Inside No. 9 (TV Series) The Stakeout (2020) User Reviews

The St(e)akeout

[safenoe · 9/10 · 10 December 2020]

Well, I never saw that ending coming that's for sure.

The build-up to the denouement was tense as can be, and I really thought Pemberton was fortunately at his element as the edge PC Thompson. Unfortunately he makes a nasty fate at the end.

Fortuantely Shearsmith is there to provide us with a few set-ups for the twists and turns. Unfortunately this was the last episode of season 5.

Fortunately the BBC has renewed Inside No. 9 for two more seasons.

Flying Squad

[southdavid · 9/10 · 10 March 2020]

Damn. I've literally just got another pun from this episode now, as I've seen what the episode was called. "Inside Number 9" saves the best for last with a superlative episode that is both funny, thrilling and with a horror twist, the specifics of which I didn't see coming but was masterfully laid in.

PC Thompson (Steve Pemberton) is staking out a graveyard with Special Officer Varney (Reece Shearsmith). Though they're slowly bonding, Varney is very different to PC Thompson's previous partner, who died in horrific circumstances some weeks before. Thompson is struggling with this still, but refuses to undertake any formal counselling. On a subsequent night again in the Graveyard, Varney discovers that their dispatch team believe they're somewhere else entirely.

This was a fantastic episode. Almost entirely a two-hander with Pemberton and Shearsmith in the police car - their banter is mostly warm and funny, but with the undercurrent that Thompson is hiding his true motives for being in the graveyard. Performances are really good as they flirt with dealing with Thompson's grief and survivor's guilt, before pulling back into a mystery. And throughout all this, there is a thread of dialogue and seemingly innocuous actions that only come together once you know the twist at the end. (Which I'm not going to give away here). The twist was phenomenal though. I was heading down the right road, but nowhere near the specifics of it.

What a wonderful series "Inside Number 9" is, consistently among the most varied and interesting shows on TV. So happy that two more seasons have been greenlit. Can't wait.

A fine end to a great series.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 12 March 2020]

This wonderful fifth series concludes with The Stakeout, it's a very good episode, an intense and clever thirty minutes. Terrific writing, as has been the case throughout this series.

It seemed like a while ago that we last had an episode with a horror vibe, so this one was a little expected, I did not expect that major twist however, it was a great shock.

The pair were wonderful as you'd expect. I have preferred other episodes in the series, but it was excellent, 8/10.

foreshadowing

[ajohnares · 10/10 · 11 March 2020]

I decided to rewatch this episode after the final reveal and found these foreshadowing and wanted to share with you all. Some are obvious but they are all truly brilliant.

"I'm only thinking about your blood pressure."

"I do eat meat once a month."

"A coffin."

For all the close ups with the rear mirror, you can only see Thompson.

(asked about sleep) "was dead to the world."

They didn't go over the bridge. (running water)

"I'm a bit too long in the tooth for that."

Riddle me this

[sledgelam · 10/10 · 9 March 2020]

There's a lot at stake in this episode.

Fortunately, it was packed with fantastically pungent writing by Shearsmith and Pemberton; brilliantly directed by the fearless Guillem Morales. Unfortunately, 9th March 2020 marks the last offering for Series 5.

Fortunately, the show has been resurrected for Series 6 and will no doubt be back with a wicked bite next year.

Unfortunately, next year is at least 12 months away. This means we'll have to make do with TV that pales in comparison; possibly even things that suck the soul right out of you.

Fortunately, Inside No.9 is so good that I'd wait a figurative lifetime to see what comes next. Don't keep us too long, though, for I won't be able to sleep at night not knowing when it's back.

A fun Homage

[eppingdrwho · 19 March 2020]

This seems at first glance to be a slow paced story, but it is carefully building to a fun of unexpected climax. A good season closer.

Another top episode!

[bonera · 10/10 · 11 March 2020]

Series 5 has been possibly the best overall - not a dull episode. It's great to see them both acting against each other. Possibly the best episode this series, so well written and properly creepy especially as the episode wore on. Try not to read spoilers for this episode - as usual I didn't have a clue where it was going. Such a great series!

Sake-out

[garybulmer-32925 · 10/10 · 11 March 2020]

The best writing since series three, the directing was superb and captured the mood perfectly.

Episode 506

[bobcobb301 · 6/10 · 5 May 2021]

Not bad, but a letdown considering it was the last episode of the series. I feel like it is capable of much more than a pretty poor twist at the end.