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The Trolley Problem is the second episode of Inside No.9 Series 9.
Blake (Steve Pemberton) is a therapist who lives at No.9, having recently moved to a remote location, and rescued Drew (Reece Shearsmith) from potentially jumping off a bridge to his death – since no bystanders wanted to help, so due to his job, he feels qualified to talk to Drew about his situation.
However, within a few minutes, Drew starts getting angry, but what about?
Well, we learn how Drew appreciates a certain piece of art in the house, drawn by Blake’s son, and feels like getting back into drawing for the first time since he was a kid.
There are revelations that’ll come about, but the info is nicely dripfed to us. Yet, the premise states that it’s probably not the greatest idea to bring someone into your home who you don’t know – and how!
The Trolley Problem is the name given to one of the psychiatric tests discussed within the episode, to determine how an individual thinks. This one centres around a train trolley hurtling down a railway track towards five people, but you can choose to pull a level which will make it change tracks and hit just one person instead.
As for how things play out, I’m obviously not going to spoil that here, but damn, it was a cracker, and a damn sight better than last week’s Boo To A Goose, taking turns in the plot which I wasn’t expecting. That said, it’s often the case that the second episode in any series is the best of them.
I could argue that there’s one or two aspects similar to things I’ve seen before, but then I watch far too many films and TV shows
I would love it if the rest of the series can maintain the quality, but either way, it’s going to be a shame for Inside No.9 to come to an end. However, I wonder what Mr Pemberton and Mr Shearsmith will bring us next?
Inside No.9 continues next week on BBC2 at 10pm on Wednesday May 22nd.
Inside No.9 Series 9 is available to pre-order on DVD, ahead of its release on June 24th.
You can buy the 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 8 on DVD
- Series 7 on DVD
- 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
The end is nigh for Inside No. 9 🐇@ReeceShearsmith and @SP1nightonly spill all about why the final series is so special to them.#InsideNo9 | 10pm 8 May | BBC Two @BBCiPlayer | #MadeByBBCStudios pic.twitter.com/wv1SPwCU7Y
— BBC Studios (@bbcstudios) May 8, 2024
Episode Score: 9/10
Director: Al Campbell
Producer: Steve Ryde
Writers: Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith
Music: Christian Henson
Cast:
Blake: Steve Pemberton
Drew: Reece Shearsmith
Robbie: Ethan Joseph-Robert
Ellie: Eleanor Kirby
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.