As the fifth episode of The Couple Next Door begins, Danny (Sam Heughan) dreams that he wakes up with Becka (Jessica De Gouw). He keeps thinking about Evie (Eleanor Tomlinson) until he finally wakes up. Evie checks on Pete (Alfred Enoch) who seems out of it. He asks her about being pregnant. Evie wants to have some more tests because she puts them through more heartbreak. She claims she was just waiting for the right moment to tell him. Evie goes outside where she tries to talk to Danny, but he leaves in a hurry because he has to go to work. At work, Pete, Sophie (Ioanna Kimbook), and the boss look at a picture of Danny. Sophie says they believe he’s looking for the gang’s stolen goods.

Pete thinks they need to confirm the link to the cops so they can prove corruption. If they get that, the boss will publish the story. Danny gets a call telling him they’ve found the owner of the blog. He calls Becka to tell her that Alan (Hugh Dennis) is behind the blog. Becka hangs up and immediately begins banging on Alan’s door. She goes inside where she asks Alan whether he has copies. Becka says Danny wanted to move there, but she didn’t like places like that because they freak her out. She is adamant is going to make him account for why he did what he did. Becka reminds him he broke the law by breaking into their house. She will continue doing whatever she wants because it is no one’s business and she won’t be shamed for it. Alan says he is not a nobody.

Becka says otherwise before asking what his wife will say when she finds out. Gary (Joel Morris) tells Danny that he got the CCTV footage from the bank. They always have two pick-ups a day. Gary thinks they should pretend to be the two o’clock. Danny is hesitant to do it. Sgt. Paula McGinn (Clare Burt) interrupts to ask about the recent crash. When she sees the security footage, Gary claims he is just following up on a missing security van inquiry. Pete goes to the doctor to discuss his low sperm count. The doctor says it has become more acute. Dr. Suleiman (Helene Maksoud) goes on to say there are no viable sperm in his sample. Olly (Daniel Bell) approaches Becka so he can get permission to go to Roddy’s house. Evie comes over and tells Becka she was going to invite them over tonight.

Becka says another time before rushing away. Later, Evie joins Pete at a fancy restaurant. They agree they have something to celebrate. Pete changes his mind and says she does but he doesn’t. He tells her about his check-up. Pete says she must have had sex with Danny and he must’ve finished inside her. He isn’t sure they can get through this because he isn’t interested in having another man’s child. Evie says this is what they’ve always wanted. Pete wants nothing to do with it and he doubts Danny will either. He goes on to say their friendship with Danny and Becka is done. Pete wants her to get rid of the baby. He gives her two days or they’re done. Later, Evie calls Danny to say she needs to see him. Danny worries she let her imagination run away with her because they’re not meant to be together.

Pete meets Sophie at a club and explains that he changed his mind about coming. Sophie reveals that her friend is the guitarist. Evie goes to the police station so she can speak to Danny. Evie knows he wants her so he is going to have her. She’ll make all the decisions and he won’t have to make any. Evie climbs on top of him before they start kissing. They have sex. Pete makes out with Sophie. She stops him because she doesn’t think they should do that as colleagues. Evie tells Danny that she is pregnant. He hopes she is not going to go through with this because it could destroy them all. Danny says he loves Becka and he is going to go home to her. Evie says it isn’t just him and Becka anymore. Jean (Kate Robbins) visits Becka because she is concerned about the message she left.

Becka says Alan has been spying on her and he stole a private video from her. Jean can’t understand why Alan would do such a thing. Jean admits her marriage has been over for years, but she hasn’t been able to admit it. She has a group of friends who do yoga and their teacher is on maternity leave so Becka could step in. Later, Becka advertises her services. Danny comes home and tells her that he loves her. He is going to bed. Becka says she’ll be up in a bit. Alan apologizes to Jean who admits she isn’t sure she can forgive him. She isn’t sure she wants to be with him. Gloria (Janine Duvitski) comes over to see if Alan wants to hear the local gossip. Jean rips the pictures of Becka. Then, she finds a statement. Pete confronts Danny outside to say he was working for Robbie Spencer in the locker.

Pete threatens to tell his superiors unless he gives him evidence linking Robbie to the stolen goods. He gives Danny until three. Jean uses the telescope and sees Evie approaching Danny outside. Danny and Gary go through their plan. Then, Danny goes into the Royal Northern Bank to access the box. Lars and John find out that someone is trying to access the box. Lars realizes that the key is missing. Becka speaks to Lena (Deirdre Mullins) and argues Danny should’ve told her a long time ago. Lena says they weren’t in touch until recently. She contacted Danny because she thought Ethan needed a relationship with his dad. Becka wants them to decide what to do next. Lena says Ethan is next door. Gary becomes concerned when he sees a vehicle behind him.

Danny signs the paperwork and gets ready to leave the bank. Gary tries to get in touch with Danny before approaching James. When Danny walks outside, he finds Gary fighting with one of them. Danny gets into the van and reverses it. Becka is introduced to Ethan. She tells Ethan about Olly who is his half-brother. Ethan would like to meet him. Danny takes the box and drives away on the motorcycle. Pete calls him but Danny doesn’t answer. Robbie Spencer (Mark Frost) tells Danny he didn’t think they had it in them. If something happened to Gary, Robbie believes that is Gary’s problem. He tells Danny to have a nice life. Danny sends Pete pictures of the registrations Robbie was smuggling and other items. The passport is in the name of Eddie Smallwood. Pete tells his boss that Eddie owns Colossus Building Supplies but he doesn’t exist.

He is Robbie Spencer. Danny can’t get in touch with Gary. He finds the article about Robbie on The Leeds Mercury. Sophie tells Pete that is her first front page. He admits he acted like a prick last night. Sophie admits she wanted it just as much as he did, but she believes they’re better off as colleagues and friends. They’re there when Robbie is taken into custody. After drinking later, Pete is awoken by a knock at the door. Kyle tells him Robbie Spencer isn’t happy about what he wrote. Before Kyle can attack him, Danny intervenes with a handgun. Kyle thinks it has nothing to do with Danny until Pete admits he was the source. Kyle and Danny fight. Pete watches as Kyle kicks Danny and flees in his car.

Danny tells Pete that he just put a target on his back. He learns that Kyle took the gun. Danny tells Pete to lock his door and not to open it until morning. When Pete goes inside, he looks at the handgun.

 

The Couple Next Door Review

The fifth episode of The Couple Next Door descended deeper into the insanity and really turned every character into an unlikable mess. At this point, Jean is probably the only character who can authentically be sympathized with. It is hard to know what the writers were trying to do with the series. I can’t decide what the message is supposed to be and what the series is trying to achieve.

At one point, the series tried to make Evie look psycho. Now, they’re switching over to Pete being deranged. That’s a bit difficult to believe considering how weak they made the character early on. Then again, I expect the finale to end on a whimper anyway so no one is going to do anything extraordinary.

The opening episode had promise, but the series became more frustrating with each episode so I’d expect very little from the finale. This episode scores a 4 out of 10. Recaps of The Couple Next Door can be found on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Learn more about advertising on Reel Mockery here. Discuss this series and others with friends at the Reel Mockery Forum.