20 Best TV Episodes Of 2017

17. Catastrophe - Episode 6

Catastrophe Sharon Horgan
Channel 4

Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan's Catastrophe continues to be a catastrophically under-watched gem of a sitcom, although in the third season it stretched the meaning of that last word farther than ever.

That was most evident in the finale which, while supremely funny, also brought bucketloads of drama and emotion.

The humour largely comes at a funeral, oddly enough, which is a great example of how this show finds something humorous in everyday situations and contributes to how real it feels. And, of course, there's Carrie Fisher's performance which, while tinged with sadness after her passing, is razor-sharp and bitingly funny.

But where this episode is at its best is with its exploration of Rob and Sharon's relationship, and the way it brings together the season-long strands of Rob's returning alcoholism in harrowing, devastating fashion. The show can easily make you laugh, but this episode is just as likely to make you cry.

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Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.