Episode Guide
- In the first chapter, we learn about the history of the town and its people.
- In the second chapter, we follow the characters as they investigate a strange noise coming from a nearby cave.
- In the third chapter, we see how the townspeople are coping with the recent events.
- The fourth chapter is all about the mystery of the noise in the cave and what it could mean for everyone in town.
- The fifth and final chapter wraps up everything that has happened so far and provides a resolution to the story. ..
Trevor Bingley, a.k.a. the judge, is standing before a judge in court to answer for his actions in the previous episode. He is faced with a number of charges, including disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice. The series follows his fight to clear his name and protect himself from possible punishment.
Bingley arrives at the luxurious mansion where he will be house-sitting. As he stands at the large gate waiting to be let in, a bee flies down and distracts him. Bingley casually wafts it away but little does he know that this innocent-looking insect will be the eventual cause of his downfall at the end of the series’ 9-episode run.
I’m really sorry to have caused you any trouble. I didn’t know what I was doing and I’m really sorry.
Bingley is a new character who is polite and charming. He first meets the home’s arrogant owners, Trevor (Julian Rhind-Tutt) and Nina (Jing Jusi), who are mistrusting of Bingley and more than a little patronizing towards him. Bingley is kind and caring, even during his initial meeting with the home’s arrogant owners, Trevor (Julian Rhind-Tutt) and Nina (Jing Jusi), who are mistrusting of Bingley and more than a little patronizing towards him.
The couple leaves Bingley with a manual that includes key codes to the library, information on how to trigger the motion-sensored cupboards, and various other particulars about the house.
Bingley is left alone in the mansion after briefing their new house-sitter, and quickly realizes that something is wrong. He breaks an expensive ornament, sets fire to the instruction manual, and gets involved in a mishap involving a hairdryer. How? Well, to quote from the opening scene, Bingley “saw this bee!”
The opening episode of the show is fairly tame when compared to the unfortunate series of events that occur afterwards when Bingley goes to war against the bothersome bee. He destroys yet more valuable works of art as he pursues the flying menace around the mansion and he accidentally poisons poor Cupcake. The normally kind and caring fellow is then driven to desperate acts of vengeance as he tries to get rid of the insectile nuisance, and uses everything at his disposal to wipe out the bee out of existence!
Despite being a formidable foe, the bee is not easy to kill. The house-sitter’s only hope is to find a way to get rid of it using various means, including a microwave, a whisk, various toxic aerosols, and even a flame thrower.
It is clear that despite Bingley’s diminutive size, the bee has the upper hand over poor Bingley who becomes increasingly frantic in his quest to rid his life of it. You will be too busy laughing to feel overly sorry for him though as Bingley’s antics are the perfect opportunity for Atkinson to showcase his special brand of physical comedy. Whether he’s dancing around in front of a policeman because the bee has flown up his trouser leg or flailing his arms around in a desperate attempt to trigger the motion-controlled cupboards, Atkinson manages to make us laugh with his rubber-like face and exaggerated bodily movements.
In a way, this book is like a cross between “The Office” and “The Simpsons”. Atkinson’s characters are quirky and lovable, but the situations they find themselves in are often absurd. You will be surprised at how many things Bingley does wrong, and even more surprised at how well he manages to get away with it.
The show’s opening court scene and initial sequence within the mansion set the tone for Bingley’s chaotic behavior. The house rules are stressed to him, but it’s clear he won’t be following them. The show isn’t less funny as a consequence, but it does become rather predictable. ..
Despite the predictable plot, the film’s emotional power comes from its tender moments. Bingley has recently lost his wife and young daughter, and is struggling to find a way back into his life. He reconnects with them through FaceTime and it’s easy to feel sympathy for him.
Bingley watches a video on YouTube about solitary bees and learns that his foe is in a similar situation to the one he is in. According to the video, male bees are cast out of the hive by the Queen Bee when they have served their purpose and are left homeless. Suddenly, both we and Bingley are confronted with this astonishing parallel and for a few brief moments, our protagonist is given cause to reflect on the similarities between himself and the bee. There’s a moment when we suspect he might even call a truce with the buzzing bug! Of course, as the opening montage clearly reveals, the war between man and bee doesn’t end because of their shared set of circumstances.
As the episodes in Man Vs Bee are between 9 and 20 minutes long, the show is easily bingeable. You may be a little glad when it finally comes to a close after the 9th episode – the battle between Bingley and the bee eventually gets a little wearying – but you’ll be left with a reminder of what a terrific talent Atkinson is. A second series would not be unwelcome as this latest comedy creation is just as funny as those other comedic characters that the actor-comedian has previously become known for.
If you’re looking for a lighthearted comedy series that will make you laugh out loud, then this is the show for you! While it may be predictable at times, the slapstick humor and entertaining characters will keep you entertained. ..
