Inside No. 9 Best Episodes
A brilliant combination of gothic horror and sharp humor has made the British anthology series Inside No. 9 a success in the UK with a growing a cult fandom on a global scale. The brainchild of Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton who write and act in each episode centering around something twisted, heartbreaking, funny and/or scary going on at a variety of houses, apartments, dressing rooms, studios etc. identified by the number 9. Here in no particular order are the best episodes of Inside No. 9.
12 Days of Christine: Following a costume party, Christine brings a hunky guy back to her place for a fling, but it is not long after this that we a zoomed through time with this new couple to Valentines Day months later and their relationship is still going strong. It is clear time has gone awry with Christine at the crux of it. At a breakneck and disjointed pace we see Christine’s relationship hit its highs and lows as we, along with the protagonist wonder what is going on and why is it tied to the mysterious man in a rain jacket making sporadic appearances. It all culminates at a grand holiday dinner where she finally figures out the truth and it is nothing short of heartbreaking.
The Riddle of the Sphinx: A dark delve into the cutthroat world of cryptic crossword puzzles. On a dark and stormy night, a young woman named Nina approaches famed puzzlemaker Professor Nigel Squires under the false pretenses of glimpsing a part of his genius to impress her partner. As the night goes on, Nina slowly reveals her true purpose for being there this night and it involves revenge, with the help of Professor Squires’ nemesis Dr. Jacob Tyler. This is an episode that starts odd but grows to ludicrous levels by episode’s end so it is not beyond the realm of possibility that incest, murder, and cannibalism crop up.
Wise Owl: Childhood nostalgia turns into the stuff of nightmares in this disturbing Inside No. 9 episode. Seemingly trapped in a state of childhood, Ronnie frequently watches PSA cartoons from his youth featuring the lessons from Wise Owl. This indulgence in the past seems to be fueling a host of mental and emotional troubles. As the episode runs we discover the truth of the matter and the true depth of evil Wise Owl was capable of.
Death be Not Proud: Before creating Inside No. 9, Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton were the masterminds behind the series Psychoville. In “Death be Not Proud” we see two fan favorite characters from that show crossover into an apartment numbered with the ominous 9. Moving into a new flat, Beattie (Jenna Coleman of Doctor Who and Sandman fame) meets the awkward David Sowerbutt, son of the late Maureen. What follows is a recounting of David’s relationship with his mother that is the equal parts dark and hilarious in the fashion Inside No. 9 is famous for.
How Do You Plead?: In a high rise penthouse, an in-home nurse cares for an ailing man who was once one of England’s greatest legal minds, played by the great Sir Derek Jacobi. The two have a good chemistry, but on this night the lawyer is destined to be his fate as a deal he made with the devil years before comes due. But with his cunning manipulative skills, the aging lawyer believes he has found a loop hole which spells bad news for his nurse…or does it?
Tom and Gerri: Taking in a homeless man named, Migg, proves to be a life changing experience for frustrated teacher Tom. Needless to say this does not go over well with his girlfriend Gerri who has enough on her plate already with a series of acting auditions. She is onto something as Tom’s mental health declines at a rapid pace as Migg is seemingly off the misery of his new roommate. It all has to come to a head as Tom finally has to deal with his issues head on ending with a wicked twist.
Mr. King: While he may have thought he was taking a teaching job in Wales, Mr. Curtis has instead ended up in Inside No. 9‘s version of The Wicker Man. The educator finds that his students are a bit odd with an attachment to their supposed former teacher Mr. King. There is something nefarious going on, but if Mr. Curtis is going to uncover what it is, he will have to do it before the kid’s special program.
Bernie Clifton’s Dressing Room: As a person who is a sucker for iconic comedy duos from Abbott & Costello to Laurel & Hardy, this episode sucked me in hard. There was a time when Len Shelby and Tommy Drake were the beloved comedy act Cheese & Crackers. But now they are estranged from one another, Tommy has gone onto to more serious endeavors while Len has been struggling. Coming together for a reunion the two former friends recognize that they see the world far different than they did three decades ago during their hey day. While they be famed for their humor, it is clear there are very serious issues stemming from the events of “Bernie Clifton’s Dressing Room”. When we finally find out the truth behind their reunion it is nothing short of a emotional gut punch.
Dead Line: It is only fitting for a dark and spooky show to go all out for a Halloween special, and what better way than to have a “live” holiday special at historic Granada Studios. Though it is not long before technical difficulties begin to plague the production driving BBC Two to air another episode instead, only to have issue with this as well. All the while we see through surveillance cameras Pemberton and Shearsmith killing time….but we also see a number of unexplained events. This is intercut with clips from Most Haunted and historical documentaries exploring the horrid past of Granada and the paranormal forces now gunning for the Inside No. 9 duo.
Cold Comfort: Through CCTV footage we follow, as he begins a tenure at a crisis helpline. It is not too long into this stint when he ends up talking to a woman in the middle of ending her own life in a tense and emotional moment….until this woman calls back the next day. It is clear this woman, Chloe, is playing games and the new call taker is none to happy. Due to the nature of the way this episode is shot, viewers will be forced to pay attention to every moment of “Cold Comfort” to get to the chilling truth.
The Devil of Christmas: Even dark and scary shows have a right to celebrate the season, even if it is through the lens of a rediscovered BBC special from the 70’s. With Sir Derek Jacobi providing a director’s commentary for the special, we get a brilliant, faux vintage tale of a family heading for an Alpine vacation where they learn about the legend of the Krampus. Naturally they chuckle this off in horror tradition but soon strange things begin to happen in their cabin. But is the Krampus real or is there something sinister more grounded in reality?
