The League Of Gentlemen special episode 3 review: An impeccably bonkers farewell

The League Of Gentlemen special episode 3 review: An impeccably bonkers farewell

Edward and Tubbs got their moment in the specials spotlight (Picture: Ben Blackall) The League Of Ge..

The League Of Gentlemen special episode 3 review: An impeccably bonkers farewell
Edward and Tubbs got their moment in the specials spotlight (Picture: Ben Blackall)

The League Of Gentlemen delivered endless satisfaction in its final special, with gruesome shocks, unexpected twists and hysterical madness rolled into one.

The greatest success of these specials has been how characters have progressed without betraying their appeal. Pauline’s dementia, Ollie’s bittersweet dreams and Harvey Denton’s toad revival have all straddled the dark comedy blend with fresh ideas effortlessly in different ways, making this series feel fulfilling and rewarding despite its crammed runtime.

This finale was perhaps the most tightly-packed yet – filled with returning characters, concluding arcs and some of the most bonkers sequences the show’s ever produced.

The League Of Gentlemen special episode 3 review: An impeccably bonkers farewell
Les McQueen returned (Picture: James Stack)

Picking up as Edward and Tubbs make national headlines after abducting two people in their flat shop, Royston Vasey’s boundary change receives unprecedented attention as a pocketed bubble of the nation’s spirit. Edward however isn’t interested in outsider frenzy, putting it best as he refuses an interview with The Daily Mail, remarking: ‘We are news for local people.’

This leads to an excellent guest role from David Morrissey as a hostage negotiator, who is served a glass of piss before he discovers the pair have cut the hostages faces off in brutal fashion.

Between this main thread, we catch-up with Stella and Charlie who have now separated; the latter running off with a man while Stella settles for an abusive toy-boy. The scene doesn’t quite hit the comic heights of their past bickering, but it’s a worthwhile check-in, once again offering a renewed, bleak twist on the formula we’ve come to expect.

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Surprisingly, Les McQueen of Creme Brûlée fame is the show’s glimmer of hope amid the misery. He initially seems settled polishing floors for more famous musicians, but his fortunes turn as he’s shown his notoriety in Slovakia online, giving the character a final chance at reliving the ‘shit business’ his whole adult life has longed for again.

The crazier arcs are saved for Pop and Harvey Denton’s revival. The former gets revenge on Richie, who’s transformed his business into a Deli, the only way he knows how; shoving olives and Picnic chocolate bars into his anus. The madness soon escalates via a dream sequence where he’s suddenly swallowed into a bottle like Aladdin’s Genie, only for Richie to have repeatedly stabbed Pops in real-life to the relief of his son.

Harvey’s spiralling zaniness however is an acting wonder – essentially seeing Reece Shearsmith as Benjamin play Steve Pemberton playing Harvey Denton. It’s a brilliant sequence with endlessly quotable lines (‘the toilet is no place for a duck’) which culminates in the hilariously gross boffing of a toad possessed with Harvey’s spirit.

The League Of Gentlemen special episode 3 review: An impeccably bonkers farewell
The League Of Gentlemen satisfied with a stunning finale (Picture: Ben Blackall)

The greatest surprise however saw Papa Lazarou make his return in a brief but show-stopping scene. As Tubbs falls, like many married women, in the mysterious Photo Booth into the unknown depths, it’s revealed how the crazed circus leader is collecting wives underground, while forcing the mayor’s hand into signing off Royston Vasey as an area for fracking.

The reveal was note-perfect, being creepy and hilarious with some excellent callback jokes to past episodes. Jumping from Tubbs’ inquisitive ‘Is this Swansea?’ to Lazarou’s cleverly spun: ‘It’s a wife mine now’ – it was the specials’ best slice of fan-service delivered with impeccable smarts.

The League Of Gentlemen special episode 3 review: An impeccably bonkers farewell

As the finale closed with a fourth-wall breaking exchange between Benjamin and Val, it’s hard not to express relief at this (presumably) final TV outing for The League Of Gentlemen. In what could have been a nostalgic indulge into former glories, these specials are a testament to the creators’ growth as writers and performers, tipping the hat to fans who’ve attached themselves to Royston Vasey’s uniquely wicked ways over 20 years.

Will we see more down the line? Who knows. As they say in their own epitaph: ‘Sometimes you can’t go back, but you can visit.’ Judging by the quality here, a return ticket can’t come soon enough.

You can catch The League Of Gentlemen on BBC iPlayer.

MORE: The League Of Gentlemen: Edward and Tubbs seen fleeing Royston Vasey in episode 3 first look

MORE: The League Of Gentlemen special episode 2 review: Darker, creepier with huge pay-offs

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