob in the house again, saying that he's a weirdo who rescued a bird and they know nothing about him.
Zach is furious and threatens to run off to Singapore to take up his father's offer of a paid for place at Uni out there. Helen in tears tells him to go then and Zach promises he will.
Helen leaves to get her scan results, and Bob turns up at the house, Zach does what Helen asks and refuses the money and storms up to his bedroom. Bob follows him up and reveals something incredible.
Helen returns and she has a pamphlet with her ," Living With Terminal Illness ", she is dying.
In Zach's bedroom Bob reveals Zach's theories about black holes is right and in the future he will succeed in creating a mini black hole in a laboratory and be world famous as a quantum leaper.
Zach thinks Bob is mad, until Bob shows him a tattoo on his arm, the same as Zach's. BOB IS A FUTURE ZACH, quantum leaped into the past to tell Zach to be kind to his mother as she's dying. He tells Zach that he did go to Singapore, Helen died and he has had to live with the guilt of how badly he treated his mum, never having the chance to say he loved her.
Older Zach asks Zach to tell Helen how much he loves her. Older Zach gets a gun out and blows his brains out. Helen runs in and Zach and Helen make peace.

Forward 50 YEARS.
Zach in the year 2072 has just attended the tasteful funeral service of his mum Helen who lived to 92. In this timeline Older Zach going back to visit his younger self and telling him the truth meant Zach studied Chemistry not physics, he created an anti cancer vaccine and Helen lived.
Dr Brann, the guy making school physics videos enters and pulls a gun on Zach, revealing he has received a video message on his phone from a version of himself from a redundant time line. In the original timeline, Brann and Zach created a black hole/ wormhole in the laboratory and sent a sparrow into it, and were world famous as Quantum leap technology creators, but Zach altering the timeline to save his mother meant Dr Brann ended up doing the s*** job he has now. Brann wants to reverse the timeline shift. Zach says that'll mean Helen will die. Brann is sympathetic but he doesn't want to be collateral damage for saving Helen's life. The two of them struggle over the gun. How does it end, does Brann succeed in undoing Zach's altering of the timeline?
Last scene: Young Zach is in his bedroom when a sparrow flies into the window. The sparrow lies on the grass.....no one picks it up.....the sparrow dies.

Edited April 16 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

IN FIRST PLACE, MY FAVOURITE EPISODE OF THE SERIES AS A WHOLE. 

S7 E6 WISE OWL
Ronnie, in his 40's is clearly disturbed as the story starts. He gets into a bath fully clothed and is about to put an electric current into the water when the doorbell rings. A neighbour has brought round a dead rabbit, his daughter's pet, and wants Ronnie to stuff it, as he is a taxidermist.

Animated Scene
A 1970s public information film; two children, brother and sister playing with a kite which gets stuck on an electric pylon. The boy wants to climb the pylon to retrieve it , but the Wise Owl flies up to them with the catchphrase, " twit you, twit you."
Wise Owl says, " electric pylons are dangerous."
Little Girl " how do we get our kite back Wise Owl?"
Owl," the wind will help."
Wise Owl blows and wind frees the kite.
End of public information film.

Ronnie sleeps in a sleeping bag on the floor of the house and dreams, a naked man in an owl mask approaches, Ronnie wakes. He gets a phone call from his mother, his parents no longer are together, she wants him to come round to her place on Monday. In the kitchen Ronnie opens shoebox containing dead rabbit and starts to work on stuffing it.
Animated Scene
Same two children, their pet cat has died, they are sad. Wise Owl appears," twit you, twit you."
Owl, " don't be sad, taxidermy is easy, you can be with your pet forever."
Little Girl," how so Wise Owl?"
( Wise Owl tells kids how to do taxidermy, skin animal, pluck out eyes, burn carcass, create new innards with foam and wire, place skin over new torso, job done. This is a very strange public information film, teaching kids taxidermy!)
End of animation scene.

Ronnie starts work on dead rabbit, but it doesn't go well, he clearly knows nothing about it. The neighbour returns and demands dead pet back, after being told that the taxidermist is a man in his 70's, and isn't Ronnie. Ronnie hands over mutilated rabbit ,the neighbour goes potty and storms off threatening action against Ronnie.

Animated Scene
House is on fire, little girl inside screams as she burns to death. Wise Owl outside house helpless watching.
End of animated scene
The house Ronnie is squatting in belongs to father Wilf who returns to see Ronnie and is not overjoyed to see him. Wilf reveals Ronnie has been in an institution for years after the death of his sister, burned to death in a house fire, as Ronnie was held responsible. Ronnie glumly says that on Monday his sister would have been 50 if she lived, and mother wants them to go over to her place, Wilf declines.

