The show begins with Alma Nuthall (Sophie Willan) struggling up a hill on a bicycle. Three young girls yell at her, saying you look like a twat. She thanks them without skipping a beat. She takes a smoke break before arriving at the Jobsure Plus office. She makes it just in time to remove her pink flamingo fake fur coat and chat with another patron. She is called into the office as she slurps water directly from the dispenser.

Alma meets with Carol (Shameem Ahmad) to discuss her professional qualifications, which are zilch. She explains her special capabilities – charisma, thinks outside the box, and pizzazz. Carol asks her why she doesn’t have any job qualifications. A flashback of Alma’s life plays as she explains why her job skills are nonexistent. Young Alma (Maizie Wickson) tiptoes through a disheveled house, with several men passed out of the floor. Alma explains how she began caring for herself at the age of five. She was always absent from school most days. When she did show up, it was in a drunken stupor, resulting in a suspension.

Carol asks about her job history. Without hesitation, she says I want to be an actor. Carol ignores her, asking again about her job experience. Alma goes off on a tangent about working with her boyfriend who was a business owner. He dumped her for a younger, not sexier girl. Carol denies it ever happened to her. He left her without enough money to cover this month’s rent. She comments on Carol’s husband, calling him meaty, safe, and nice. Carol apologizes for her difficulties, saying their goal is to get her back on track. She is ready to give up men and become a career woman. Carol picks her a job as a “sandwich artist” at a local deli. She isn’t happy about Carol’s pick, bragging about her promising movie audition. Carol warns her that her JSA will end if she can’t provide proof of actively seeking a job. She asks if Carol wants her to submit an expression of interest to the deli. Alma unenthusiastically agrees.

Outside, she gives the document a quick look over before cramming it in her coat pocket. Smoking a cigarette, she heads out on your bicycle. She makes a quick stop at Professional Musical Instruments Sound & Lighting to inquire about the Party Rocker Max. She pulls the Part Rocker Max up to store representative, Adnan (Tahir Shah), saying I love it. He says it could work with her demeanor. She describes it as feeling fabulous, pulling it back and forth across the floor. When he tells her the price is 250 pounds, she flips her lid. He suggests she keep her voice down. As several men enter the store, she squats behind a stack of musical equipment.

Anthony (James Baxter) approaches Adnan, asking if the store has decks. He points him to the other side of the store. As he turns, he spots Alma squatting on the floor. Alma tells about how she met the “prick” on her 18^th birthday at Wigan Pier. This was when nothing mattered except going to raves in a bikini. Anthony was a taxi driver by day and a drug dealer by night. He demands to know what she is doing. She pops up, explaining how she needs a jack cable, which she has no idea what it is, for her new. Adnan adds amp. He calls her weird. She reminds him that he owes her money, suggesting he needs to be hiding, not her. He tells her to “fu** off,” accusing her of being jealous of his happiness. She angrily says you should be happy shagging a teenager and living with his mum. Anthony’s friend yells across the room, offering to shag her if she is feeling desperate. Raising her voice, she says, “Fu** off, you fat fu**.”

Alma questions Anthony about how she is supposed to cover her next month’s rent. He puts his face in front of her, saying it is no longer my problem. Adnan looks vulnerable, getting caught up in the vulnerable disagreement. She asks if they offer store credit.

Alma rides all the way to her grandmother’s house, along with her new amp. Grandma Joan (Lorraine Ashbourne) answers the door, ordering her to get inside. Joan loves animal prints, smoking, and vodka. After spending time in foster care, Alma was sent to live with Joan after her divorce. Joan was feminized while attending the university. Her favorite words with “cock” and “patriarchy.” Alma tells Joan about her recent meeting with Anthony. Joan admits she craves Spam because it calls her name. To combat aging, she sticks her head in a kettle every morning. Alma invites her to visit her mum who she believes needs her. Joan wants no part of it, accusing her mum of stealing the best years of her life. Alma asks for a fag. Joan says it will cost 80p, suggesting she get a proper job if she can’t afford it.

Alma stops by Fede’s Café to see her best friend, Leanne (Jayde Adams). Leanne relocated to Bolton to be with a man she met online. She contributes her local fame to her exotic accent. Alma says her mannerisms are like that of a truck driver and rock n roll sex appeal. Leanne alerts her boss, Bill (Dave Jones) she is taking a smoke break. He immediately reminds her she already had a break. She suggests he not be a dick before heading outside to smoke. Leanne is not happy with Alma’s new amp, accusing her of having a spending problem. Alma denies the allegations. Leanne reminds her of the trampoline purchase. Alma corrects her, saying it is a Fit Bounce Pro for getting fit. She hops up on the trampoline, bouncing up and down. Leanne describes her mood as “manic.”

