A creepy finale
to the season.
One of the most
daring episodes of
the series thus far.
Season two of the show has certainly been wrought with ups and downs. Some of the absolute best episodes of the series, mixed in with some fairly disappointing messes. So where does the season finale stand on the spectrum? Honestly, I think this episode can be seen as a microcosm for the season on the whole. A lot of amazing and daring good points, mixed with some groan-worthy low points.
The most fascinating element of this episode is it's atmosphere. The tone and growing feeling of gnawing tension throughout the episode is top-notch and is up there with some of the best episodes of the series. Inside No. 9 has managed to capture a sense of palpable dread in all it's greatest episodes and it is this tone that I want to become the most remembered aspect of the entire show. Seance Time is notable for it's exceptional early twist, which throws it's audience off in ways that no other episode of the show has up to this point. This twist, along with the great set-design and the all-around great performances are what create the magical atmosphere of this episode, and I love every second of it.
Despite the quality of this atmosphere however, and all the elements which contribute to form it, there are some glaring issues with this episode in my eyes. For a start, much like La Couchette and The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge, this episode suffers from misplaced comic relief. This comedic material serves to undermine the atmosphere in my eyes at points and does not server the episodes narrative in any substantial way, other than to hammer in some fairly one-note social commentary. If one compares the comedy here to the comedy in Nana's Party it becomes easy to see how much more substantial and integral to the atmosphere of the later episode the comedy is by comparison. Here, the comedy detracts for the most part rather than benefit, which is a shame.
Despite this however, we are still given one of Shearsmith's best performances of the entire season and a genuinely impress tone and atmosphere. On the whole I did enjoy this episode and, much like the season on the whole, find it more than worthwhile to dig through the flaws to find the duo's masterful achievement in televised horror which lies beneath.
By Jack D. Philips
A Zoom Film Review
Inside Number 9: Episode 12
The most fascinating element of this episode is it's atmosphere. The tone and growing feeling of gnawing tension throughout the episode is top-notch and is up there with some of the best episodes of the series. Inside No. 9 has managed to capture a sense of palpable dread in all it's greatest episodes and it is this tone that I want to become the most remembered aspect of the entire show. Seance Time is notable for it's exceptional early twist, which throws it's audience off in ways that no other episode of the show has up to this point. This twist, along with the great set-design and the all-around great performances are what create the magical atmosphere of this episode, and I love every second of it.
Despite the quality of this atmosphere however, and all the elements which contribute to form it, there are some glaring issues with this episode in my eyes. For a start, much like La Couchette and The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge, this episode suffers from misplaced comic relief. This comedic material serves to undermine the atmosphere in my eyes at points and does not server the episodes narrative in any substantial way, other than to hammer in some fairly one-note social commentary. If one compares the comedy here to the comedy in Nana's Party it becomes easy to see how much more substantial and integral to the atmosphere of the later episode the comedy is by comparison. Here, the comedy detracts for the most part rather than benefit, which is a shame.
Despite this however, we are still given one of Shearsmith's best performances of the entire season and a genuinely impress tone and atmosphere. On the whole I did enjoy this episode and, much like the season on the whole, find it more than worthwhile to dig through the flaws to find the duo's masterful achievement in televised horror which lies beneath.
By Jack D. Philips
A Zoom Film Review
Inside Number 9: Episode 12
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