Animated Scene
Little boy and girl, birthday cake on table, it's the girl's birthday , she wants to light candles. Wise Owl sits on chair drunk!
Boy " Wise Owl, isn't it dangerous to play with matches?"
Wise Owl,( drunkenly)" they're safety matches fu**ing let her light candles. You and me Ronnie will go upstairs."

End of animated scene
In house Wilf and Ronnie go upstairs, Ronnie hides knife behind back, into bedroom. Wilf sits on bed and says," give your Dad a hug, you know you like it."
Ronnie reveals that Wilf told everyone that he rescued him from house fire that killed sister, when in truth he and his dad were upstairs in the bedroom when the sister set fire to the house trying to light candles on birthday cake. Wilf says, " what else could I do, I was the voice of Wise Owl giving out safety information, and my daughter dies in a house fire, not exactly good for the brand image."
Ronnie attempts to stab Wilf but misses and says he'll tell his mother and everyone the truth about his father, voice of Wise Owl, taxidermist and serial child abuser. Ronnie storms out of house, Wilf desperately follows .
Animated Scene
Child, who is Ronnie, leaves house, Wise Owl flies behind,
Wise Owl, " twit you, twit you, don't do it please Ronnie. You must do what Wise Owl says."
Ronnie, " get stuffed!"

Edited April 16 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

RADIO TIMES ARTICLE 

 

Inside No. 9: Wise Owl ending explained
Please note: this recap contains discussion of sexual abuse that some readers may find upsetting.

Shearsmith and Pemberton disorientate us once again with a setting that is not what it appears.

We're led to believe that Ronnie has isolated himself in his own home, perhaps due to agoraphobia or paranoia, with only his taxidermy animals to keep him company.

However, as is often the case when you're Inside No. 9, the reality is quite different, which is exposed when Ronnie proves he can't stuff an animal to save his life.

He is approached by neighbourhood man Mr Blenkin (Steve Pemberton) to perform taxidermy on his pet rabbit, but makes an utterly grotesque mess of the job.

Blenkin confronts Ronnie upon collection, declaring him to be an imposter after learning that the genuine resident of the property is a man in his 70s.
 

 

Indeed, as it turns out, Ronnie has been squatting in the home of his estranged father, Wilf, who has been away on business in Pickering for the last few days.

When he eventually turns up, he's drunk and not particularly pleased about the family reunion.

Again, the narrative proves unreliable, as through the medium of animation we are told that Ronnie's irresponsible actions as a child caused a fire in his family home, which led to the death of his younger sister. This is a lie.

 

Though the boy's father was quick to shoulder the blame and paint himself as a hero, the truth is that he was also in the house that night. After decades of letting the truth tear him apart, Ronnie is finally ready to confront his father about what really happened.
 

 

Ron Cook plays Wilf in Inside No. 9 BBC
As the animation depicted, Ronnie's younger sister had wanted to light the candles on her birthday cake; but unlike the fabricated story, he had actually tried to stop her, realising that it's dangerous for little children to handle matches.

Wilf was the one who allowed his daughter to light the candles unsupervised, leading to the blaze that took her life; but as if that wasn't bad enough, there is another layer of darkness shrouding this tragic tale.

The fire got so drastically out of hand because Wilf was upstairs, where we learn that the reason he had not noticed the incident sooner was because he had been abusing Ronnie.

This horrifying twist had been alluded to earlier in the episode, when Ronnie had a nightmarish vision of a nude man in an owl mask making his way towards him.
 

 

Inside No. 9: Wise Owl BBC
We now know that the man was his own father, with the significance of the owl mask being that Wilf had voiced the so-called 'Wise Owl' in a '70s children's television show of the same name (i.e. the animated excerpts in this episode).

Ronnie's traumatised mind evidently recalls certain childhood memories in the form of animation, which explains why the cartoon owl knew so much about taxidermy, which is actually Wilf's hobby.

While the subject matter of this episode is very dark, even by Inside No. 9 standards, it does end on a somewhat optimistic note.

After very nearly murdering Wilf, Ronnie instead finds the courage to tell the authorities of his crimes, stepping outside and not looking back as his feeble father begs him to return.

We see that the influence that this abuser once held has completely disappeared and that he will soon face punishment for his unspeakable actions.

