Thanks to a holiday, I've actually seen this episode twice, prior to writing this review - the first time that's happened this season. "How do you plead?" was a solid episode the first time, which reveals a little more of it's loaded dialogue once you know it's secrets.
Urban Bedford (Reece Shearsmith) is the kindly and patient nurse providing palliative care for an aging barrister named Webster (Derek Jacobi). On the night of his birthday, and with Webster in a particularly distressed state, he asks Urban to locate some of his old case notes, specifically the ones from the case that began an unprecedented 45-year winning streak. Haunted by an incident from his own past, Urban begins to wonder who, or what, could have Webster so terrified.
So, - spoilers - but if you can't work out from the name of Jacobi's Barrister exactly who he sold his soul too, then I'm afraid I don't hold out much hope for you. You'll, no doubt, be ahead of exactly who is coming for him when the clock strikes midnight, but then the show offers a couple of twists in the tale, the clues and pointers for which are both there in the dialogue of the earlier scenes.
It's not a particularly hilarious addition to the series, but it does have its moments. Essentially, it's just a two hander between Jacobi and Shearsmith, they do work some lines into both of their dialogues that raise a laugh but generally this leans more towards the horror preference and away from the comedy. Jacobi's performance is excellent though and Shearsmith matches him, especially during the conclusion when he realises what is happening to him, and what he'll have to face up to for temporary redemption.
Overall another tremendous episode, if again not one that would make my top 5 list.
One more to go. I'm hoping for a more explicit horror ending to the series.
Urban Bedford (Reece Shearsmith) is the kindly and patient nurse providing palliative care for an aging barrister named Webster (Derek Jacobi). On the night of his birthday, and with Webster in a particularly distressed state, he asks Urban to locate some of his old case notes, specifically the ones from the case that began an unprecedented 45-year winning streak. Haunted by an incident from his own past, Urban begins to wonder who, or what, could have Webster so terrified.
So, - spoilers - but if you can't work out from the name of Jacobi's Barrister exactly who he sold his soul too, then I'm afraid I don't hold out much hope for you. You'll, no doubt, be ahead of exactly who is coming for him when the clock strikes midnight, but then the show offers a couple of twists in the tale, the clues and pointers for which are both there in the dialogue of the earlier scenes.
It's not a particularly hilarious addition to the series, but it does have its moments. Essentially, it's just a two hander between Jacobi and Shearsmith, they do work some lines into both of their dialogues that raise a laugh but generally this leans more towards the horror preference and away from the comedy. Jacobi's performance is excellent though and Shearsmith matches him, especially during the conclusion when he realises what is happening to him, and what he'll have to face up to for temporary redemption.
Overall another tremendous episode, if again not one that would make my top 5 list.
One more to go. I'm hoping for a more explicit horror ending to the series.
