To Have and to Hold

It says something about the quality of this fourth season that this fourth episode, which is about as high quality as UK comedy has to offer at the moment, still feels like a slight let-down after the previous instalments.

For change in this season, the lead performer is Steve Pemberton. He portrays Wedding photographer Adrian whose marriage to Harriet (Nicola Walker) has withered seemingly due to issues with intimacy, spontaneity and infertility. When Harriet books a surprise birthday trip to Paris, Adrian is extremely reluctant to leave the confines of his basement dark room. Is this because of deep seated resentment from a previous affair, or could it be something even more sinister?

Perhaps one of the reasons this episode doesn't quite match up to the previous ones, is that it isn't really very funny. . . and doesn't especially try to be. There are the odd amusing lines amongst Adrian and Harriet's conversations, but mostly it's a painfully realistic depiction of a couple who have fallen out of love and can't admit it. The acting from both leads is excellent during this section of the episode.

The dark twist, when it comes, I didn't anticipate, though looking back the seeds were planted with lines that seemed inconsequential when first seen. The final reveals are not played for laughs either, and actually stayed with me for a while after the show had finished.

The return to the dark tales of previous seasons is welcome one even if the series has shown new heights these past three weeks.

Another super quality episode of the show, Series four has been a high point, this felt like a very big standard episode of Inside no.9, that isn't a criticism, just a sign of how good the show is.

They are certainly going all out using the pick of British female acting talent, we've had Fox, Dolan and now Nicola Walker, great use of casting. Nicola Walker excels as always and Pemberton delivers his season's best performance.

A clever misdirection, you assume you're simply watching a tale of love gone sour, a couple who've made mistakes and insist on punishing one another, but of course there's a twist, and a sting in the tail. If I could have one wish for a television show to return it would be tales of the unexpected, it would be in safe hands with Shearsmith and Pemberton.

This is one of the less exciting episodes of the series because the pacing seems slow and not much appears to be happening; however, the final reveal helps with bringing the story to a satisfying conclusion.

I love that each episode is standalone, this is one of the best. Deliciously dark.

There are times I have no idea where an installment of Inside No 9 will go.

As was the case with 'To Have and to Hold.'

Adrian is a wedding photographer who seems to be more interested in his jigsaws and Pot Noodles than his wife Harriet.

Harriet adores him, looks forward to renewing their vows but Adrian seems disinterested. We find out later that this could be because Harriet strayed as Adrian spent his weekends on weddings.

A surprise holiday to Paris leads to a room with a view.

What started out as a very realistic portrait of an unhappy marriage that is disintegrating, it certainly went for a dark twist with a delicious revenge.

This is certainly a strong fourth series with no dud so far.