The greatest acting and
writing showpiece of the entire
season. Truly masterful.
On the one hand, this episode could be accused of being the least ambitious most simplistic episode of the entire season. Almost all the episode takes place within a single room, the cast is fairly limited (confined to five lead performances) and the majority of the story is told through dialogue. However despite all of this, not only is this one of my favourite episodes of the season, but I would also consider this to one of the most tightly made episodes in British television history. Feel free to quote me on that if you care to.
Pemberton plays Tony, an arrogant and narcissistic stage actor currently performing Macbeth. Pemberton dominates the screen with his huge amounts of charisma and presence at all times and it's great to see the actor finally able to unload his full potential. He is clearly having a blast here, and it makes an interesting contrast to compare this to his role in Last Gasp, which saw him at probably most subtle and reserved versus this far louder and brasher character. However it is Shearsmith who dominates the episode, playing the titular understudy Jim. I will not spoil this performance, however alongside A Field in England, which is one of the greatest British films I have ever seen, this performance helped to cement Shearsmith as one of my favourite British actors. Jim is in my opinion the most relatable, developed and unique main character of the entire season, and he portrays all the human pain and disappointment which would naturally come from being forced into such a position. The other performances and characters in this episode are also wonderfully portrayed, bolstered by the strongest interactions that have been written for the series yet. Particular praise to Lyndsey Marshal for her excellent and subtle performance as Laura.
Aside from the acting, this episode features the season's best script, without a doubt. The dialogue is fluid, the pacing is perfect (special praise for the use of a five act structure, giving the episode an appropriately Shakespearean scale and tone) and the twist is the best of season in my eyes. This is both in terms of the shock it provides, and the way it changes the way you view the preceding story and character interactions in such a drastic manor.
Overall, I cannot praise this episode enough. I wish I could continue on to praise every element of this episode individually. The dramatic and intense lighting, the genius of setting the entire episode within a single dressing room, the line 'Fuck me it's a ghost' (the most quotable line of the season). This episode is a masterpiece of dark comedy, character drama and theatrical fable, and I recommend it higher than any other episode of the season.
By Jack D. Phillips
A Zoom Film Review
Inside Number 9: Episode 5
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