Ep 4. Elsie's Funeral

The Royle Family is a British television sitcom created by Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash. The show follows an ordinary working-class family from Manchester, the Royles, as they go about their daily lives. The show is shot in a continuous takes from the Royle's living room and often takes place chronologically in real-time. The show can be described as 'workaday surrealism', with unusual events often taking place despite the everyday mundanity of the family's routine.

In season 3 episode 4, titled Elsie's Funeral, the Royles are preparing for the funeral of Nana's friend Elsie. The episode follows the family as they get ready for the funeral, and the tensions that arise as they prepare to say goodbye to their family friend.

The episode opens with the family discussing what to wear to the funeral. Jim is wearing a suit he hasn't worn since a wedding in 1983 and is nonplussed by Dave's suggestion that he wear his own suit. Denise is annoyed that her boyfriend, Dave, doesn't seem to care about the funeral and isn't making an effort to attend. Antony is struggling with the fact that he never got to say goodbye to Elsie, while Nana is struggling to cope with the loss of her friend.

Meanwhile, Barbara receives a phone call from her sister, who has been expecting a baby. As she is unable to attend the funeral, Barbara offers to look after her sister's other children, leading to chaos as she struggles to keep track of the children's activities and keep them entertained.

As the funeral draws closer, tensions start to rise, with Jim and Dave clashing over the suit and Antony struggling to hold back his emotions. The family gathers in the living room, ready to leave for the funeral, but the arrival of a new neighbour causes a commotion, as the family struggle to find a way to introduce themselves without being rude.

As they finally make it to the church, the Royles find that they are late and the funeral service is already underway. Tensions rise as they search for a seat, and Jim's inconsiderate behaviour threatens to ruin the solemnity of the occasion.

Overall, Elsie's Funeral is a poignant and emotional episode that explores themes of grief and loss. Despite the show's usual humour and surrealism, the episode brings a sense of reality to the Royles' lives as they struggle to deal with the death of a loved one. The episode is a tribute to the importance of family and the need to come together in times of difficulty.