Inside No. 9 (TV Series) Mother's Ruin (2023) User Reviews

Sick as a Parrot.

[southdavid · 7/10 · 7 May 2023]

After the Christmas special, "Insider Number 9" returns for the rest of it's penultimate run and starts pretty strongly with "Mother's Ruin" an episode that combines the humour and horror that we've come to expect in an episode that falls just a little short of being a top tier one.

Two brothers, Edward (Reece Shearsmith) and Harry (Steve Pemberton) break into the house that their mother died in, on the anniversary of her death, to try and commune with her spirit. Their parents were East End gangsters and when she died a large amount of cash from that time was still to be recovered. As part of the ritual, something she loved needs to die, so Edward has brought her parrot, but sensitive Harry was unprepared for this aspect and allows the bird to escape. Now Edward needs to make a difficult choice. . . And then the owners come home.

As I said, I felt this was a good one. With good performances not just from our regular two leads, but from Anita Dobson and Phil Daniels, who play the couple who arrive home from their holiday earlier than expected and walk in on the brothers. It was one of the funnier episodes, and I enjoyed the grizzlier elements as the show ran on.

Why not quite top tier then? Well, I think I prefer my episodes to have a sting in the tail and this episode peaked slightly before the end, and a few of its elements, particularly around that resolution, were a little more predictable than I would have liked. I also feel a little like Harry was a 'stock' Steve Pemberton character and kept reminding me of "Psychoville's" David.

A solid return from a show I'm always delighted to see but has occasionally been better.

A gory episode to kick the series off.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 28 April 2023]

Brothers Eddie and Harry take part in an unusual ceremony, to contact their late mother, and learn where a fortune is hidden, their plan is interrupted by a couple that knew the departed well.

You never know what you're going to get with Inside no.9, folk tales, musicals, thrillers, they chose to start the penultimate series with a somewhat gory thriller.

An imaginative script, which is dark and twisted, with various moments of humour, and some gore that would sit well in a Saw film.

The twist that came at the end was a cracking moment, it showed that Shearsmith and Pemberton still have a passion for the show, and are still packed with the imagination to keep this show at the top.

Anita Dobson and Phil Daniels were great as the villainous Frances and Reggie, that Father Brown chat was hilarious.

Very good start to Series 8.

8/10.

Episode 802

[bobcobb301 · 6/10 · 10 May 2023]

I don't know if we are too used to watching all of these episodes or if they are just too predictable at this point, but you could see all of the "twists" coming from a mile away. We knew as soon as Reggie went down that he would be the sacrifice needed to summon the mother.

I guess this was more about the journey to get there than the actual relief, which is why we did not even get a real answer in this one, but it is hard to not classify this as a letdown. We can only hope the next episode just ends up a bit stronger than this one as that's two mediocre ones in a row counting the Christmas special.

A lackluster episode saved by a phenomenal performance.

[declantill · 7/10 · 28 April 2023]

From the outset this episode does feel like a return to roots for the writing duo Pemberton & Shearsmith, and it seems somewhat enjoyable.

I was very intrigued up to the point of the introduction of the pentagram, it's just very yawn. I've seen it done billions of times, it's hard to pull off 9/10 and can leave you with a sour taste, that being said, I didn't draw issue with it in the end. I think the duos dedication to the background of the necromancy lore is very respected and seems to be crafted very well.

My problem is 3 fold, the incredibly predictable plot, the awful dialogue and a cockney villain who has to be one of the least threatening characters I've ever seen.

I'll start with the plot, as soon as it was mentioned a quarter of the way in the episode that Reggie was having an affair with the duos mother, I knew then it'd be his death that would bring about her back. I also knew as soon as Shearsmith was 'possessed' that it wasn't his mother but him trying to have a last gasp attempt of saving the pair.

The dialogue is so heavy and clunky, so many badum tss (drum symbol) moments that just don't hit, groan worthy in all honesty. The cockney rhyming slang stuff also is incredibly awful, they just had to pick the most obnoxious rhymes that make no sense to say, or overtly obvious what they're talking about. The best they used was soot, in reference to sooty and sweep, sleep.

Then we come on to Phil Daniel's Reggie and this is where the episode is severely at its weakest. He's just not believable at all.

However, Anita Dobson does a superb job as Frances and if it wasn't for her I'm sure i'd have scored lower.