Edited April 16 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

          SERIES 8
 

S8 E1 THE BONES OF ST NICHOLAS 
Dr Jasper Parkway has booked an overnight stay in a reputedly haunted church on Christmas Eve. However, much to his dismay, he is soon joined by unwanted guests Pierce and Posy, who have even brought their own sleeping bags. Together with the eccentric warden Dick, it doesn't look like Jasper is going to be lonely this Christmas. Even though sherry, biscuits and Yuletide phantoms are on offer, why is Jasper so keen to be left to his own devices?   

Edited April 16 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

  S8 E2 MOTHER'S RUIN

East End villains Harry and Annie Blackwood were rotten to the core and did some truly horrible things when they were alive. What secrets did they take to their grave? Their sons plan to find out. Using Necromancy they intend to contact their deceased mother to find out the location of the hidden loot.

 

S8 E3 PARASKEVIDEKATRIAPHOBIA

Gareth is definitely going to be working from home today. Just to be on the safe side. He doesn't want to push his luck. Because today just happens to be Friday the 13th.

S8 E4 LOVE IS A STRANGER 

You get to meet all sorts when you go online dating, as Vicky's about to find out. Will she finally meet her perfect match? Or will she be talking to the Lonely Hearts murderer?

Edited April 16 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

S8 E5 HOLD ON TIGHT

MASSIVE SPOILER 

After the fans persistent asking for an episode set on a number 9 bus.

We have this episode,  advertised in Radio Times and on social media.

With Robin Askwith, a pastiche of On  The Buses , accompanied by photo below and a trailer.

BUT IT WAS A HOAX !! The real episode is below, because Pemberton and Shearsmith wanted to fool the audience with a quiz show episode people thought was nowt to do with Inside No. 9,after the BBC continuity announcer declared HOLD ON TIGHT had been postponed and replaced by...

S8 E5  3 BY 3

In a replacement to the advertised programme, three threesomes compete for the big cash prize in this new general knowledge quiz presented by Lee Mack. A quiz with a nasty ending

Wikipedia- 3 by 3 

When "3 by 3" was broadcast instead of "Hold on Tight!", there were complaints on social media, with some viewers switching channels not realising that they were victims of a hoax. Others found clues to "3 by 3" as the real episode, such as the title of the episode being a product: 3 × 3 = 9. There were also references to other Inside No. 9 episodes such as "The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge".^[2]

Filmed at dock10 studios in a virtual studio, the episode was shortlisted for two Broadcast Tech Awards: Best Innovation Project and Best Use Of Virtual Production/Studios.

The hoax was compared to another similar episode of Inside No. 9, "Dead Line", which had been billed as a live episode broadcast especially for Halloween, about a man who receives phone calls from the dead, which in fact was a trick, the real story of the episode veering wildly off-course into a story about the broadcast being overrun by spirits haunting the TV studio and starring Shearsmith and Pemberton as themselves.^[6] Juliette Harrisson writing for Den of Geek argued that both of these hoaxes were an example of tricks that could only be performed on broadcast television rather than streaming services, saying that they best work when people are made to watch them at certain times as part of a schedule.^[7]

Writing on Twitter, Askwith said that being part of the hoax was, "a hard secret to keep", adding it was "interesting to watch the anger and despair turn to delight" as the real episode aired.^[8]

Some fans of Inside No. 9 remain convinced however, that "Hold on Tight!" is a real episode and will appear on television at some point. After Series 8 ended, BBC Two scheduled a repeat of Series 7 episode "Mr. King" to air on 1 June 2023, but some fans believed this may have been another trick and instead "Hold on Tight!" would be broadcast.^[9][10] Ultimately, it was "Mr. King" that was shown.

Edited April 16 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

S8 E6 THE LAST WEEKEND 

Joe and Chas have been together for nine years. It's a long time to be truly in love with someone. But how long does it take to properly say goodbye. A gay couple spend every weekend together in a country cottage, have done for 9 years. One of them is now dying of a terminal illness , but has a secret to reveal, about their relationship. A twist ending that truthfully upset me greatly.

THE END

SERIES  9, FINAL SERIES OF INSIDE NO.9 SOON TO BE ON BBC2

Edited April 16 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

RANDALL AND HOPKIRK (DECEASED)

Groovy 60s crime show where private eye Geoffrey Randall is helped or usually hindered by his dead partner Marty Hopkirk.

