Ep 4. The Blackout

In "The Blackout," the fourth episode of Black Books' first season, bookstore owner Bernard Black (Dylan Moran) finds himself in a difficult situation when a city-wide blackout strikes during business hours. With no power and customers lingering in the dark, Bernard must entertain his patrons with his trademark snarkiness as they attempt to wait out the power outage.

Meanwhile, Bernard's friend Fran (Tamsin Greig) enlists help from their eccentric neighbor, Manny (Bill Bailey), to brave the pitch-black streets of London and retrieve some much-needed alcohol for the stranded customers. But as the night wears on, tensions rise and hilarity ensues as the trio navigates their way through the darkness with only a flashlight and a bottle of wine to guide them.

As they make their way back to the bookstore, they encounter a random assortment of characters, including a surly bartender, a group of bickering moms, and an over-eager astronomer, each with their own unique way of coping with the unexpected power outage.

As the night drags on, the blackout takes a toll on Bernard's sanity, and he begins to see hallucinations of his ex-girlfriend, who he believes may be responsible for the power outage in an act of bitter revenge. Fran and Manny's attempts to reassure him only escalate his paranoia, leading to a series of comedic mishaps that add to the chaos of the evening.

The episode culminates in a memorable scene as the trio finally returns to the bookstore, only to find that the customers have transformed the dimly-lit store into a chaotic party, complete with dancing, drinking, and strange makeshift lighting. Bernard must decide whether to embrace the madness or fight against the chaos as the night wears on.

Overall, "The Blackout" is a hilarious and memorable episode of Black Books, highlighting the eccentricities of the show's main characters and their amusing interactions with the eclectic cast of characters they encounter during the chaos of a London blackout. With its sharp wit and offbeat humor, this episode is sure to leave viewers laughing out loud.