The rocketing start to this first season continues with "Tom and Gerri", the third episode and another establishing the nearest thing the show has to a format - a funny, dark story, with a darker twist at the end.
Tom (Reece Shearsmith) is a primary school teacher but aspiring novelist who begins and interaction with Migg (Steve Pemberton) a homeless man who finds his wallet. Migg tells Tom that he knew Charles Bukowski and soon one drunken night evolves into Migg moving in and convincing Tom to leave his job. As Migg recovers and re-establishes a more traditional life, Tom descends, first losing his girlfriend Gerri (Gemma Arterton) and eventually stopping shaving and bathing whilst waiting for his gyro to arrive.
I mean, it's hard not to start with the idea that Tom is punching above his weight with Gerri who is much younger than him. It does perhaps pay back into the story though, when you consider some of the concerns that Tom mentions about the relationship - about her borrowing money from him to fund her acting dreams. The episode is again a funny one, particularly whenever Conleth Hill makes an appearance as Stevie, a fellow teacher.
It cleverly hides its real twist behind one that was slightly more predictable. (Indeed, the one twist that perhaps shouldn't be allowed to be done anymore.) Really good stuff again though.
Tom (Reece Shearsmith) is a primary school teacher but aspiring novelist who begins and interaction with Migg (Steve Pemberton) a homeless man who finds his wallet. Migg tells Tom that he knew Charles Bukowski and soon one drunken night evolves into Migg moving in and convincing Tom to leave his job. As Migg recovers and re-establishes a more traditional life, Tom descends, first losing his girlfriend Gerri (Gemma Arterton) and eventually stopping shaving and bathing whilst waiting for his gyro to arrive.
I mean, it's hard not to start with the idea that Tom is punching above his weight with Gerri who is much younger than him. It does perhaps pay back into the story though, when you consider some of the concerns that Tom mentions about the relationship - about her borrowing money from him to fund her acting dreams. The episode is again a funny one, particularly whenever Conleth Hill makes an appearance as Stevie, a fellow teacher.
It cleverly hides its real twist behind one that was slightly more predictable. (Indeed, the one twist that perhaps shouldn't be allowed to be done anymore.) Really good stuff again though.