Inside No. 9

I've only seen the first series so far - that is, six great half-hour short stories. Each was different, but they were all incredibly imaginative. The second episode, wonderful thieving slapstick, was probably the closest to my heart, but it's really hard to measure them. I especially like how cunning the creators are, how, for example, in the third episode they know well that the viewer knows or at least has a clue, and yet (or precisely because of that) they decide to surprise us with something and disconcert us... And they are successful. Just keep going!____The second series kept the bar at exactly the level at which it was - that is, at the very, very, very top. The first part in the sleeping car was already excellent, but I would especially like to point out the second part, which was perfectly beautiful.____Even after the third series I have no reason to downgrade my review. The originality of Mr Pemberton and Shearsmith probably knows no bounds - they have a unique knack for combining humor and tension, and to surprise. The episode with the restaurant bill was probably the best of this series.____The fourth series confirms everything I've written before. The first two three episodes in particular are unique, and I can’t but to wonder what Pemberton and Shearsmith can think up. Masters of ideas, twists and points, there’s no other way to say it. (05/30/2017)

Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith seem to be a pair of very interesting English creators. Who else would have found the courage to make a series composed of short stories, inviting a great number of both famous and lesser known British actors? For me, this series was a great viewing experience. Some episodes are almost ingenious and a real joy to watch. The fun thing about this is that you never know in advance what to expect. The only certainty is the house number nine. What kind of story the boys come up with is completely up to them. So once it is a nice satire, then almost a murder mystery, next time a brutal psychological thriller and yet other time a horror with a decent atmosphere. Every time, however, it features a healthy dose of sarcasm, which makes you at least smile, if not laugh. I won’t give it the full number of stars because some episodes were worse than others. As a whole, however, this series was a very nice surprise I never heard of before and I only chose it from the number of other series on HBO Go at random. (11/15/2019)