The Cutprice Guignol

What is Inside No. 9 if not a kind of magic trick?

And not just because they managed to make this premise last a pretty convincing nine seasons. No, because so many of the stories that have populated this series, essentially, amount to a masterful sleight-of-hand – pointing the viewer in one direction, only to rip the carpet with a twist to reveal the secret story that’s been unfolding under our very noses.

Which is what makes Misdirection, this week’s episode, such a perfect addition to the show’s oeuvre. After Neville Griffin (Shearsmith, in a one-two punch of wigs so bad they’ll have you questioning the worth of life itself) murders Willie (Pemberton), a small-time magician, to steal one of his tricks – only for his grandson, Gabriel (Fionn Whitehead) to turn up nearly a decade later to seek revenge.

And look, to be honest with you, I’m a sucker for magic and the magic community – that mixture of deadly-serious secrecy and the inherent playfulness of the art and how it asks audiences to suspend their disbelief for the sake of entertainment scratches all the right itches for me, and the hours I spent as a child subjecting my family to clumsy versions of classic illusions speak to that. And, while Misdirection is really about a central trick that’s revealed in the last few moments of the episode, it’s also a loving but slightly arch look at how this community functions; the rules, the regulations, who’s got the rights to the rites. Sure, I might not have heard of anyone facing a guillotining for the sake of a magic trick (and God, is that opening murder sequence so well done – the fake-out rope had me yelping), but that doesn’t mean they don’t take it seriously.

This episode, like so much of the magic it revolves around, is beautifully put-together. Guillem Morales’ direction is so atmospheric, which doesn’t seem like it should be possible in a cluttered warehouse, but he pulls it off – the shafts of light cutting through the ceiling, the incongruent mix of gothic stage pieces and cheesy show posters, the dynamism in the way the camera moves, especially during the central sequence between Whitehead and Shearsmith. It all feels like a magic trick, guiding your eye in one direction while trying to pull your attention to another.

But the best trick it pulls off is with that sensationally-excellent plot. In an episode about magic and the rules that surround it, it’s only fair that everything happens in plain sight – Misdirection doesn’t hide anything from you, it lays out all the details right under your nose. And it makes for such a gloriously satisfying ending, as Neville is framed for the murder of his wife by Gabriel as revenge for the murder of his grandfather. I think Whitehead is the secret weapon here – he’s convincing enough as this slightly-bumbling would-be avenger as to assure you that there’s nothing more going on here, only for the reveal to land even more impressively as a result.

I truly love Misdirection, from the bottom of my heart – it’s a standout episode of the show for me, a loving homage to the world of magic and magicians and a superb trick in its own right. But I would love to know if it weaves any magic for you (heh) in the comments below – let me know where this one stands for you, sceptics and believers alike!

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 Critical Popcorn)