First Date – As the fifth episode of The Flatshare begins, Leon (Anthony Welsh) returns home and leaves a note for Tiffany (Jessica Brown Findlay) asking if she has found another place yet. She returns his message confirming she has found a place. Leon returns home again and finds flowers from Justin (Bart Edwards). She asks if she can take the painting stuff with her, but Leon leaves a note reminding her that they were for the damage she caused. Tiffany receives a message from Holly (Alis Waters) asking for a favor. At work, Leon and the others hold a birthday party for Holly who says she is a woman now. Leon apologizes for snapping at her previously. In private, Holly tells him that she found Johnny White. She gives Leon his address in Brighton and how Tiffany helped him.

Holly wants Leon to go find him because it is going to be a surprise for Mr. Prior. Leon is surprised when he runs into Tiffany on the train. They quickly learn that Holly set them up. While riding together, Leon learns that she has been nominated for an award thanks to the article. He says Richie is okay and he and Kay are still split up. When he begins listening to music, Tiffany asks if she can listen only to be told he doesn’t share earphones. Justin visits Maia (Shaniqua Okwok) and Mo (Jonah Hauer-King) to apologize since he knows he didn’t handle the breakup with Tiffany very well. Maia is surprised when Justin says they’re back together. Justin wants to make sure there is no bad blood between them because they’re so important to Tiffany. Once Justin leaves, he checks Tiffany’s phone and deletes messages from Rachel apologizing about changing the article.

Justin and Tiffany try to find Johnny’s residence. As they continue following a hand-drawn map, Tiffany stops to purchase a hat. They stop again when Tiffany finds a musket that would look good on their wall, but Leon isn’t interested in it. Once they find the flat, they notice that it is under construction and it looks like no one lives there. They go to the Brighton Palace Pier to get something to eat. Leon thinks Holly is going to be disappointed although Tiffany isn’t ready to give up yet. Leon looks through Holly’s packet and finds stuff about romantic restaurants so Tiffany thinks she had other ideas. They even get two heart-shaped lollipops. Leon thinks she is moving back in with Justin, but Tiffany tells him otherwise. She told him she needed more time and threw his flowers in the bin. Tiffany questions if she is a bad person for doing that. Leon doesn’t think so.

Tiffany notices a poster in front of them about the chess club’s open invitation. She convinces Leon to go up to the players to see if any of them know Johnny White. The man there says they’d have him on file. Tiffany and Leon speak to the receptionist to see if she can help. She doesn’t want to give them any information. A man there ends up telling them where Johnny White lives. When they approach Johnny White, he insists he doesn’t know Mr. Prior. He tells them to leave him alone before going inside. Tiffany follows Leon when he rushes off to tell him that he has to be lying. Leon believes the whole thing is stupid and they’re not doing something good. She convinces him to go out for drinks. Leon changes his mind and agrees to let her take the painting stuff to her new flat. Tiffany doesn’t think he let anyone down. They drink through the night and take pictures together. Tiffany goes to the bathroom and notices that Justin had posted a thumbs-up emoji on their picture.

She freaks out and tells Leon she doesn’t know what to reply. If she doesn’t reply, she is only going to make things worse. Leon doesn’t understand why he has such a hold over her. Tiffany gets upset and leaves the pub. She runs outside and begins screaming because she is venting before encouraging Leon to do the same. Since they’ve stayed out so late, they decide to visit a local motel to get a room. The receptionist (Molly Jackson-Shaw) tells them the price for two single rooms so they quickly agree to rent a room with a double bed. They also get an ice pack for Tiffany’s ankle. Once they settle in, Tiffany apologizes to Leon since he is supposed to be at home. Leon admits it has been nice to hang out. They discuss Tiffany moving out before she kisses Leon. They almost have sex, but Tiffany panics when she begins thinking about Justin. He tells Leon that he shouldn’t stop.

She sees Justin again so she throws Leon off of her. After she apologizes, Leon says it is okay because it has been a long day. When she gets up in the morning, she thinks Leon is gone only for him to return with breakfast. Tiffany tries to explain what happened last night. Although she wanted Leon, it was like she couldn’t. In some way, she still feels like she is his. This was the first time she tried to do that with someone since they broke up. When she is with Leon, she feels a little less screwed up. Leon says she makes him feel less like he has to save everyone. Later, Tiffany finds Johnny’s last letter. Once she reads it, she insists they need to go see Johnny again. Leon tells him that he works at Mr. Prior’s hospice. If it isn’t him or he doesn’t want to know, they won’t bother him again. He looks at the letter before inviting them inside. Johnny explains that he was ashamed although not ashamed of Reggie.

He loved Reggie, but was scared and couldn’t see a future for them. He cut Reggie off as a result. Leon says Reggie has been in and out of hospice even though there is still a lot of fight left in him. Johnny doesn’t think he should’ve let him go. Leon gives him the details of the hospice in case he wants to visit. As they ride the train back, Leon says at least Johnny has a chance to visit him now. He tells Tiffany he doesn’t want her to move out. Tiffany seems interested in the idea. They listen to Leon’s music together. Leon gets a call from Al at work giving him bad news. When he returns to the hospice with Tiffany, he learns that Holly has passed away. He begins crying so Tiffany comforts him. They reach the flat and find Maia waiting for Tiffany. She is there to see both of them. They go inside where Maia says she thinks she might be able to help Richie because she found something that could be crucial to his case.

She consulted with her chambers and they agree there is important evidence that was either missed or withheld. She is going to take Richie’s charge at no charge. Leon and Tiffany agree that they won’t see each other if they go back to the way things were, but she will write to him. They hug before Leon leaves.

 

The Flatshare Review

The fifth episode of The Flatshare was probably the most effective episode to date for a handful of reasons. In particular, the side stories work exceptionally well including Holly’s story and the search for Johnny White. Richie’s case is good as well even though it has been a bit convenient at times. The series is very predictable and even unrealistic sometimes, but it is still a decent binge for the side stories alone.

There doesn’t seem to be much chemistry between Leon and Tiffany even though this is the main component of the story and the series in general. Truthfully, I am more interested in seeing if anything comes of Johnny White and whether Holly’s death has a bigger impact on Leon. It’d be a shame if that wasn’t a bigger part of the finale because those side stories were likely the best part of The Flatshare through five episodes.

The episode scores a 6 out of 10. Recaps of The Flatshare are available on Reel Mockery here. Have you found our website beneficial? Consider following this link to find out how to support us.