"Inside No. 9" Merrily, Merrily (TV Episode 2022) Poster

(TV Series)

(2022)

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8/10
Gently down the Stream.
southdavid21 April 2022
Now in it's seventh season, "Inside Number 9" has a tendency to start it's runs with some of the better episodes and "Merrily, Merrily" continues that trend, playing with audience expectations and some meta casting for a bleak, but also oddly romantic start.

Three University friends, Lawrence (Reece Shearsmith), Darren (Steve Pemberton) and Callum (Mark Gatiss) reunite decades after leaving, at the request of Lawrence. Having misread the invitation, Darren has brought his girlfriend Donna (Diane Morgan) along, much to the chagrin of Lawrence, who clearly has a plan for the get together. The group head out on a pedalo boat, into a quiet lake only for Lawrence to get increasingly aggravated as they become trapped on some weeds.

40 odd episodes in now, and the writing pair know that they have an established reputation for horror aspects to the show, which for the most part "Merrily, Merrily" looks like it might be headed towards. Lawrence has isolated his friends and is unhappy that Donna is a variable he hasn't accounted for. There's also a mysterious figure watching them from the side-lines. Without giving away too much of the resolution of the episode, the story unfolds in quite a different and more emotional way.

Diane Morgan is a pretty peerless comedic performer and here manages to make what might have been quite a broad caricature with another actress into a character that just about keeps the right side of likable. Steve Pemberton's Darren starts as a typical role we've seen him play before, the brash loudmouth with his smarter, better educated friends but later you learn something about him that reappraises everything he's told you from his past and is another strand of melancholy humour to the episode. It's the reuniting with fellow League-r and genuine old University friend Mark Gatiss that is perhaps the biggest draw of the episode though. Callum is perhaps a less showy role than you might have expected but has a few of the driest deliveries that lead to some of the biggest laughs of the episode.

It's not the first episode of "Inside Number 9" that you could consider as profound or moving but I suspect it's another one that might start to appear on best of lists, in the years to come.
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8/10
Great start
veyselomersabanci2 May 2022
What a great start to series 7! It was like an adaptation of a short story. Brilliant writing and acting as always.

And the change of setting is such a breath of fresh air.
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6/10
Not the best start
andiwillkiss20 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I don't know how to feel about this. The atmosphere, especially near the end was wonderful, with the shots of the lake being used to full advantage. It was nice to see the league trio back on the screen together (minus Dyson ofc) and Diane Morgan was (as always) a comedic treat. This was a quieter episode, leaning heavily on the dialogue which I liked.

However, the problems arise in the last 5 minutes(ish) which just... meh? Is that it? It's a parody(?) of Charon from classic greek mythology, which was cool and nicely presented, but also felt quite disjointed from the rest of the episode (which was very grounded in reality). The ending fate of the three still on the peddalo was a bit vague and confusing as well. I took it that the empty peddalo and the dialogue of them being "on the other side" implied the 3 had died and had already crossed over to the dead. However, my sister (who was watching with me) pointed out that as Shearsmith /was/ already dead and travelling to the land of the dead, "the other side" could equally mean the land of the living, as that would be the opposite for Shearsmith's character. Ambiguity sometimes makes a good ending, but here it was just frustrating.

Also, slight nitpick but Shearsmith's character vomits up a coin for the ferryman after his trip. Traditionally, the coin would have to be buried in the deceased's mouth, as a huge part of the story is that those without the coin are doomed to wander forever. So how the hell did it get there for Shearsmith? He was surprised to see it, so obviously he didn't place it there. Did someone find him and bury him? Gagh, I don't know.

The characters also all seemed to hold the idiot ball for the plot to work. Why were they all seemingly waiting hours on end before doing things like checking their phones, or swimming out to check on Shearsmith's character? The dialouge mentions they've considered this previously, but I mean seriously. Hours on a peddalo would wear away the patience quite fast, especially with no genuine prospect of rescue presented. I don't know, maybe I set myself up by expecting a crazier twist. Kudos to the fireworks scene though, that was beautifully shot. I'm excited to see where next week's episode goes.
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7/10
Life is but a dream.
Pjtaylor-96-13804418 June 2023
With its focus on character dynamics and crafting an enigmatic atmosphere, this mostly real-time episode makes good use of its strong supporting cast (Mark Gatiss and Diane Morgan) alongside mainstays Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton. The dialogue slowly peels back the layers of backstory that tie the characters together, and the story ultimately ends on a suitably oblique note that satisfyingly wraps things up. It has a subversive streak to it, but it also has a genuine sense of emotion alongside its dark humour. Ultimately, this is an entertaining and tangibly mysterious experience throughout.
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10/10
Best show of 2022 so far.
Sleepin_Dragon22 April 2022
I was blown away by this, instantly this has become a top three episode for me, and as we all know, the bar is incredibly high. This was superbly observed, funny, dark, chilling, I simply cannot think of enough superlatives to throw at this.

I met up with two old uni mates last year, and after a decade, things had moved on, our lives had changed, we'd all gone in separate directions, they captured that sense to perfection.

That ending, the Ferryman, I had cold chills running down my spine.

The cinematography was perfect, the jokes were subtle and funny, the acting was first rate, the original League of Gentleman lineup, and Diane Morgan, what could be better than that.

This was sensational, 10/10.
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6/10
Predictable, yet beautiful
declantill21 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I am a huge, huge IN9 fan, but I have to say this, in terms of a story, Its a huge let down. I'm pretty sure none of us forgot that shady character watching over them, I'm pretty sure we all noticed just how unhinged Lawrence was etc.

You could tell a mile off something was going to happen in conjunction with Lawrence bringing the friends there and the shady character.

