Ep 1. Once Upon A Beginning

Garth Marenghi's Darkplace season 1 episode 1 is a horror-comedy show that first aired in 2004 on Channel 4 in the UK. The episode is named "Once Upon A Beginning" and it sets the stage for the rest of the series.

The show is presented as a fictional 80s TV series created by horror author Garth Marenghi (played by Matthew Holness). It's described as a lost masterpiece that was "so radical, so risky, so dangerous, so god damn crazy" that it was never released in the US. The show is presented as a DVD release with commentary from Garth and the other creators, still convinced that they were making a masterpiece.

The first episode, "Once Upon A Beginning," is presented as the pilot episode of the show-within-a-show. It tells the story of the staff of Darkplace Hospital, a hospital built on top of the gates of hell that routinely deals with supernatural occurrences.

The main character is Dr. Rick Dagless (played by Richard Ayoade), a brilliant doctor and war hero who has returned to England to take up a position at Darkplace. Rick is also haunted by the death of his former partner, Dr. Lucien Sanchez (played by Todd Rivers), who executed himself after an affair with the hospital's receptionist, Madeleine Wool (played by Alice Lowe).

Once Rick starts working at the hospital, strange things begin to happen even beyond the usual supernatural outbreaks. He sees ghostly apparitions of his ex-lover, and a patient whose brain has been replaced with that of a lizard. Rick also starts to experience strange dreams and visions, all of which are connected to the secrets of Darkplace.

The episode is peppered with intentionally bad special effects, awkward acting, and cheesy dialogue that all add to the overall comedic effect. In particular, the opening sequence of the episode features a car chase scene that is laughably bad, with the car colliding with cardboard boxes and some clear plastic wrap instead of anything resembling an actual obstacle.

The character of Garth Marenghi appears during the DVD commentary portions of the episode, claiming that the show is based on his "real-life" experiences as a supernatural investigator and author. Garth's commentary is also intentionally bad, with him delivering poorly written jokes and offering up ludicrous explanations for the show's more absurd plot points.

Overall, "Once Upon A Beginning" is a hilarious and self-aware parody of 80s horror TV shows. Despite its cheesy effects and intentionally bad acting, the episode is surprisingly watchable and engaging, drawing viewers in with its familiar tropes of supernatural hospitals and haunted doctors. The show's commitment to its cheesy premise, as well as its tongue-in-cheek humor, make it a must-watch for horror fans looking for something a little different.