As the episode opens, Dean (Gary Lamont) stresses over the investors as the restaurant fills with walk-ins. Carly (Vinette Robinson) asks who is overseeing Liam Astrid’s (Joel MacCormack) table. He says Robyn (Aine Rose Daly) but he is floating. Entering the kitchen, Carly gives the crew a pep talk. Sous-Chef Freeman (Ray Panthaki) voices concern about the new Chef de Partie’s “CDP” late arrival. After saying he claims to be on his way, she assures him that the two of them, the “Dream Team,” can handle it. Bolton (Shaun Fagan) questions if they have been stood up again. Carly sarcastically says it has nothing to do with his love life. He accuses her of being jealous of his woman who is seeing again. Emily (Hannah Walters) points out that he has had two dates in one week when Johnny Bale (Stephen Odubola) arrives. After quick introductions, Carly orders him to prepare hollandaise after he is dressed. Outside the kitchen, Johnny is searching a hollandaise recipe when Robyn (Aine Rose Daily) approaches, A quick greeting, she is on her way to the dining room.

Robyn grabs Billy’s (Taz Skylar) butt. When he tells her to stop, she denies doing anything. He warns her that he will be reprimanded for getting “frisky,” even though it is her fault. Dean orders him to leave Robyn alone. Billy claims she started it. Dean tells her that the patrons at table six have been waiting on their bill for 10 minutes. After delivering drinks to Liam’s table, Musa (Ahmed Malek) tells Kit (Missy Haysom) that their orders will be delayed. She relays the information to Carly. Johnny struggles to gather his hollandaise ingredients when Emily arrives looking for piping bags. He initially hands her the wrong bags before asking where the eggs are stored. She points to the refrigerator on her way back to the kitchen. In the walk-in fridge, he gets Jake to help him locate the eggs. Jake stays behind to eat something when he hears his name called. Back in the kitchen, Jamie warns that the ice cream is going to melt. Carly urges him to calm down.

Liam commends them for a good job. He stresses the importance of the investors tasting Carly’s food. He urges her to deliver it to the table. Carly assures him that it is a done deal. She is back in the kitchen reading out orders.

Andy Jones (Stephen Graham) gulps down a glass of water. The camera focuses on the “Chef of the Year” book by Andy Jones of Jones & Sons. After ingesting some pills, he conducts an online search on Point North. Carly’s North Point recently celebrated its opening after Jones & Sons shuttered in January. He has a flashback of Carly and Freeman scolding him for ignoring his responsibilities. Andy attacks Freeman.

Camille (Izuka Hoyle) tells her co-workers about going to the prom with a now ex-boyfriend who got her best friend pregnant. She claims he was voted “Best Couple” with four girls. Bolton asks if that is the end of the story. Johnny prepares hollandaise sauce with only five servings left. Carly rushes her mum off the phone with the promise of calling her later.

In the dining room, Robyn takes orders at Liam’s table. Executive Ben (Johnny Fairclough) orders mussels when Kit spills wine on a patron’s (Stanley Rawlings) shirt. Frustrated, the man sarcastically asks if it is her first day. Sending Kit for cleaning supplies, Dean deals with the customer.

Back in the kitchen, Holly (Hannah Traylen) scolds Jake (Daniel Larkai) for not washing the dishes appropriately. He complains of working for four hours. She boasts of leaving the kitchen spotless at 3am. He attributes her long shift to laziness. She threatens to slap him when he laughs. Carly and Freeman present dishes.

In the dining room, the patron suggests Kit have more training. Dean vows to buy the man a new shirt if dry cleaning doesn’t get out the stain. Leaving Kit to clean up the mess, Dean alerts the kitchen crew of her mishap. Carly receives another call from her mum. Freeman takes over for her when Robyn informs him of her taking Liam’s table. Bolton urges Johnny to rush up the hollandaise sauce. Freeman calls all the VIP orders. Emily takes over for Johnny who is ordered to take over the grill. Carly explains to her mum how to properly utilize the app when Freeman rushes her off the phone. The crew prepares the VIP dishes.

