Ep 2. My Dinner in Hell

Jeff invites the group over for a dinner party, but things quickly go awry in the second episode of the second season of the British sitcom Coupling. Titled "My Dinner in Hell", the episode focuses on the disastrous dinner party that takes place at Jeff's apartment.

The episode begins with Jeff enthusiastically inviting his friends over for a dinner party, revealing that he has taught himself how to cook. The rest of the group is hesitant, as they know that Jeff's culinary skills are not exactly top-notch. Nevertheless, they all agree to attend the dinner party.

The first sign of trouble comes when Jeff burns the roast, causing smoke to fill the apartment and triggering the fire alarm. The rest of the group rushes over to help, and while they manage to get the fire under control, they quickly discover that the roast is ruined.

Undeterred, Jeff decides to order a pizza instead. However, when he goes to get cash to pay for the pizza, he inadvertently locks himself out of the apartment. Meanwhile, the rest of the group is left to wait for the pizza on the balcony, where they are subjected to various mishaps, including a nosy neighbor, a sudden rainstorm, and a rogue pigeon.

As the night wears on, tensions begin to rise amongst the group. Sally is frustrated that Patrick has been ignoring her all evening, while Jane is convinced that Steve is secretly in love with her. Steve, meanwhile, is trying to convince Susan to leave the party and spend the night with him, but Susan is preoccupied with finding a way to get Jeff back into the apartment.

As the chaos unfolds around them, the group gradually starts to turn on each other, with long-simmering resentments and insecurities coming to the forefront. It becomes clear that the dinner party was a terrible idea and that things are rapidly spiraling out of control.

Despite all the issues, however, there are still some bright spots in the evening. For one, Jeff manages to find enough loose change to pay for the pizza, and the group finally gets to eat. Additionally, some of the characters make surprising realizations about themselves and their relationships with the others.

"My Dinner in Hell" is a classic example of the zany humor and lovable characters that made Coupling such a hit with audiences. Though the episode is centered around Jeff's disastrous dinner party, it ultimately becomes a showcase for the unique dynamics and quirks of each character in the group.