Series 5 proves once again that Not Going Out knows exactly how to turn ridiculous situations into genuinely funny television.
Five series in, and I'm still having a blast with Not Going Out. The BBC sitcom's fifth series delivers another six episodes packed with wacky situations, misunderstandings, jealousy, slapstick, and the kind of terrible decisions that somehow always seem to make sense to Lee at the time.
What makes the comedy work so well is the characters. Lee (Lee Mack) is still desperate to impress Lucy (Sally Bretton), but his insecurity and competitive streak constantly get in the way. Tim (Tim Vine) remains Lee's wonderfully strange best friend, while Daisy (Katy Wix) brings her own unpredictable energy to the group. The situations may be ridiculous, but they're funny because we understand exactly why these characters keep making them worse.
“Bands” is a great example. When Tim joins a workplace rock band and Lucy develops a crush on the lead guitarist, Lee immediately becomes jealous. Rather than accepting that Lucy might simply be interested in someone else, he forces his way into the band. Watching Lee desperately try to prove himself while making the entire situation more awkward is classic Not Going Out, and the Lee-Tim dynamic makes this one of the series' funniest episodes.
Then there's “Camping,” which I can easily see becoming a fan favorite. Lee joins Lucy, Tim, and Daisy for a camping trip because, naturally, he wants to prove how rugged he is. Instead, everything goes completely off the rails, including encounters with dogging enthusiasts and creepy clowns. It's exactly the sort of bizarre escalation the show does so well. It's also officially going on my Halloween episode watchlist.
“Running” is another standout. Lee signs up for a charity fun run to impress Lucy, immediately injures himself, and then refuses to admit it. His attempt to secretly get a sports massage only creates even more confusion. Once again, the joke isn't just the situation—it's Lee's inability to admit when his own plan has backfired.
But my favorite episode of Series 5 is “Drunk.” It starts with a simple disagreement between Lee and Lucy over whether someone who's drunk can actually remember what happened. Of course, instead of having a normal conversation about it, they decide to settle the argument by drinking an entire bottle of incredibly potent homemade potato hooch and testing their memories afterward.
It's completely ridiculous, but that's exactly why it works. Lee's stubbornness and Lucy's determination to prove her point turn a silly debate into an escalating competition. Watching two adults convince themselves that getting spectacularly drunk is the best possible way to settle an argument is peak Not Going Out. It's easily my favorite episode of the series so far.
What I also appreciate about Series 5, though, is that underneath all the chaos, the show still finds room for genuine heart. “Examination” is a good example. Lucy is working on a public health campaign encouraging men to check themselves for potential health problems, and Lee's reaction initially becomes another opportunity for comedy. But beneath the jokes is a surprisingly relatable reminder that health scares can make people confront fears they'd rather ignore.
That's an important part of why Not Going Out continues to work for me. It isn't just a joke machine. The characters have real relationships underneath all the sarcasm and stupidity, and every once in a while the show allows those relationships to come through. Lee's feelings for Lucy, his complicated relationship with his father, and the friendship between Lee and Tim give the comedy a little more weight.
Series 5 isn't reinventing the sitcom, but it doesn't need to. It's taking a familiar group of characters and continuing to find new ways to throw them into ridiculous situations. “Bands” delivers a hilarious Lee-Tim story, “Camping” is already on my Halloween watchlist, “Running” is another strong episode, and “Drunk” stands out as my favorite of the bunch.
After five series, Not Going Out is still making me laugh—and that's a pretty good sign that this formula isn't getting old anytime soon. Overall, I give series 5 a 9/10.
Have you watched Not Going Out Series 5? What's your favorite episode and moments? Leave a comment.
You can stream Not Going Out on Pluto TV, BritBox, and YouTube.
No comments:
Post a Comment