Alma describes herself as being unemployed, single, and broke, claiming to be perfectly fine. A call about the audition was disappointing news. She sits down on the trampoline, saying I am destined for a life of bunions. Leanne suggests getting Anthony to give her some money. Alma agrees as they both call him a prick while Bill watches from the other room.

Alma and Anthony are lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling. He asks her if she believes his knob is growing. She contributes it to shaving his pubic hair. After receiving a call from his girlfriend, Rachel (Charlotte Anthony), he warns Alma that she has to leave in a bit. She says you have to give me some money. He isn’t happy but agrees, giving her 500 quid before ordering her to go. Trish (Sue Vincent) yells to tell Alma, she has made tea. Alma and Trish watch TV when Anthony walks in to remind them that Rachel will be back any minute. Trish asks if she can at least finish her tea. He raises his voice, repeating she needs to go.

Alma is sitting on a bench across from Anthony’s apartment when Rachel arrives. She misses Trish who is always routine more than Anthony. Alma’s mum, Lin (Siobhan Finneran) has a drug addiction. Her only attempt at being a mum failed. When her mum calls, she assures her she is coming.

Alma arrives at the psych ward, where her mum is staying. Lin greets Alma with a large painting of a large eyeball, claiming it represents society. When Lin was young, she was a punk. At 40, she collected pixies, shopped at Bury Market, and discovered heroin. Alma describes the painting as larger than the previous one. Lin scolds her boyfriend, Jim (Nicholas Asbury) for coughing, describing it as a racket. They met at the psych ward 20 years ago. Alma says when they talk, it is like two elastic bands conversing back and forth. Lin is an arsonist due to her psychosis. Lin refuses to believe she should be institutionalized in a psych ward. She goes on a tyrant about living in a caravan park, not living in a psych ward with a bunch of nutters. Alma is concerned about Lin’s cough, asking if she has been down in the mines before accepting her fag offer.

Outside in the smoking area, Lin tells Alma that she shouldn’t be in the psych ward with the bloody nutters. She complains about Grandma Joan not visiting, asking if she can move in with her when the facility releases her. Alma instantly says no, suggesting that her apartment is too small and her arsonist behavior.

Alma stops in for a drink, with her large eyeball painting. Leanne demands to know about the painting. She tells Alma the latest gossip about Winky Ann who just acquired a flat, with a garage in Bury. Ann paid for the flat with money she received from being an escort in Manchester. Alma is stunned, with Ann’s lazy eye and all. Leanne says she fixed her eye and is getting paid 250 pounds a trick. They both agree, they couldn’t do it. When Ann stopped by Fede’s Café yesterday, she told Leanne that Rachel and Anthony are pregnant. They plan on keeping the baby. Alma is devastated. Leanne suggests it is good because now she can finally move on, asking if they should get shit-faced. Alma refuses, ending up on the stage doing karaoke.

While Leanne makes out of the dance floor, Alma dances with Glen. Alma breaks down as Leanne signs a dramatic song. While taking a break to munch down on burritos, Glen stops by. Alma immediately lets him know she is not going to sleep with him. He says fair enough before walking away. They spot Winky Ann walking down the street, saying her eye looks great. Alma promises to sort everything out, start a family, and get a job. Leanne suggests starting with a job.

When Alma walks into the kitchen, Grandma Joan tells her she looks like shit. She alerts her of Anthony’s baby. Joan suggests moving the furniture around, promising it will get better. Alma invites her to join her and Lin at Queen’s Park. She wants them to be a family, bribing her with pasties. Grandma Joan calls her manipulative.

Lin lays into Grandma Joan for not visiting her, saying it has been five years. Grandma Joan gives her tiger print earmuffs, which Lin describes as “goblins.” A tiny smirk comes to her face as she accepts the earmuffs. She puts them on, they all laugh. Grandma Joan gives her a hug. They sit down on a bench to eat their pasties.

Alma arrives home to an empty apartment. She begins to clean house, tossing her and Anthony’s photos in the trash. She contacts an escort company to apply for a job as the episode comes to an end.

 

Alma’s Not Normal Review

There is little to not like about the show. The acting, camerawork, and directing are spot-on. This is one dysfunctional family that is guaranteed to melt your heart.

I have seen Siobhan Finneran in various roles – Clare Cartwright in “Happy Valley”, Marie-Louise in “Time”, and Elaine Pickford in “A Confession.” I think this is the best she has ever been. She is perfect for the role of psychotic Lin.

This dysfunctional family is fantastic from start to finish. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a laugh. The episode deserves a 7.5. Get more Alma’s Not Normal recaps here.  Support ReelMockery by clicking here.