Derek Episode 2 Review

Our verdict on the fantastic second instalment of Ricky Gervais' comedy-drama...
Derek got off to a relatively strong start last week, with a première episode for its first season that earned a strong 4* rating. What a brilliant surprise it was, then, for 'Episode 2' to up the ante of both the laughs and emotions that this new series is becoming well-known for, to the point that this second instalment was by far one of the greatest episodes we're likely to see this year. There's genuine laugh-out-loud gags, yet there's also an immense sense of pathos for many of the nursing home's residents when they relive their now-distant memories of the past and indeed when series newcomer Vicki realises what these elderly people have lost.

Throughout the run-up to the series, critics were constantly worried that Derek would make an absolute farce of both autism and old age. Thankfully, however, the opposite was true this week- Ricky truly came into his own as the titular protagonist, showcasing the social and physical restraints of his character's condition marvellously, while equally bringing to the forefront the underlying charm that such sufferers can have when they are in a positive state. While The Office and Extras never quite resonated with me as a viewer in their comedy-drama respective angles, here it works an absolute wonder, producing a well-rounded storyline that never feels unbalanced.

Another casting that's now at the heart of the show's strengths is that of Karl Pilkington. While Kev is undoubtedly a hilarious character, it's Dougie who ironically appears to have the greatest understanding of his colleagues and the home's residents. Pilkington at first in the pilot and season premiere seemed to simply have been cast on the basis of the success appeal of An Idiot Abroad, yet now he's really coming into his own in a performing role, and it's showing magnificently. Overall, Derek 'Episode 2' marks another big step along the road for a budding comedy-drama series, showing off the full potential of the show by marking itself as one of the greatest TV episodes of 2013.
5/5