Hiccups – As the episode opens, Emerson Stafford (Ronan Raftery) suggests a story about a beef farmer giving his cattle angel dust. Hughie Burns (David Ganly) immediately rejects the idea. Emerson continues to throw out ideas until Hughie expresses the need to pick topics that are attractive to readers. Hughie informs him of a post office robbery in a nearby town. He explains how the suspect utilized helium balloons to block the security camera before robbing the teller after the other teller called in sick. Hughie assures him that the story is what readers are interested in.

Elvira Clancy (Siobhan Cullen) compares killing with eating when delayed both leave you ravenous. She says dairy farmer, Tom Quigley (Michael Hough) is going to hang himself with the rope that she provided. Tom receives a call from Mammy claiming her son is complaining about his cattle. He authoritatively reminds her of it being his land and cattle. Elvira urges him to end the call in her mind before he leaves to settle the issue.

Elvira is writing Quigley’s obituary when Emerson flops a Letter on her desk. A closer look reveals the letter is addressed to the Obituarist  Kilraven in care of Kilraven Chronicle. When he asks for Panadol, she admits to believing people should pay for their fun, not taking pills. Talking to herself, she says Emerson is her type but he is dating Mallory Markum (Danielle Galligan). As he complains about Hughie holding him back, she reads the letter criticizing her most recent obituary. The letter is signed by “A Concerned Reader.” As she puts on her jacket, she says the post office. He agrees to look into it. She claims to have promised to pick up her father’s dole allowance.

Veronica Sloan (Carrie Crowley) places dole money on the counter. When Ward Clancy (Michael Smiley) reaches for it, she asks if he has no shame living off the government. She urges him to take initiative in his life. Smiling, he says she right before walking away. Later, Ward places a bed at 40/1. Joan (Meg Reilly) asks if he got a tip. He assures her that it is all from work. Placing the receipt on the counter, she assures him that he has “balls.” He says it is “imitative,” not balls” before leaving when he encounters Patsy Ruane (Allan Keating). Ward reminds him of his policy to complete all transactions in his all. Emerging from the building, Wards finds Elvira waiting for him. He claims Veronica acted like his dole allowance was hers. When he hands over his dole money, she keeps it all except for some change. He complains about it not being enough for two pints. She shows him the anonymous letter ridiculing her latest obituary. The show jumps forward to Mallory reading the letter before asking Callum (Patrick Glass) if Elvira’s grammar makes him blush.

Mallory suggests tossing the letter in the waste bin. Elvira says it would eat her alive. She complains about Ward’s 50-quid bet on a horse. Mallory reminds her of Mrs. Bounce scoring Elvira’s English essay a 62% while her grade was lower. She recalls the students referring to Elvira as the “space cadet with the dead mother”. Elvira says Mallory was the “dumb jailbird with the dead Aul Wan”. Turning to see only one child, Mallory orders Callum to find his brother. Elvira asks if she is paid well for babysitting. Mallory says only when you are on the dole. Elvira suggests the person who sent the letter is male as they continue through the store with the children nowhere in sight.

Reading Elvira’s letter, Ward points out the strange penmanship meaning the anonymous sender wants to be caught. He urges her to check out the box room before rushing off to meet Emerson at the pub. Emerson reminds Ward of their deal, a drink for a chat before leaving for a rum and coke. Patsy demands Ward give him his fiver. Ward promises him a tenner for a fiver. Snatching up the fiver, Ward vows to give him a tenner when he gets his dole. Rejoining Ward at the table, Emerson says half of Wilraven’s population is on the dole. He asks if Ward quit working around the time of Maria Riedle’s death. Ward accuses Clive Cavendish of giving him ideas. Emerson says he and Maria visited the pub on the night she was murdered. Ward warns that people get riled up when a specific subject is raised. In the box room, Elvira discovers the guestbook for her mother’s funeral.

Ward denies knowing Maria. Emerson explains how she vanished on her way home but her possessions, including a one-way ticket to Hanover, were never found. Ward claims the locals weren’t receptive to her as an outsider because they are “weirdoes”. Emerson says rumor has it that Maria left the pub before him. Ward confesses to being intoxicated when he left. Emerson tells him that the weirdoes say something about him changed after that night. Ward suggests speaking with Garda Rose Mulcahy (Noni Stapleton).

Elvira compares the writing in her mother’s funeral guestbook with that of the letter. At the pub, Ward tells Emerson that he left the pub at 11pm, stopped at the fish and chip shop, and went home. Emerson asks if Elvira can confirm his story. In a flashback, Ward finds Elvira in the car. He tries to wake her up to no avail before checking the boot. Back to the present, Ward claims Elvira has no memory of that night but warns against asking her about it. Emerson sarcastically asks if he will end up shot. Repeating his warning, Ward gives him money for a drink before leaving. Elsewhere, Elvira finds Andrew Stewart’s (Mark Garton) handwriting is a match with the anonymous letter. At the Stewart house, she tells Helen Stewart (Wendy Dynan-Gleeson) that Andrew has been writing her nasty letter. Helen assures her that she has mistaken Andrew for someone else. Barging into the house, Elvira finds Andrew extremely sick. Helen claims it has been years since he wrote anything.

