Ep 1. La Couchette

Inside No. 9 is a British anthology series created by Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton. Each episode is a self-contained story with new characters and a new setting, but they all share a common thread of dark humor and unexpected twists. The second season of the show starts off strong with the first episode, "La Couchette."

The episode takes place entirely on a sleeper train from Paris to Bourg St Maurice. The train is full of diverse characters, including a young couple on their honeymoon, a mother and her baby, a businessman, and a group of rowdy soccer fans. The focus is on a group of six strangers who find themselves sharing a couchette (a shared sleeping compartment). The characters are all very different, with different personalities, backgrounds, and motives. But they are all forced to coexist in the cramped and uncomfortable space.

The tension starts to build early on, as the characters start to bicker and argue. They are all tired and annoyed, and the close quarters only exacerbate their irritability. As the night wears on, things start to get weirder. Strange noises start to come from outside the train, and the characters start to hear unsettling whispers and footsteps. They also start to realize that the train is not stopping at any of the planned stops. They are trapped on the train, hurtling towards an unknown destination.

The tension continues to mount as the characters start to turn on each other. Secrets are revealed, accusations are made, and alliances are formed and broken. The stress and fear of the situation bring out the worst in some of the characters, while others try to keep calm and rational. As the night wears on, the characters start to question whether they will ever make it off the train alive.

The standout performances in "La Couchette" are from the six actors who play the sleeper train passengers. They all do an excellent job of portraying the various emotions and personalities of their characters, from the nervous newlyweds to the abrasive soccer fans. The cramped and claustrophobic setting adds to the tension and makes the viewer feel like they are stuck in the couchette with the characters.

Overall, "La Couchette" is a gripping and suspenseful episode of Inside No. 9. It combines the best elements of a thriller and a dark comedy, with plenty of twists and surprises along the way. It's a great start to the second season of the show, and it sets the tone for the rest of the episodes to come.