Well well well, what do we have here? An episode of Outnumbered I actually have a few issues with? CAN IT BE TRUE? Sadly yes… Don’t get me wrong, all of the usual elements were there, I still laughed out loud on several occasions, and I’m judging it by very high standards, but there seemed to be something distinctly… lacking. And you know it pains me to say that.

Related: Our Outnumbered section.

This episode was brought to you by the issue “Money’s too tight to mention”. We find the family trying to decide whether to cancel a holiday before the deadline for getting their money back passes. They go through all the usual considerations: “we’ll get further into the hole” “everybody’s in debt” and eventually “let’s just go for it and deal with the repercussions later…”

Pete and Sue decide that a family meeting to discuss their cash flow problems will help – though we suspect differently, and, of course, we are proved right. Karen and Ben are constantly at each other’s throats, Karen believes they can solve all issues by not buying broccoli, and Jake undermines Pete’s authority with mocking comments like “is there any other business?” and “shouldn’t someone be taking minutes?”

For what I think is the first time in either series, we saw a genuine tetchiness – anger even – from Pete, as he shouted at the kids to shut up, and that was indicative of an episode that had an odd tone overall. Usually, the children’s behaviour is met by a shrug of resignation from Mum and Dad, but this time, there was some real antipathy between parents and offspring. And not only at the family meeting, but also when Karen took against Sue for killing a mouse – an incident which prompted some real stroppiness from Karen which, for once, wasn’t actually that charming.

All of this is rather realistic, of course, and that leaves me in a bit of a dilemma as to how to assess this episode. Do I applaud it for it’s authentic portrayal of family life, or criticise it for being rather discordant when compared to what has gone before? In other words – were we meant to feel uncomfortable? I have a feeling, in fact, that the writers were going for precisely that feeling.

Less intentional, I think, is the fact that Ramona Marquez (Karen) and Daniel Roche (Ben) did seem to be a little more knowing in this episode. It’s inevitable of course – they are a year older, and therefore more likely to remember verbatim what they have been asked to say at the beginning of a scene – and it is a problem for which there clearly can be no blame. But that’s not to say it doesn’t change the complexion of the show slightly…

I should say that I hate that this review is on the negative side. I still think that it is a wonderful, unique show – I am only looking into it so deeply because I care about it, and expect such great things. So if there’s one thing I want you to take from this review, it’s not the problems, but this: Keep watching, this is a magical programme.