The big day arrives; unexpectedly early, given the fact most sitcoms stretch to six episodes. Rob (Daniel Mays) is still trying to find his ideal "plus one" to take to Linsey (Miranda Raison) and Duncan's (Duncan James) wedding, and chances upon a beautiful supermodel/bio-chemist called Astrid (Georgia King) while discussing the matter with Laura (Ruth Bradley)..."One Love" was bitterly disappointing in most respects. After a superb build-up over the past four weeks, this episode felt terribly rushed and painfully predictable. For example: Rob's sister Rebecca (Ingrid Oliver) and best-friend Paul (Steve John Shepherd) inexplicably become a couple – the storyline abandoning the slow build-up at the eleventh hour -- while the ideal Rob/Laura match-up is mentioned but doesn't develop in any meaningful way. Admittedly, the latter's relationship will doubtless be allowed to blossom in series 2, but I think we were owed something significant happening between them in the finale.
The wedding itself was too low-key and cheap-looking to be taken very seriously (obviously a product of the show's budget, but I was looking forward to something a bit flashier after being promised the celebrity wedding of the decade). This week's guest-star wasn't a celebrity (in reality, or otherwise), but Astrid was the episode's one notable highlight; a brilliantly expressive and clearly insane girlfriend for Rob. Unfortunately, while her performance was great fun, it was obvious from the start that Astrid was a celebrity stalker, so her knife-attack on Duncan at the altar wasn't half the surprise it was intended to be.
Overall, "One Love" was a lacklustre ending to what had become a weekly comedy treat. It wasn't bad enough to undo all of Plus One's good work, and there were still some amusing moments, but it ultimately felt very rushed, small-scale and uninspired. The knotted lunacy of the earlier episodes wasn't in evidence, the embarrassment level was dialled down, the flashes of fantasy weren't very funny, and the big climax (Duncan being stabbed in the balls by the unhinged Astrid) just felt a bit desperate. The denouement tells us Linsey split from Duncan after their wedding day disaster (choosing to elope with TV presenter Steve Jones, who covered their big day), so will Rob receive another invite to a Linsey/Steve wedding in series 2? Is that likely, given the fact his "plus one" ruined her first wedding?
Basically, can the idea survive being stretched beyond its apparent end-game? Part of me suspects the writers were wrong to title their show Plus One – or to have given us the wedding day so early in its lifespan – as that immediately limits what the sitcom can revolve around. I'd actually prefer to see Rob and his friends venture into fresher territory, even if a change of title is necessary...
Writers: Tim Allsop & Stewart Williams
Director: Sarah O'Gorman
Cast: Daniel Mays (Rob), Duncan James (Himself), Miranda Raison (Linsey), Ingrid Olivier (Rebecca), Steve John Shepherd (Paul), Nigel Harman (Rich), Ruth Bradley (Laura) & Georgia King (Astrid)
