Ep 3. The Death List

The Death List is the third episode of season 2 of the hit British sitcom Yes, Minister. The episode's plot revolves around the British government's attempts to deal with an alleged "hit list" of key political figures, leaked to the press by an unknown source.

The episode opens with Sir Humphrey Appleby (Nigel Hawthorne), the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Administrative Affairs, informing the Minister, Jim Hacker (Paul Eddington), that there is a list of key political figures that are supposedly being targeted for assassination by unknown agents. The Minister is shocked and immediately asks Sir Humphrey what actions are being taken to prevent any attacks from happening.

Sir Humphrey, being a career bureaucrat, suggests that there is no concrete proof of the existence of such a list and that, even if it does exist, the government should focus on downplaying it to prevent widespread panic. He also tactfully suggests that the Minister should be seen as a strong leader by publicly downplaying the threats instead of raising alarm bells and creating an atmosphere of panic.

Jim Hacker, on the other hand, is more concerned with finding out the truth and taking whatever action is necessary to deal with the potential threat. He decides to ask his junior minister, Dorothy Wainwright (Shirley Stelfox), to investigate the matter and present him with a report as soon as possible.

Dorothy, a new addition to the department, takes the task very seriously and spends all day digging through files and gathering information from various sources. She eventually stumbles upon a clue that leads her to believe that the list may have been created by none other than Sir Humphrey himself.

With this information in mind, Dorothy presents her report to the Minister, and he is appalled by what he hears. He confronts Sir Humphrey directly and raises his concerns that the list may have indeed been created by the Permanent Secretary. Sir Humphrey is evasive and dismisses the Minister's claims, suggesting that they are merely the result of paranoia and lack of perspective.

What follows is a game of cat and mouse, as Jim Hacker tries to get to the bottom of the situation while Sir Humphrey tries to thwart his efforts at every turn. The tension builds as Dorothy uncovers more evidence pointing to Sir Humphrey's involvement in the scandal.

The episode culminates in a dramatic showdown between the Minister and the Permanent Secretary, with Jim Hacker accusing Sir Humphrey of manipulating information, breaking the law, and putting the country's security at risk. Sir Humphrey counters by pointing out that, as a career civil servant, he knows what is best for the country and that he has acted in the best interests of the government at all times.

Ultimately, the Minister decides to take action, and the episode ends with the fallout from his decision reverberating throughout Whitehall.

Overall, The Death List is a gripping and thought-provoking episode that shines a light on the inner workings of the British government and the complex web of relationships that exist between bureaucrats, politicians, and the media. With its sharp writing and impeccable performances from its cast, this episode is a true gem of British television and a must-watch for fans of political satire.