After finding its footing, Not Going Out hits its stride with a hilarious fourth series.
I’m officially starting to understand why Not Going Out has lasted as long as it has. After finding its footing in Series 3, the BBC sitcom takes another big step forward in Series 4, delivering six episodes packed with ridiculous situations, rapid-fire jokes, clever writing, and characters I genuinely enjoy spending time with. At this point, the show has truly found its voice, and that confidence comes through in almost every episode.
The dynamic between Lee and Lucy remains the heart of the series, with Lee’s ongoing attempts to win over his landlady providing plenty of laughs. Tim and Daisy have also become an essential part of the show’s comedic chemistry, and I love how easily the writers can throw the group into completely absurd situations.
“Drugs” is a perfect example, with Lee and Tim accidentally ending up with a coat full of heroin after a night out. “Debbie” takes Lee’s terrible decision-making in a more personal direction when a young woman arrives claiming that he might be her father. Meanwhile, “Movie” finds Lee secretly renting out Lucy’s flat to an adult film crew because, naturally, he thinks it is a perfectly reasonable way to make some quick money.
For me, though, “Dancing,” “Fireworks,” and “Life on Mars Bars” are the real standouts. “Dancing” gets plenty of laughs from Lucy’s parents splitting up, her father moving into Lee’s bedroom, forcing Lee onto the sofa, and inspiring one of his increasingly ridiculous schemes to reclaim his room.
“Fireworks” is another wonderfully silly episode in which an elderly woman wanders into the flat and apparently decides that she has found her new home. Then there is “Life on Mars Bars,” which gives Lee and Lucy’s storyline one of its sweetest moments so far. After Lee is hit by a car, he dreams that he and Lucy are married, only to wake up and discover that absolutely nothing has changed. Even so, the experience finally gets the ball rolling on his feelings for her.
That is probably what I enjoyed most about Series 4. Yes, the comedy is often completely ridiculous, but beneath all the jokes, the characters are becoming more developed. Lee and Lucy’s relationship continues to move forward, even if Lee has an incredible talent for making things far more complicated than they need to be. Tim and Daisy have also become essential to the show’s comedic engine, and the chemistry among all four characters makes even the most outrageous storylines work.
After being canceled following Series 3 and subsequently revived, Not Going Out returned with a real sense of confidence, and I think it shows. The series knows how to deliver a joke, but it also understands that the funniest moments work better when we care about the characters involved. Series 4 has plenty of hilarious and wonderfully stupid moments, but it also possesses the warmth that makes a good sitcom so enjoyable to revisit.
I’m having a lot of fun working my way through Not Going Out, and this series has made me even more excited to continue. If Series 3 was where the show began finding its identity, Series 4 is where it feels as though it has fully arrived.
Overall, I give series five a 9/10.
Another great series, and at this point, I’m officially hooked. Bring on Series 5!
Have you seen series five of Not Going Out? What did you think of the series, and what were your favorite episodes? Leave a comment.
You can stream Not Going Out on Pluto TV and BritBox.
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