Inside No 9 – The Last Weekend

If you’ve been following my series blogs for the eighth outing of Inside No 9, you might have detected a less than glowing vibe – although they’ve generally all been quite solid, I’ve not really been blown away by any of the episodes (I’m still impressed by the rug-pull on ‘3 by 3’, though). We’ve been fortunate, then, that Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith have saved the best for last, as ‘The Last Weekend’ is a resounding success. It’s beautifully acted, with a story that proves engaging in multiple ways as the dynamics shift, and it culminates in one of those scenes that this show does so well.

There’s a brilliant scene in which the two of them have an argument, and it’s so effectively performed, you’ll probably have a tear in your eye

Joe (Pemberton) and Chaz (Shearsmith) have been together for nine years, and they spend their anniversary together at a holiday cottage they sometimes frequent on the weekend. However, there’s an air of melancholy hanging over proceedings, as the couple have been dealing with the news that Joe is suffering from prostate cancer – the two men have been undergoing their own personal grieving processes, something that has tested their relationship in new ways. Will the travails of the last weekend tear them apart as they take stock of their lives together?

This is one of those entries, like ‘Bernie Clifton’s Dressing Room’ or ‘The Stakeout’, that is essentially a two-hander between our two leads – they’ve known each other for so long that it’s not hard for them to sell their relationship. They are both incredible here, and although Shearsmith’s performance as an over-the-top former popstar is likely to draw the eye more, Pemberton’s understated and reflective Joe really makes the dynamic work. There’s a brilliant scene in which the two of them have an argument, and it’s so effectively performed, you’ll probably have a tear in your eye.

You have a sense of these two men and what drives them, and it keeps up as the narrative shifts – Chaz displays a lot of vulnerability and fear as Joe receives mysterious phone calls from someone called Mick. There is also a cameo appearance from Sheila Reid as the couple’s elderly housekeeper, which amounts to an entertaining diversion in a plot that might have been quite heavy without one. Her enthusiastic reaction to Joe and Chaz dancing to one of the latter’s old hits, ‘Blue Jeans Baby’, is an utter delight.

This is an example of Inside No 9 at its best, and it’s this level of subtly and complexity that I’ve missed

I’ve criticised some of series eight’s episodes (most notably ‘Love is a Stranger’) for being predictable and not engaging enough to warrant the eventual destination – it couldn’t be further from the truth in ‘The Last Weekend’. This is an episode where things shift gradually, then suddenly, and I’ll admit to being totally blindsided – yet, on my rewatch, it’s incredible how much foreshadowing there is to what will come. This is an example of Inside No 9 at its best, and it’s this level of subtly and complexity that I’ve missed. You don’t necessarily need the twists and turns if you’ve got great performances and an engaging set-up, but it really complements and enhances the material. I was enjoying ‘The Last Weekend’ anyway, but the final five minutes were just the icing on the cake.

It’s no surprise that I loved this episode, and I think it’s a wonderful place on which to wrap up this run, because it showcases so many of the show’s traits at their best. It boasts strong acting and writing, which pulls at all the emotions, and it leaves you with a delicious aftertaste. I’ve steered clear of too much detail because I think this is an episode that should be watched with as fresh a pair of eyes as possible, but trust me: if you’re a fan of this show, or if you just want a sense of what it brings to the table, ‘The Last Weekend’ is definitely worth a watch.