Ep 3. A Night Out

In the third episode of Rising Damp's first season, titled "A Night Out," viewers are treated to a high-spirited comedy of errors that sees the four residents of Rigsby's dilapidated boarding house trying to enjoy a night on the town.

The episode wastes no time in setting up the stakes of the evening: Miss Jones, the object of Rigsby's unrequited affection, has agreed to join the group for a night out at a lively local pub. Rigsby, desperate to impress her, has spared no expense in outfitting himself in his finest suit and procuring a round of drinks for the group.

However, things quickly go awry when Alan, the studious medical student, announces that he needs to stay in to complete an essay. This forces Rigsby to shuffle around the seating arrangement at their table, which leads to a series of increasingly absurd comedic mishaps.

As the group settles in for a round of drinks, they are soon joined by a group of rowdy, drunken men who proceed to take over the pub and turn the night into a raucous party. Rigsby is determined to show Miss Jones a good time, however, and pulls out all the stops to entertain her despite the chaos around them.

Meanwhile, Philip, the flamboyant African prince who is always the life of the party, has taken a liking to the leader of the rowdy group and invites him and his friends back to the boarding house for a nightcap. This sets off a chain reaction of increasingly absurd shenanigans as the group tries to keep the drunken men in check and Rigsby tries to win Miss Jones' affections.

Throughout the episode, the characters' personalities shine through in their actions and dialogue. Rigsby's desperation for Miss Jones' love is both endearing and cringeworthy, while Alan's straight-laced demeanor provides a comedic foil to Philip's wild energy.

The episode also showcases the show's clever writing and physical humor, with hilarious moments such as Rigsby trying to impress Miss Jones by ordering an expensive bottle of wine, only to have it opened and poured out in front of them due to his lack of knowledge about wine etiquette.

Overall, "A Night Out" is a well-crafted episode that showcases the strengths of the show's comedic talents. It's a high-energy romp that will keep viewers laughing from beginning to end.