We’ve seen a million heist movies over the years, and we love them all. It’s one of the genres that has the most recognizable tropes: a group of disparate people try to outthink some rich guy or a bank or something; each member has a specialty and a part to play, but usually they meet with several snags to overcome. Probably some double- and triple-crossing as well. Pretty much any one of us could write at least the outline of a decent heist movie. But would you ever think to put one into a Commedia dell’arte pantomime? That’s what Inside No. 9 did.
In our exclusive clip from BritBox‘s new season of the hit genre-smashing anthology series, we see exactly what such a mash-up looks like. The premiere of the series’ sixth season, “Wuthering Heist,” we see the obligatory montage during the planning section as Paterson Joseph’s Pantalone orders Gemma Whelan ( Game of Thrones) to walk us through the plan.
Inside No. 9 began in 2014, the brainchild of former League of Gentlemen co-writers/co-stars Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton. Each 30-minute episode is a self-contained story with new characters and a new setting, and all star Pemberton or Shearsmith (usually both). Aside from the writers, each episode has a new cast, allowing Inside No. 9 to attract a number of well-known actors. The stories are linked only by the number nine in some way and a brass hare statue that is in the background of all episodes.
BBC/BritBox
The best gimmick for the series, aside from the rotating casts, is each episode takes place entirely in one room or setting. Over the six series thus far, the settings have included Gothic mansion, a barn, a living room, etc. “Wuthering Heist” (the best name) takes place entirely in an abandoned sound stage.
Series six of Inside No. 9 premieres Tuesday June 22 only on BritBox. Enjoy a sizzle of the full season below.
Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Twitter!