Rethinking her strategy, Elvira is drawn to Peggy Brunswick (Billie Traynor)’s writing. An online search on Fyodor Dostoevsky confirms her suspicion. She follows Peggy to a restaurant. A waitress, Toni (Ebimie Anthony) claims Peggy eats the same soup which takes her an hour to finish off. She suggests her hiccups are related to a heart condition. She says one time Peggy called girls who have abortions “murderers”. Elvira breaks into Peggy’s house to find pink stationary like that of the anonymous letter when Bill Butler (Luis Allen) arrives. She searches his backpack before leaving. At home, she tells Ward that she burnt the letter. She asks if he knows Bill Butler does Peggy’s shopping. Elvira suggests she could be a better person. Ward informs her of Bill smashing Peggy’s window with a ball. He says Bill shops for Peggy to pay for the broken window. He asks if she believes he is a good father. She reminds him that he sired her. Once alone, she writes Peggy’s obituary and suicide note addressed to Bill with €150.

Elvira drops Bill’s letter from Peggy in the mailbox when she hears a commotion inside a building. Rushing in, she sees Peggy lying on the floor. She tries to revive her with CPR to no avail. Shortly after, Hughie tells Elvira that Peggy was not a friend of hers. He says she requested someone else write her obituary. Elvira reminds him that she tried to save Peggy’s life. He says since her obituary will not be published, she can expect to not get paid. At the post office, Elvira confronts Veronica about her letter not being delivered. Believing she has been drinking, Veronica says, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Elvira arrives at work to find Kate Cunniffe (Evanne Kilgallon) with her letter from Peggy. After snatching the letter out of Kate’s hand, Elvira learns Peggy and Bill’s letters were posted on the same day.

Bill describes Peggy as a “bi**h”. Annie agrees with Bill when the mail arrives. She discovers a letter from Peggy’s solicitor naming Bill as her sole beneficiary estate. As they embrace, Elvira slips her letter from the pile of mail. Reneging on their previous description of Peggy, Bill and Annie swear she was a “saint”.

At the dole office, Patsy demands Ward repay his money. Drawing his pistol, Ritchie (Manus Halligan) orders Veronica to stuff all her money in an envelope. Veronica claims her drawer is empty. Ward suggests not letting Veronica talk down to him. Ritchie asks if he suggests killing her. He confesses to being a thief, not a killer when Veronica closes her window. Ritchie threatens to kill Ward. Mallory steals a cellphone before leaving. Tom head-butts Ritchie knocking him on the floor. While Ward holds Ritchie at gunpoint, Patsy demands his money. Ward gives him his 40/1 bet receipt.

Elvira opens her letter to find the €150 missing. While sniffing the envelope, a call from Emerson pops up on her phone. At the pub, Ward informs Elvira of Tom saving his life. He complains about Veronica acting like the dole money belongs to her. Recalling Veronica sealing an envelope, Elvira believes she is stealing. Emerson catches on quickly. Patsy wins with Ward’s wager. Emerson confronts Veronica about her theft rumors. Later, he warns Rose that Veronica stealing €20,000 over 10 years will be blamed on her. Rose claims Maria’s file is locked up in the vault. He says Cold Case digitalized the file. They agree to make a swap.

Rose visits Veronica to find her hanging in the shed. Elsewhere, Hughie and Elvira discuss Veronica’s obituary. He questions why someone as strong as Veronica would commit suicide. He pleads with her to speak with Emerson who is grieving. She assures Emerson that he gave Veronica her freedom. He denies being upset over Veronica’s death.

Mallory tells Elvira that she lost her babysitting job after Callum told his mum about his brother getting lost. She gives Elvira lipstick. She claims a man is interested in buying her upgraded phone before leaving. Elvira has a flashback of kicking the stool out from underneath a hanging Veronica’s feet. She turns to see Denis Riley (Cal O’Driscoll) standing behind her. He claims to have been there when Benson fell. He vows they will get to know each other. She imagines his obituary as the episode ends.

Obituary

The episode is drawn out beyond belief. It gives the illusion of a lot going on when in truth, very little is happening. The story could easily be summed up in six 30-minute episodes.

Good concept but poor execution. They threw everything in but the kitchen sink, hoping something would stick. Too much talking, not enough action.

The episode deserves a 5.8. Get more Obituary recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Our onsite advertising builds brand awareness, click the link to learn more.