Talking of performances though, Shearsmith absolutely steals the show, the possesion/leg scene is a seriously dedicated and real piece of acting from him, which was that good it probably bumped this up from a 5 to a 7, that and the ending, which to be fair, in delivery, was unexpected.

Mother's Ruin

[Prismark10 · 7/10 · 1 May 2023]

Almost a Ben Wheatley type grisly macabre episode.

Harry Blackwood (Steve Pemberton) and Edward Blackwood (Reece Shearsmith) are two estranged brothers. They have reunited in their mother's old house in what would be the first anniversary of her death.

The new owners are away on holiday and the brothers have broken in. When Edward draws a pentagram with symbols on the floor. It is easy to guess that witchcraft is on the agenda.

Edward wants to find out from her deceased mother where she stashed their gangster dad's stolen loot. It has to be done tonight but then the new owners wander in.

Frances (Anita Dobson) and Reggie (Phil Daniels) are not some random new owners. They knew their parents and they now have an end of life plan for the brothers.

Until Frances reckons that there is some mileage in the witchcraft plan.

There is no glorious twist here but a series of incremental ones that could leave the viewer wrong footed. This is dark twisted comedy.

Big Shoes to Fill

[srrrrdjw · 8/10 · 5 May 2023]

Very mild spoilers

One of the few jobs many actors would actually turn down is a guest spot on Number 9, and stepping into the role of Reggie is a brash, irritating Phil Daniels (who I thought was Stephen McHattie for some reason, even though the latter is Canadian). This was the most - and quite possibly the only - guest who could steal a scene in between an attempted necromancy and amputation. No small feet, to be sure.

Previous seasons have started off quite poorly, and I wasn't expecting all that much. I was further expecting to be let down when the plot was revealed, because I feel that especially as writers Shearsmith and Pemberton reach their greatest heights when confronting psychology and humanity, with a few noteworthy exceptions. I also think an American audience is not going to find much replay value in a show like Psychoville, that material just does not travel well at all. I found this episode to be a nice surprise that started halfway through the story when the lights go on and Reggie goes to work.

There are some very... bold choices here. With other episodes like the Bernie Clifton one or my least favorite episode ever by a mile, the heist one, the actors are sort of riffing and daring each other to explore a certain direction or have the story unfold in a way that surprises even themselves. I can't recommend this episode enough, and my guess would be that in a year or two the main point of contention will be the strange ending. And it is strange, it does feel unresolved, but on the flip side it doesn't feel forced at all. It's not Tony Soprano's life flashing before his eyes or the words rosebud behind a wall of flames. It's just a really great episode of Inside No 9 and has me really looking forward to this season. Too bad they already named an episode Once Removed.

We're back baby!

[becky-92346 · 10/10 · 10 May 2023]

Mother's Ruin - Inside No.9 S8 E2 (2023) follows two sons who aim to discover what secrets their mother has taken to the grave. This is a fun episode! It keeps the tension high and is paced very well with some great performances and impressive cinematography.

The cinematography for this episode is very impressive! There's some great mood lighting throughout and strong colour palettes that help to set an ominous and unnerving tone. Also related to the visuals, this episode goes hard with the gore and is probably the most brutal episode of the show to date!

The sound design is also quite impressive; it doesn't try to be over the top but really adds to the experience and immersion. The score is equally as eerie and helps to build up tension throughout the duration.

As usual, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith give strong performances that are full of life. Shearsmith is incredibly intimidating, he's always brilliant at playing mysterious and dominant personalities. Additionally, the dialogue is well written and includes a lot of fun little jokes to lighten the mood.

Lastly, this episode has a very eerie and unsettling tone to it, with steady pacing and a gradual build up of tension and mystery. As expected, there are many twists and turns and tonal shifts which are pulled off very well! Finally, the story is pieced together well at the end and concludes perfectly.

Saw

[safenoe · 8/10 · 25 October 2023]

Mother's Ruin has probably the most gruesome, explicitly violent scene so far in Inside No. 9 and it was one that would have made Saw blush for sure without a doubt. If I was introducing someone to Inside No. 9 for the first time, I'm not sure if Mother's Ruin would be the one I'd introduce them to init, but still, it's one to watch with the twists and turns to keep the viewers guessing until the end init.

Anyway, Mother's Ruin isn't for the faint-hearted for sure, and the ending makes you think as it keeps you guessing for sure. Not sure I'd want to watch Mother's Ruin again but still init right.