Zanzibar – Inside No.9 Series 4 Episode 1 – The DVDfever Review

Zanzibar is the name of the hotel in which the first episode of Inside No.9 Series 4 is set, and it looks at the residents on the 9th floor.

It’s a difficult episode to describe because most of it centred around everyone talking at cross purposes, with situations getting confused between them all, and the fact that Rory Kinnear has a dual role in this also adds to the characters’ confusion, even though it’s plainly obvious to us for the most part.

I could see what writer/performers Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton were trying to do with the blend of crossed wires, and I can appreciate how complex it must’ve been to write it, but it just didn’t gel for me and ended up being crazy-confusing in the final act. Inside No.9 episodes can be a bit ‘Marmite’ on occasion (i.e. you either love them or hate them) but this was… not great.

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Despite some good acting, the fact that everyone talks direct to the camera, most of the time, and in Shakespearean-type language, felt a bit wearing. Also, it took a little getting used to that we don’t get to see inside the rooms, so everything just takes place in the corridor.

And I’m sure if a hotel still had a room 911, they’d change the number.

Zanzibar is available to watch on BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast.

Inside No.9 Series 4 is available to pre-order on Blu-ray and DVD, ahead of the release date of February 12th.

Also available to buy:

• 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

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Inside No.9 Series 4 Trailer – BBC Two

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Score: 4/10

Director: David Kerr
Producer: Adam Tandy
Writers: Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith
Music: Christian Henson

Fred: Jaygann Ayeh
Henry: Reece Shearsmith
Prince Rico/Gus: Rory Kinnear
Mr Green: Bill Paterson
Alice: Marcia Warren
Robert: Steve Pemberton
Amber: Hattie Morahan
Colette: Helen Monks
Tracey: Tanya Franks
Vince: The Actor Kevin Eldon