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Mr King is the second episode of Inside No.9 Series 7.
Alan Curtis (Reece Shearsmith) has just started at a rural Welsh primary school to teach a class in his native English language, something they’re not used to at all. Then again, they haven’t heard of Greta Thunberg, climate change or other worldly issues, so he’s left wondering just how much they’re aware of things.
Similarly, he sometimes drops in dry humour which no-one picks up on.
As for Mr King, he’s the teacher that the class used to have, who was quite slapdash in his approach, and didn’t even give them homework. Quite frankly, he sounds like the ideal teacher!
However, as they grapple with various issues, they don’t quite understand ‘global warming’ when it involves tadpoles and some rather warm water…
In due course, a situation comes about which makes life potentially difficult for Alan. He also tries to find out information about the seemingly elusive Mr King, as to why he’s no longer at the school and what did he teach during his time there?
Again, like with Merrily Merrily, this episode is very much a slow-burner, but it takes quite a turn that I wasn’t expecting. You can find out whether you were expecting it by watching the episode. I’m giving no spoilers, here.
As well as wishing it hadn’t taken so long to get into the meat of the episode, all I can say is that I’ve often said before that Inside No.9 feels very much like a modern-day Tales of the Unexpected, and this episode is no exception.
Inside No.9 Series 7 is available to pre-order on DVD, ahead of the release date on June 6th.
There’s also Inside No. 9: Collector’s Edition: The Scripts: Series 1-3 in Hardcover.
After broadcast, each episode will be on the BBC iPlayer.
Check out reviews of more Inside No.9 episodes.
Also available to buy:
- Series 6 on DVD
- Series 5 on DVD
- Series 4 on Blu-ray
- Series 4 on DVD
- Series 3 on Blu-ray
- Series 3 on DVD
- Series 1 on Blu-ray
- Series 2 on Blu-ray
- Series 1 and 2 on DVD together
Episode Score: 7/10
Director: Louise Hooper
Producer: Kim Crowther
Writers: Reece Shearsmith, Steve Pemberton
Music: Christian Henson
Cast:
Alan Curtis: Reece Shearsmith
Mr Edwards: Steve Pemberton
Ceri: Elin Owen
Euan: Charlie Baron
Gwen: Rosie Ekenna
Owen: William Newton
Winnie: Annette Badland
Other children: Darcy-Olivia White, Isaac Eames, Summer Rose, Toby Roberts
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.