Ep 3. A Plague On Royston Vasey

In The League of Gentlemen season 2 episode 3, titled "A Plague On Royston Vasey," the small fictional town of Royston Vasey is hit by a severe outbreak of foot and mouth disease. As a result, the town becomes quarantined, leading to a chaotic situation for the town's residents.

The episode starts with a couple, Mike and Cheryl, who are visiting Royston Vasey on their way to a music festival. They stop at a farm and are warned not to enter the town due to the disease outbreak. However, they do not heed the warning and eventually become trapped in Royston Vasey due to the town's quarantine.

The episode follows the reactions of the town's residents to the outbreak, with some trying to take advantage of the situation for their own gain. The local shop, Tubbs and Edward's, begins hoarding supplies and charging exorbitant prices to desperate residents. Meanwhile, the local butcher, Hilary Briss, continues to sell meat despite knowing the risks of spreading the disease.

The eccentric characters of Royston Vasey, including the taxi driver, local circus performers, and transvestite Barbara, all react in their unique ways to the crisis. As the town becomes more and more chaotic, tensions rise and the situation becomes more desperate.

Throughout the episode, there is a sense of foreboding as the foot and mouth disease continues to spread and no solution is offered. Eventually, a decision is made to cull all the animals in town, resulting in a heartbreaking scene for both the residents and the animals.

The episode also touches on the theme of outsiders and how they are treated in a crisis situation. The couple, Mike and Cheryl, are constantly reminded of their outsider status and are not received well by the town's residents. This highlights how in times of crisis, people often turn inwards and become less welcoming to outsiders.

"A Plague On Royston Vasey" is a darkly comedic episode that showcases the exceptional writing and performances of The League of Gentlemen. It manages to balance humor with a sense of impending doom, creating a memorable and thought-provoking viewing experience.