Way back in an episode of this series from 2009, Robin had a guest role as a conman who swindled guests at a hotel in the resort town of Benidorm. I reviewed it here. It was a good role and I was happy to hear that he was going to appear again, reprising the same character. What seemed impossible was actually seeing this episode. Still I cannot view UK shows on their websites from a computer in the US. I even tried downloading the anonymous browser Tor, and it didn’t work for them. I couldn’t find it on YouTube for months. But now, I finally have found it on YouTube and it is now watched!
I have not seen any episodes of Benidorm since I watched it last time, almost six years ago. Back then, I thought it was a very clever and funny show. Now it seems tired and not as funny. Robin didn’t seem to have the energy or enthusiasm as he did the first time. I’m not even sure what the point was in having him back, honestly. He didn’t really have much to do. He arrives under a fake name, and tries to sweet-talk the owner into giving him a job at the hotel because he “really needs one”. She has to decide between him and a girl who is really qualified, but he keeps flattering her and insinuating something romantic might be possible. Some of that banter is a little amusing, but Robin just didn’t seem that into his acting like he usually is. And then, at the end, he comes right out and tells her he doesn’t really want the job, he just wants her to put him on the payroll….right after that a couple of guests come in and recognize him from his last visit and he rushes out.
So….it was nice seeing him, but the role didn’t really make sense. Why would a conman come back to the same hotel he had scammed previously? Why? Why would he be so obvious about not being qualified for the job? I don’t get it!
