The show begins with Sgt Haines (Grace Calder) contacting the comms to obtain information on The Dean.

Malaki (Charles Babalola) scolds Rani Rekowski (Rhianne Barreto) for promising The Dean (Claes Bang) his money will be repaid in eight weeks. Christian Taylor (Gamba Cole) assures him that she was just trying to keep him from killing them. She asks if he is a rich drug dealer. He informs her of his crib being a garage near his mother’s garden. She suggests he raise money by selling his car and TV. He tells her the money from selling drugs provides for his family. She says her parents may be willing to help them raise the money. Christian warns her that it would make her parents complicit in the crime. He says their only option is to go to the feds. Malaki reminds him that it would make them snitches.

Rani is on the phone with Haines with Malaki shows her a death threat on his cellphone. After receiving the same threat, she changes her mind about ratting out The Dean. Comms contacts Haines to alert her of The Dean’s files being classified.

Rani and Christian inform Myrna Okeke (Clare Perkins), Frank Sheldon (Christopher Walken), and John Halloran (Darren Boyd) about The Dean. Frank suggests not repaying the money. Rani informs them that The Dean knows where Christian’s sister, Esme (Alyana Goodfellow), and her parents live. Christian says their lives have already been threatened. When he orders them to repay the money, the three of them claim to have spent their cut of the money. Christian accuses them of saving themselves while everyone else perishes. Rani says they should start selling drugs. John and Myrna refuse to deal in drugs. She says it can earn them a lot of money quickly. Christian admits losing a lot of his loved ones to drugs. John promises to get another loan while Frank swears, he will ask Margaret (Dolly Wells) to give the money back.

DCI Monroe (Rufus Wright) calls Haines and DS Selforth (Kojo Kamara) into his office to discuss the numerous calls made to Comms regarding The Dean. He orders Haines to standdown. While preparing to exit the room, Haines asks why they are stonewalling her. Monroe informs her that The Dean is big-time in London, with international syndicates. He tells them that Met has invested two years in building a case against him. Selforth questions why he has eluded arrest. He says The Dean never handles money or drugs directly.  She informs him of Christian running drugs for The Dean in Bristol. She suggests flipping him. He warns her of what will happen if they foil the case for London. She asks if they are being ordered to stand-down. He suggests they tread cautiously.

Ruth (Amanda Drew) confronts John about leaving his party without saying warning. He informs her of his plan to get another job. She voices her concern about their finances. He assures her that his 19 years of experience in management will secure him another job. She asks if John Halloran Senior (Ian McElhinnery) fired him. He assures her that it was a mutual agreement between the two of them.

Gregory “Greg: Dillard (Stephen Merchant) walks in while Lady Gabriella Penrose-Howe (Eleanor Tomlinson) is pouring his alcohol down the drain. She informs him of her decision to get clean before handing him a bag of cocaine. He is in awe at the size of the bag. She orders him to keep it away from her no matter what. He tells her that no company is willing to hire her after the soda machine stunt. When he tells her that rumors of her having anger issues are surfacing, she orders him to return her cocaine. She wrestles him to the ground until she gets her cocaine back. He promises to find her a job if she doesn’t use the drugs. Relenting, she gives the cocaine back to him.

Myrna tells Claire (Louis Chimimba) that the cash donation was from Gabriella. She says Gabriella is asking for the money to be returned to her. Claire reminds her that she promised to keep the facility operating independently without government funding. Myrna suggests she request the council to approve the grant they previously turned down. Claire says it isn’t an option. She suggests they sell off some of their assets, including the minibus. Claire warns her that the BJC would need to be liquidated to gather enough money to repay Gabriella.

Frank walks in to discover Margaret (Dolly Wells), Tom (Guillermo Bedward), and Holly (Isla Gie) are throwing him a thank-you party.

The bank denies John’s loan request. He reminds the loan officer of how taxpayers helped banks recover financially in 2008. The loan officer tells him that he was only 6 in 2008. John says if he was a single mother with a crack addiction and three children in 2007, his bank would have approved him a mortgage and balloons.