Placing a lemonade on the bar, Musa tells Billy that a customer swears it is soda water. After tasting it, he confirms it is soda water. Taking a taste, Billy assures him that it is lemonade. Musa urges him to not message. Billy reminds him of how he always has his back when he messes up. After announcing that a customer ruined the “Text My Wife” finale, Dean says they are going out tonight except for Musa who has a hangover at work. Musa denies wanting to go before complaining of a headache.

After an unsuccessful call to her mum, Carly alerts Freeman of her departure. He suggests asking a neighbor to check in on her. She assures him that it will be quicker to do it herself. Outside, she continues to try her phone’s phone. In the kitchen, Freeman tells the crew about Carly leaving. In the dining room, Liam and the investors discuss finances. Back in the kitchen, Bolton rushes Johnny with the onions. Johnny asks if anyone has paracetamol. Bolton says he would give him a prescription if he actually cared. Musa describes the dining room as a “nightmare.” Bolton asks Jake to slap him. Jake hits his butt with a dishtowel. Dean orders Musa back to the dining room. Robyn tells Freeman that Liam summons Carly. Freeman says she left and his hands are tied. Liam pressures Freeman into telling him that Carly’s mum is unwell. He calls her to say the investors are requesting to speak with her. She vows to return in an hour.

 

Jamie informs Emily of his being rejected for a flat because of his credit. Emily invites him to stay at her house. Bolton scolds Johnny for not getting his food right. Johnny apologizes while Bolton asks if he wants a foot massage. After a failed attempt to make carrot puree, Johnny leaves to retrieve his knives. Someone calls him “useless.” Johnny calls his wife (Olivia Frances Brown) to tell her that his first day isn’t going well. She urges him to be honest about not knowing how to do it. He says then they would know he didn’t go through the training. He tells Dean that he doesn’t want to mess up his opportunity to work there. Dean assures him that they are “brilliant” but “idiots.” Johnny reminds him of how they worked for Andy.

Freeman asks Johnny to present the dishes for him. He squirts sauce everywhere before placing it on the counter. Camille shows him how to add seasoning. Removing broccoli spears from the grill, he drops one on the floor. He puts it back in the dish. Bolton scolds him for trying to send broccoli out to the dining room before it is uniform.

Carly enters her mum, Vivian’s (Cathy Tyson) flat to find her sitting on the sofa watching TV. She forces her to stand up to ensure she is okay. Vivian denies activating the emergency alert until she checks the app on her phone. She claims to have tested it like Carly instructed her to do. Carly tells her that tonight is really important. Vivian suggests she is not capable of running a business. As Carly leaves, she asks her to pick up some milk. When Carly returns with the milk, she discovers a half-gallon jug in the refrigerator.

Jamie complements Johnny’s dessert presentation. Freeman asks Emily to oversee the kitchen while he calls Carly. When Bolton orders Johnny to fill two dipping bowls with Au jus, he utilizes chocolate sauce. Robyn takes the order to the dining room. Realizing the mistake, Freemen rushes out to correct it. Executive Shaun (Phil Deguara) probes Freeman about Carly’s absence. Ben says “Northern food” doesn’t “inspire” before suggesting “gimmicks.” In the kitchen, Musa confronts Bolton about a duck order from 40 minutes ago. Bolton claims it was already sent out. Back in the dining room, Shaun asks Freeman to explain Point North. Freeman says, “Northern-inspired cuisine.” Ben refuses to let him return to the kitchen until he answers their questions. In the kitchen, Bolton orders Johnny to make fish sauce. Camille’s pan catches on fire. Johnny tries to help but only makes it worse. Bolton calls him an “idiot.” As Johnny runs water on his burn, Freeman bursts into the kitchen demanding an explanation. Bolton accuses Johnny of nearly burning the kitchen down. Freeman and Bolton get into a verbal disagreement. Irate, Freeman throws a chocolate sauce jug across the kitchen.

