The Cutprice Guignol

In a show of twists, perhaps the greatest twist of all is…no twist?

Does that scan? Probably not. But Inside No. 9 has a very different kind of offering for us this week, with Love’s Great Adventure, an episode that eschews the show’s usual tales-of-the-unexpected shock ending for a different approach entirely.

The twist this week is off-camera rather than part of the story itself (for the most part) – this episode is entirely improvised. Following a family across the Christmas period as they become involved with their son’s dangerous entanglements due to his addiction, it’s a pretty grounded episode that draws most of the drama from real-world conflict as opposed to, you know, someone burying their mother’s head in a wall. It’s an interesting wrinkle that undeniably brings something new to the show, a meta-twist that differentiates it completely from every other episode thus far. With Pemberton and Shearsmith creating such consistently tight scripts, stepping away from scripted drama entirely is a pretty bold move.

The question is, of course, whether this ambitious approach to the episode actually works. And, for the most part – I feel like it does. This is certainly a very different episode of the show, tonally, when compared to the back catalogue we’ve got to at this stage, but I appreciate the approach bringing something new to the table. This kitchen sink drama type of story isn’t going to be for everyone – and, arguably, it’s not really what people come to Inside No. 9 for. But, in the hands of a capable cast including the brilliant Debbie Rush, what we get is a subtle, intriguing, and understated piece of storytelling that captures the lived-in dynamic of this family via the less structured approach that improvisation offers.

But the truth is, in a set-up like this, the most rewarding aspect of this story is the relationship and chemistry between the actors, and that’s never more prominent than in the scenes that Pemberton and Shearsmith share together. Those few minutes they spend together in the kitchen – a quiet, downbeat conversation about loss and grief – is what I always come back to when I think of this episode. It’s so beautifully-done, organic and genuinely affecting, a real history and weight behind this friendship that translates to the screen in such an impressive way – even though it’s really an aside to the main plot, it’s the standout of the episode. Their partnership on and off screen is at the heart of Inside No. 9, after all, and to see it thrive in an improv setting that makes such great use of it is a real treat.

Love’s Great Adventure is an experimental episode for the show – it might not rank amongst the very best for me, but it’s a solid middle-of-the-table with some brilliant moments studded throughout, and I will always appreciate an effort to try something a little different, whether it works perfectly or not. What do you make of Love’s Great Adventure? Does the dramatic improv style work for you, or do you prefer the scripted episodes? Let me know in the comments!

If you liked this article and want to see more stuff like it, please check out the rest of my Inside No. 9 reviews. I’d also love it if you would check out my horrible short story collection, and, if you’d like to support my work, please consider supporting me on Patreon!

(header image via IMDB)