I do love Mark Gatiss and some of the dialogue was superb, as was the acting etc but the story wasn't there for me.

Now on to why it was beautiful, despite the story being a disappointment, the score, the cinematography etc was simply stunning, the pace was fantastic also.

I just think if they wrapped the dialogue, the acting, the cinematography, score etc around a solid story which isn't predictable/cliché I'd argue that this could've been one of their best episodes.

Despite my low score, this does bode well for the rest of the series.
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10/10
Possibly one of my favourite episodes of, well, anything
maxypaw20 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Of course, Inside No. 9 is known for its dark twists and so on and so forth, but this episode is far from dark, even considering the (implied) death at the ending. Frankly, incredibly poignant, if anything. The comedy, drama, everything is toned to a realistic level and of course the red herring synopsis that there's going to be a big falling out at a reunion was always going to have some twist on it considering what show this is but I did not expect it to be such a moving one. Perhaps it's just caught me off guard, but that was incredibly moving. The ending, especially, being so understated yet so clear in its intent, I wish I could put it into words. I'm so glad I caught it live, without any knowledge as to what the plot would have been, hence why I'm spoilering this review despite still being somewhat vague about it. Possibly the best episode of the entire show (yes, better than Christine), and almost certainly of all time.
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6/10
Merrily, Merrily
bobcobb30123 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
No story, no big twist, and a predictable ending. I was hoping for a bit more here.

Not a bad episode, but I wanted something bigger to happen in the new season premiere.
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10/10
The Gangs All Back
sebastianfarrell20 April 2022
One of the more sombre episodes and this brilliant series but it loses nothing for that. Wonderfully written and executed very realistic performances from the outset for the whole boat, still leagues above most tv shows on presently.
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10/10
Bittersweet Opener
garybulmer-3292520 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Really enjoyable opening episode. To me the ending was the best part (alongside Marks return to working with Steve and Reece).

The episode felt similar to Bernie Clifton and 12 days of Christine in terms of how moving it was once we discovered how Laurence's character had died and how he was now with his wife.

Overall a very good episode.
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1/10
I'm gonna be nit picky.
ohinkssleep21 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This episode was fine, however it completely and without regard broke the rule of the show. Every episode is centered around a location or event to do with the number 9. This time, the number 9 was on the pedalo that was being ridden by the main characters, and every scene was upon the pedalo or directly next to the pedalo.

Why then was Reece Shearsmith on an island for the last 5 minutes? That's not the number 9, and yet we follow him on the island. If the layout of the lake was shaped like a 9, then it would have been fine, but they chose to write a setting and exit it, in a show that is meant to have the one setting.
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10/10
An absolute amazing start to season 7!
becky-9234625 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Merrily, Merrily (Inside No.9 S7 E1, 2022) follows a group of old university friends who have a reunion on a boat, and drama ensues. I was so so impressed with this episode. What a way to kick off season 7! I really don't know how they keep coming up with these fresh and original ideas.

The actors were absolutely amazing in this episode, and it was great to see Mark Gatiss back! Reece and Steve are as brilliant as ever. The characters are so different to one and other, which made the conversations between them all the more intriguing to watch. The dialogue was strong too!

This is probably the best looking episode of No.9, the visuals were impressive. The setting was beautiful, and the shots were well lit. I loved the use of focus shifts. The colour palettes were great in this one too; they really reflected the sadness and melancholic tone.

The score was as iconic as ever, and is always a very recognisable element of No.9. In this episode the score is looming and dramatic, but also subtle enough to add to the atmosphere well.

It was paced well, and kept a high amount of tension throughout. I really could not tell where this one was going and the twists and turns got more and more heartbreaking and made me cry. I expected this episode to be disturbing but I was so wrong as I actually found it rather comforting! It was a beautiful telling of the story of Charon.
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10/10
Are you sure?
KLG2319 May 2022
I have been a fan of IN9 since episodes 1. I was so excited to see there was a new series. From the first episode, I was not disappointed. Perfect combination of creepy, funny, quirky, and surreal. Every actor was perfection and I cannot wait for the rest of the series.
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10/10
Very striking an episode
ezgiyaykiranatik13 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Story is turning into something else after the confession of Laurence. We don't know lives, efforts of each other to live. And many other ideas too can be emerged, obviously...

By the way, rating could be more higher, i don't understand. Always deserves 10/10.
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8/10
Very moving
safenoe2 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Merrily, Merrily is the season seven opener of Inside No. 9 and it was quite moving in many respects and quite reminiscent of the 12 Days of Christine episode that really gave Inside No. 9 that emotional heft.

Anyway, here Merrily, Merrily deals with love, loss and university days and the pinnacle of success. Reece Shearsmith confirmed in a tweet that his two friends made it out alive so that's a relief. Still, the emotional pull at the end was very moving. I can't wait to catch up on the rest of season seven and of course season eight.

The cinematography in this episode was very impressive.
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10/10
This series NEVER disappoints!!!
galuwatra2 October 2022
MY ALL TIME FAVORITE SERIES!!!! I was EXTREMELY excited to see that there was a new season of Inside No. 9. I cannot think of another series that has made me laugh & cry & marvel at the brilliantly written episodes. Steve Pemberton & Reece Sheersmith are GENIUSES!!! Their acting performances are equally as brilliantly as their writing. Every show is well cast & the settings are perfection. After each episode I continue to think about it, for weeks. I never cease to be amazed at how powerful these #9s are. Laughing my @$$ off, as I type, watching an episode!!! I just can't praise this show highly enough!
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9/10
Bautiful short movie
hakanbal-fizik22 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I loved this episode. It told a big emotional story in short time. I wished somepoints it to become more funny story. I felt it wouldnt be. And. I m in tears now.
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