Ep 4. Nana Comes to Stay

Nana Comes to Stay is a delightful episode from the second season of the popular British sitcom, The Royle Family. The show is set in the living room of a working-class family in Manchester, and this particular episode centers around the visit of the matriarch, Norma, known to the family as Nana.

As the episode begins, Jim, the father of the family, is sitting in his armchair reading a newspaper, while Barbara, his wife, is preparing tea in the kitchen. They are discussing Nana's imminent arrival, and Jim mentions that he hasn't seen her for a while, as she's been living with his sister. Barbara is clearly apprehensive about Nana's visit, as she finds her mother-in-law to be rather overbearing and critical.

The scene then shifts to Denise, the daughter of the family, who is in her bedroom with her boyfriend, Dave. They are watching TV and discussing the fact that Nana is coming to stay. Dave is particularly nervous about meeting her, having heard tales of her sharp tongue. Denise is more relaxed, but worries about being asked to run errands for Nana during her stay.

The rest of the family begin to arrive home, including Anthony, the son, and his girlfriend, Emma. They are followed shortly by Joe, Barbara's brother, who is known for his terrible jokes and awkward social skills. The family discuss Nana's visit, with Jim expressing his excitement at seeing his mother again, while everyone else attempts to hide their apprehension.

As Nana arrives, the family line up to greet her, with Jim giving her a warm hug. She is clearly delighted to see her family, but Barbara is more reserved, barely managing to muster a smile. Nana then begins to hand out gifts to each member of the family, including a particularly hideous ornament for Denise and Dave.

As the evening progresses, tensions begin to rise, as Nana's critical comments start to grate on the family's nerves. She complains about the food, the television, and even the wallpaper, causing Barbara to snap and storm out of the room. The rest of the family look uncomfortably at each other, unsure how to deal with the situation.

The next day, Nana continues with her criticism, much to the family's annoyance. They decide to take her out for a pub lunch, hoping that a change of scenery might improve things. However, Nana is unimpressed with the pub, describing it as 'common' and 'dirty'. The rest of the family are mortified, with Denise attempting to defend the establishment.

Back at home, tensions come to a head when Nana discovers that the toilet is blocked. She berates Jim for not fixing it, before storming off into the garden to smoke. The rest of the family sit in silence, not knowing how to handle the situation.

As the episode draws to a close, Nana's visit seems to have caused more problems than it solved, with the family left feeling exhausted and frustrated. However, despite all the bickering and tension, there is a real feeling of love and warmth between the characters, and viewers are left with a sense that the Royle family will always stick together, no matter what.

Overall, Nana Comes to Stay is a touching and often hilarious episode of The Royle Family. It perfectly captures the intricacies of family relationships, and the love and frustration that come with them. Fans of the show will love this episode, and those who are new to the series will find it a perfect introduction to the Royle family's unique world.