 

1. My Late Lamented Friend And Partner.
While investigating the death of client Mrs Sorensen from apparent heart failure, suspicion falls on her husband particularly as Randall and Hopkirk Detective Agency has proved Mr Sorensen's infidelity to Mrs Sorensen, who in retaliation planned to divorce him and throw him out of the lucrative family firm.
Marty Hopkirk is getting too suspicious so Sorensen pays to have him murdered, but Marty won't stay dead ! He is now a ghost who chooses partner Jeff as the only person who can see him. After proving Sorensen's guilt, Marty cannot get back into his grave as he stayed out beyond daybreak. So he'll hang around and help Jeff.

 

 

Edited April 16 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

2. A Disturbing Case.

Episode co written by Mike Pratt who plays Jeff. Jeannie and sister Jenny have recorded evidence of Jeff talking to himself thinking he's talking to Marty, which of course he is, but the sisters are worried and take the recording to a psychiatrist. Jeff is sectioned and Marty has to get him out of the clinic he's been put in. Marty discovers the head of the clinic is crooked and is hypnotising patients to open their safes. They then are instructed under hypnosis to allow an associate of the crooked Dr Conrad to walk in and help himself to the valuables. Probably the funniest episode as Marty imitating Conrad's voice uses a hypnotised Jeff to round up the gang.

 

 

3. All Work And No Pay.
Jeff is in money trouble as usual and Jeannie decides to leave the agency and accept a job with a couple of spiritualists. But it doesn't go well as they want her to bring spirits from beyond the grave to their séances, by making the journey herself to the next life!

 

 

 

Edited April 16 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

4. Never Trust A Ghost.
Marty leads Jeff astray as he gets Jeff to tell the police of a murder. Unfortunately the murder victim isn't dead, a mistake by Marty. This happens a few times involving the same guy, Howarth, and when Jeff discovers Howarth is the guy in charge of the payroll at MI6 then the case takes on a different look.
Is Howarth really dead or not, is it an imposter in his place. With Howarth fed up with Jeff's continual harassment the police are called and in a great scene Jeff uses Jeannie as an alibi , by getting into bed with her as the police come calling. Marty though accompanies the police and sees Jeff with his widowed wife and goes spare.

 

5. That's How Murder Snowballs.
In a theatre a mind reading act goes horribly wrong and leads to murder. Jeff investigates and uses Marty in his own act as mind reader. The killer is one of the acts at the theatre and Marty realises that when the killer sees Jeff performing without a partner they'll think he really can read minds. Meaning the killer will avoid him...or kill him.

 

 

 

Edited April 16 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

6. Just For The Record.
Jeff and Jeannie are hired by the Cities Of The World Beauty Contest to chaperon a couple of contestants. Jeannie chaperones Miss London who wants to visit the records archive of the British Museum to look at ancient documents, to give the trailing press pack an impression that Miss London is an intellectual, good publicity for her ahead of the contest. But in reality she is working for a crook called Pargiter who thinks the documents will prove he is the rightful heir to the British crown. Marty sees her casually cut a wire with the arm of her spectacles, which have a sharpened edge, cutting the alarm system ready for a robbery of said documents. Jeff seems more interested in having a good time chaperoning Miss Moscow around town. 

 

7. Murder Ain't What It Used To Be.
Jeff is hired by an American crook to look after his daughter while in England on business. Paul Kerstner has a problem though, he is being haunted by a ghost of a Chicago gangster from the 1920's. Kerstner double crossed Smiler Spanio during the 20's prohibition years of alcohol smuggling , and Smiler is going to use Marty to help get Kerstner. If he doesn't then Jeannie dies.
 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 17 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

8. Whoever Heard Of A Ghost Dying.
Jeff uses Marty to sit in on meetings of a gang planning robberies, and then tipping the police. He is employed by an insurance company to stop the robberies. Meanwhile Jeannie believes wrongly as it happens that Marty has been trying to contact her. She has contacted spiritualists to help make contact, but the spiritualists are the robbers! Marty despite being dead definitely feels unwell and is fading fast. It all ties together in a climax at Marty's grave.

 

 

9. The House On Haunted Hill.
Jenny , Jeannie's sister is helping out while Jeannie is away, and Jeff has to prove that a house isn't really haunted despite evidence to the contrary, so the estate agent can sell it. Jeff also is engaged in solving an industrial diamond robbery from a vault. The two cases collide when Jenny is kidnapped by the robbers and taken to the supposed haunted house.

 

10. When Did You Start To Stop Seeing Things.
Something strange has happened, Jeff can no longer see Marty and also Marty witnesses Jeff murdering a man in cold blood. Jeannie is upset when Jeff makes a lustful lunge at her. Marty is extremely worried, this doesn't seem like Jeff at all, is he ill?
When Marty materialises in Jeff's flat he makes a remarkable discovery and he needs help to get Jeff out of this mess. A hypnotherapist can help if only Marty can get Jeff to see him. Marty discovers the patients when under hypnosis can hear him and this leads to some funny scenes as Marty uses them to get Jeff help.