Myrna, John, and Frank approach Rani to discuss her drug-dealing scheme. Rani suggests they ask Christian how the process works. John asks if it will only be for eight weeks. Myrna rules out violence. Refusing to go through with it, Christian tells them that they have no idea how his mum has been impacted by drugs. She warns him of what The Dean will do to him if they don’t do it. Relenting, he asks how they will go about laundering the drug money. They all wait on Greg as he emerges from the toilet. He refuses to launder their money because the last time he had a severe eczema flareup. Frank warns him of what could happen if anyone finds out about his previous money laundering scheme. Greg informs them that he has been blackmailed by Spencer (Tom Hanson) ever since. He throws up a Westside gang sign before walking away. Frank swears to the others that he can persuade Greg to launder their drug money.

Rani tries to convince Malaki to let them take over his drug business while he is imprisoned. When he refuses, she reminds him of Souljah (Marcus Fraser) snitching him out. Malaki asks if Greg is a good attorney. Christian says his services are free of charge. She warns that they will all die if he doesn’t learn how to trust her. He asks if she has any experience in running drugs. She assures him that she can catch on pretty quickly. He warns her if she screws him over, he will find a way to break out of prison to get revenge. He starts explaining his drug operation works with his phone. He says he transmits a message to his client to alert them that he is open for business. She tries to take notes on paper, but he orders her to keep the info in her head. After receiving an order from one phone, he utilizes another phone to contact one of his runners. He agrees to let them meet his runners when he notices John standing outside. Rani informs him that he is their advisor.

Christian isn’t happy when he recognizes a female runner as his sister’s classmate. Malaki tells him that she is just making money to feed her family. He continues to explain how his operation works. John tells Christian that he can catch onto the operation, but the dialect will take some time.

Greg talks to Anne-Marie (Jessica Boyde) when Spencer drops off his teacup for a refill. He tells her that they rotate getting each other tea. When he waves at her, his tie falls into the teacup.

John asks Malaki a series of questions about his drug operation. He claims to earn 200K annually. Rani asks if he ever considered expanding into other markets. He warns her that it would be problematic.

Showing Spencer if fake FBI ID, Frank identifies himself as Robert Stack. Spencer doesn’t believe he is with the FBI. Frank tells him that he works at Northcott Marling as an attorney. Spencer asks to see his badge again. He suggests they talk about a massive money-laundering scheme. Spencer asks if he is joking. He says a man standing nearby is his colleague, Agent Jack Webb. He explains how Webb didn’t go to his mum’s funeral because he was investigating corrupt bankers. Spencer asks how he is connected to it. He informs him that they have an informant working inside the Northcott Marling firm. Spencer accuses several of his co-workers of pranking him. When he orders the paperwork to be turned over to the FBI, Spencer informs him that he has it.

Greg speaks with Rita (Julia Davis) about personal conversations among employees. She invites him to set on her desk to give him an idea of what a woman is looking at in that position. She tells him the woman is looking at the man’s groin. She reminds them of the company policy that prohibits personal relationships between colleagues. On his way out of the office, Anne-Marie asks him if he would like to grab a sandwich. He sternly says, “No.”

When Spencer hands the paperwork over, Frank suggests he keep it confidential. He warns him of the possibility of being implicated in the money-laundering scheme. Spencer orders him a Lux.

Greg and Malaki discuss his probation violation. As he explains it may be possible to reduce the time he spends in prison, Spencer says tea. Greg asks if he would please wait until he gets done. Spencer asks if he would like some tea. Malaki asks about the length of his prison sentence for probation violation. Greg assures him that he can get it reduced from two years to several months.  Spencer returns to give Malaki a list of his tea options. Greg is confused when he asks if they would like a biscuit with their tea.

Frank warns Greg that he was up sh** creek, but he found him a paddle before unveiling the boxes of paperwork, he got from Spencer. Astonished, he says you really got it back. Frank warns him the paperwork comes with some strings. He refuses to launder any more drug money for them. Frank tells him that’s fine, go ahead and take the paperwork. As he prepares to pick them up, Frank tells him to tell Christian and Rani goodbye. He asks if they are taking off for the rest of the day. Frank says he just signed their death warrant. He informs him of their agreement with The Dean. Greg asks where the money will come from. Rani says they are going to take over Malaki’s drug-running operation while he is in prison. John suggests they expand the operation into new markets.

