I saw the Sixth Sense in theaters when I was 12. When it ended, my friend looked over at me, smiling, and said" what did you think of the ending?" I said - "it was ok, but they should have made it a surprise." I don't obsess over crumbs left on the trail throughout the story. Rather, my mind always takes whatever I'm watching and weaves it together into "the best story." Some would disagree, but I am biased, and my narratives are regularly second to none (kidding). I don't look for crumbs. I don't consider red herrings. I just let my mind go to work. I consider this season of No 9 the "Outside No 9" season. The "post-twist" season works fine, as well. Either way, that outside phrasing is apt here.
Through this season, we got a very good episode that I have to believe was purposely giving away the twist early on. We got an episode that had three endings, none of which were very shocking or innovative. We got a Christmas episode for which my review was called "recycled No. 9 Lore" - need I say more? We (not me, I'm in the states) got an episode that by the reviews seems to be 80% conceptual and 20% a genuine attempt at decent television. This does leave us with the second installment - which (see my review if you're interested) was my favorite.
So what's the deal with "The Last Weekend?" Well, it's got a few really cool ideas. A beautiful setting. An extremely well acted role from Pemberton and a corny but fitting one from Reece. We get a minor classic Inside No 9 moment with the Blue Jeans Baby song, too! But from the beginning, there are sinister, dark overtones, and there are ambiguous clues that leave your mind spinning to create the most out-there, brutal story you'd expect from the series.;
But that's not where this goes. 2/3rds in, there's a scene I'll paraphrase as: "surprise, I've done something no human on earth would ever do to anyone under any circumstance because it's so completely insane that a schizophrenic conjoined twin would die from cognitive dissonance upon attempting to make sense of any shred of thought process that almost took place before presumably imploding into its sheer absurdity, then I became an alcoholic."
I really admire what Pemberton and Shearsmith did with this season. I think they really tried to get past one upping themselves. But if that is their desire, pay homage to something you love, like Hitchcock, or DePalma, or Welles. This was utterly ridiculous... although, the closing was chilling. So 5 starts for that alone. Whatever you do - DO NOT THINK ABOUT THIS EPISODE. It can only do more harm.