 

 

 

  

 

Edited April 17 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

11. The Ghost Who Saved The Bank At Monte Carlo.
Marty's aunt Clara hires Jeff to accompany her to Monte Carlo to test her foolproof roulette system. A gang from England follow her and they and French counterparts vie to steal her system. Jeff believes her system is baloney but when it appears to work he realises Marty's concern for his aunt's safety might be justified.

12. For The Girl Who Has Everything.
Jeff and another private eye ,James McAllister, team up to see if the ghost of Hubert De Craic really is haunting Kim Wentworth , or is she using the ghost rumours that are linked to her home, Craic Castle, to do away with her cheating husband. Marty and Jeff confront a chain swinging cowled figure and Larry Wentworth is found dead.

Edited April 17 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

13. But What A Sweet Little Room.
A crooked investment adviser is in cahoots with a psychic medium to entrap seance clients who want to communicate with their dead family. Phoney messages from beyond the grave encourage victims to contact Arthur Decressy who rips them off and then kills them. Marty's widow Jeannie now working with Jeff since Marty's death, poses as a potential victim, much to Marty's fury as he's worried for her safety.

 

14. Who Killed C ock Robin ?
Squabbling relatives confront each other over a will. They will get their money, a considerable sum after the deceased relative's collection of rare birds all die and not before. Jeff is hired as a bird guard as someone or two are getting impatient and trying to kill the birds, as well as each other.

 

Edited April 17 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

15. The Man From Nowhere.
A man turns up at Jeannie's flat and claims to be Marty! He says he's Marty Hopkirk in another body, and the last thing he remembers is dying in a car crash. Marty is apoplectic with rage at this conman trying it on, but this guy seems to know everything Marty ever knew. So a real puzzle for Jeff to sort out. A wood in Oxfordshire holds the key.

16. When The Spirit Moves You.
A conman is peddling bearer bonds to a gullible business man. But is shocked to discover the man is a front for crime boss Nicholas Corri, and you don't dupe him and live to tell the tale. The conman Bream drops Jeff in it by telling Corri that Jeff is his boss and has the bonds. Corri wants to launder money using the bonds and gives Jeff a limited time to get the bonds or else. But help is at hand, Bream has an unusual reaction to getting drunk , he sees Marty, and that can be used to get Jeff out of this mess.

 

 

Edited April 17 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

17. Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave.
Near Marty's grave Jeff sees strange characters including an 18th century man in a three cornered hat. Could a bang on the head he received be giving him hallucinations? Jeannie persuades him to see a doctor and after losing his temper Jeff is declared dangerous and escapes before the ambulance arrives to take him away. This all started with Marty's concern at digging going on near his grave and a tunnel is discovered being dug, but to where ?

 

18. Could You Recognise The Man Again?
Jeff finds a dead body in his car and can recognise the man suspiciously loitering around his car just prior to the discovery of the body. Gang pressure is put on him to remain silent, when this doesn't work Jeannie is kidnapped to force Jeff to stay silent. Marty must find Jeannie so Jeff can testify before the murderer is acquitted.

 

 

Edited April 17 by HawkMan

[unapologetic pedant]

Halfway through Maelstrom.

The lead actress Tusse Silberg is Swedish. Not a trace of an accent. Looks and sounds every inch the archetypal middle-class metropolitan Englishwoman. Born in 1931. Her character Catherine was born in 1955. Quite a gap. Wondering if the reason Catherine isn't depicted as older is related to the plot.

The dolls are bringing back memories of Hamble from Play School.

[HawkMan]

7 minutes ago, unapologetic pedant said:

Halfway through Maelstrom.

The lead actress Tusse Silberg is Swedish. Not a trace of an accent. Looks and sounds every inch the archetypal middle-class metropolitan Englishwoman. Born in 1931. Her character Catherine was born in 1955. Quite a gap. Wondering if the reason Catherine isn't depicted as older is related to the plot.

The dolls are bringing back memories of Hamble from Play School.

Glad you're enjoying it. I would recommend The Lotus Eaters,  the first of these Michael J Bird series.  It's class, the best by far, but 1st series only is on YouTube. After watching the 9 episode series 1 I was so invested after the incredible climax I just had to buy series 2 on DVD, it cost me £50. Glad I did, series 2 is special.