Myrna sarcastically suggests they put an ad in the newspaper. John says they need a mailing list. Rani tells him about BJC’s mailing list. Refusing to get BJC involved, Myrna reminds them of Gabby’s contacts. Greg asks about the nightclub, where Christian works. Rani suggests they do all three. Myrna asks what she will contribute to the cause. Pointing at her backpack, John says students enjoy partying. When Rani denies being a student, he assures her that she could pass as one.

Rani walks into the school to check out the bulletin board, where she finds a poster advertising a frat party. She speaks with Laurence (Jonny Weldon) about volunteering for the frat party.

Christian introduces Greg to the club owner (James Redmond). Greg suggests he Google Gabby. Christian records him signing into his computer. The club owner suggests Gabby would be perfect for him. Greg tells him that she is a lesbian before suggesting Gabby inform her over 1m followers that she will make an appearance in his club. The club owner asks at what price.

Malaki hands the keys to his vehicle and phones over to Christian.

Rani helps set up the frat party. Laurence makes a comment about a 60-year-old janitor that catches her attention. He asks to be killed if he ends up like Tom (Guillermo Bedward). She asks what is wrong with Tom’s profession. He tells her about his goal to be a teacher. She describes academia as a “masturbation in a corduroy jacket.” After he introduces himself, she informs him that her computer skills are really good.

The club owner informs Gabby that her Twitter tweets helped him sell more than 2,000 tickets. Shocked, she asks him what he would like her to do. He suggests she get on the stage, wave, and give the patrons some t-shirts.

Malaki is escorted through the prison.

Laurence asks for Rani’s details while she works on the computer. He invites her to join them for drinks, but she refuses. After he exits the room, she searches for the school’s mailing list.

John has dinner with his when Myrna calls to complain about her struggles gaining access to BJC’s mailing list. He tries to explain how to access the computer. An emcee introduces Gabriella. The club owner asks Greg why she isn’t getting on the stage. John continues to help Myrna access Claire’s mailing list. Rani continues to work on the mailing list. Gabby complains to Greg that she can’t go through with it. He reminds her of the 1,500 quid payment. John tells Myrna to drag and drop the “mail-out” folder to the USB. Laurence asks Imran to conduct a search on Rani to determine if she is a student at the school. Greg tells the club owner that he forgot his cellphone in his coat pocket in his office. Christian volunteers to retrieve it for him. Within minutes, he has the club’s mailing list.

Myrna is still struggling. Imran shows Laurence there is no student file for Rani. They head to the room, where Rani is transferring the school’s mailing list to a USB. After removing the USB device, she hides behind a door as they enter the room. With their back turned, she slips out into the hallway. John tells Myrna he is heading to her place. Gabby orders a vodka, but Greg advises against it. He suggests she imagine herself being a family who has just collided with a semi. She starts to drink the vodka but stops and heads to the stage. Christian hands Greg his phone. Gabby looks around at Greg who mimics someone who has been involved in a collision. When she speaks, the crowd goes wild.

John, Myrna, Greg, Christian, and Rani try to decide what type of message would be best for their operation. Myrna warns them of the possibility of sending a message to a do-gooder. John asks if she contacts the police when receiving spam from a Nigerian prince. Christian suggests coffee terms – espresso for crack and flat white for coke. They all like it. Rani types up the message.

Haines and Selforth start their investigation board for The Dean.

Rani and the others receive their first order for a double espresso and two flat whites.

Haines adds Christian’s photo to their investigation board.

Rani and the others are busy taking order after order as the episode comes to an end.

 

The Outlaws Review

The cast flawlessly brings their characters to life. They have built strong onscreen relationships, carried over from the previous season. Each member of the cast is compelling.

The cinematography is not perfect, but close to it. Low lighting in some of the scenes renders poor visibility. It is just enough to be annoying. The editing and directing are near exceptional.

What I like about the show is each character has a backstory. I sometimes think the title is a bit harsh in this situation. Most of the characters aren’t much more than petty offenders. The writer(s) probably thought it fit since some of the characters are felons.

The show is entertainingly satire one minute and dramatic the next. One of the best TV shows currently airing.

The episode deserves a 6.8. Get more The Outlaws recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking on the link to learn more.