Liam informs Carly that Ben and Shaun declined to invest in Point North because they believe it will shutter in six months. Carly refuses to go along with their ideas. After asking her to present herself as a “business owner,” he says no more of his money can be invested into Point North. Freeman joins them to explain how Johnny utilized chocolate sauce instead of beef jus sauce. She reprimands him for losing his temper and not overseeing the kitchen. She attributes his outburst to making Andy’s heart attack worse. He curses them before quitting.

Bolton threatens to have Johnny terminated if he messes up again. Dean rounds everyone up to go out for a drink. Johnny apologizes to Carly who knows he isn’t a trained CDP. She agrees to give him another chance. In the kitchen, Carly informs Emily of Freeman. Emily assures him that he will be there in the morning before urging her to talk to Andy. While trying to clean up a mess, Holly grabs Carly’s hand. After a few seconds, Carly walks away.

Johnny tells his wife that he got the job when a baby cries. As he holds the infant, she admits to being proud of him.

Emily drops off a doggy bag to Andy. He complains about not getting to see his son. She warns against drinking while taking medicine. He assures her that it is only a few beers. She informs him of Freeman quitting before urging him to talk to Carly. He reminds her of how they worked for him. Elsewhere, Bolton eats a microwave dinner while playing video games. Carly prints out a loan application for €30,000. Andy watches a pool game on TV. The episode ends.

 

Boiling Point Cast

• Dean (Gary Lamont)
• Liam Astrid (Joel MacCormack)
• Freeman (Ray Panthaki)
• Johnny Bale (Stephen Odubola)
• Bolton (Shaun Fagan)
• Emily (Hannah Walters)
• Robyn (Aine Rose Daily)
• Billy (Taz Skylar)
• Kit (Missy Haysom)
• Musa (Ahmed Malek)
• Andy Jones (Stephen Graham)
• Camille (Izuka Hoyle)
• Jake (Daniel Larkai)
• Holy (Hannah Traylen)
• Vivian (Cathy Tyson
• Carly (Vinette Robinson)

Boiling Point Synopsis

Andy Jones is the owner of the once famous “Jones & Sons” restaurant. Heavy drinking, drug use, and stress result in a heart attack in the kitchen of his restaurant. Fed up with Andy’s behavior, Carly establishes her own restaurant, “Point North,” with the help of Liam Astrid. Former Jones & Sons employees went to work for Carly. Emily seems to be his only friend. His parental visitation rights are revoked.

Johnny Bale, a father of twins, is hired as an experienced Chef de Parties. His first day is a near-disaster when he tries to put out a burning skillet. His chef skills are limited at best. Carly agrees to give him another chance to prove himself.

Carly’s mum, Vivian is a master manipulator and pessimistic as far as Carly goes. Freeman’s anger problem spills over to the restaurant.

Bolton lives alone and plays video games. Billy and Robyn appear to be a couple. Jake doesn’t apply himself at work. What he doesn’t do becomes Holly’s responsibility.

Boiling Point Review

The plot is interesting enough but it isn’t completely original. In some sense, it is predictable. The worst part is the amateurish camera work. The tracking shot technique is nauseating. The camera follows the subject, the character in this case, in all directions. The technique would probably work better in slow-paced settings but not in a hectic restaurant. The bad camera angle is distracting and unflattering.

Anyone watching the show for Stephen Graham will be sorely disappointed. Graham’s screen time in the pilot episode is about five minutes. The seasoned actor’s name is enough to draw in viewers but it alone will not be enough to keep them tuned in.

Character development is slow to reveal itself. The kitchen drama is bland and unoriginal. The personal relationships will make or break the show. A lot of nothing going on. With this being the pilot episode, there is plenty of time to see improvement.

The episode deserves a 5.5. Get more Boiling Point recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Our onsite advertising builds brand awareness, click the link to learn more.