Ep 7. The Man in the Long Black Coat

The Man in the Long Black Coat is the seventh episode of the second season of the British sitcom One Foot in the Grave. The episode follows a series of bizarre events that take place after Victor Meldrew, the cantankerous retired security guard, wakes up to find a mysterious man in a long black coat standing outside his bedroom window.

Victor's wife, Margaret, dismisses his claims as hallucinations, but he becomes increasingly convinced that the man in the long black coat is real, and his presence seems to bring bad luck. Strange occurrences begin to plague Victor: the television flickers on and off, the phone rings but no one is there, and a neighbour's cat mysteriously dies.

Despite Margaret's skepticism, Victor hires a private detective to investigate the man in the long black coat. The detective, who is a bit of a bungler, uncovers some intriguing clues, including a missing person's report that matches the man's description.

Meanwhile, Victor's house suffers a series of mishaps, from a botched repair job by an incompetent handyman to a disastrous horticultural accident involving a bag of fertilizer. Victor becomes increasingly agitated and paranoid as he feels that the man in the long black coat is responsible for all of his misfortunes.

The tension builds to a climactic scene in which the man in the long black coat finally appears to Victor, but the encounter raises more questions than it answers. Is the man a figment of Victor's imagination, a ghost, or a malevolent force? Or is he just a coincidence, a harmless stranger passing by?

The Man in the Long Black Coat is a classic episode of One Foot in the Grave, showcasing the show's signature blend of dark humor, absurdity, and pathos. Richard Wilson's portrayal of Victor Meldrew is both hilarious and poignant, capturing the character's frustration with the universe and his own limitations. The supporting cast is equally strong, with Margaret Meldrew (played by Annette Crosbie) providing a perfect foil to Victor's antics, and the private detective (played by Michael Angelis) delivering deadpan wit.

Overall, The Man in the Long Black Coat is a must-watch for fans of One Foot in the Grave, as well as those who appreciate British sitcoms with a quirky twist. The episode is memorable for its surreal imagery, clever writing, and unexpected twists, and it demonstrates why One Foot in the Grave remains a cult classic of British television.