TV-PGSynopsis
Black Books (2000), Season 1 — a six-episode British sitcom you can watch online on iFILM. Bernard Black runs a tiny London bookshop and loathes precisely one thing about it: the customers.
The first season starts from a beautifully small problem. Bernard is drowning in a tax return, a bearded stray named Manny digs him out of the paperwork, and then commits the unforgivable sin of getting hired and actually selling books. From there it's six near-standalone half-hours: fleeing a cleaner into someone else's wine cellar, an espresso bender that gets Manny mistaken for a detective, a new security door that locks everyone in, and a photographer with a thing for beards. There's no real arc — just wine, chaos, and three people who would all be better off apart.
The show was created by Dylan Moran, who plays Bernard, and Graham Linehan of Father Ted. Bill Bailey and Tamsin Greig round out the trio, and it's their chemistry that turned a grubby little shop into a cult favourite. If dry English comedy with no sentiment is your thing, start with Black Books Season 1 on iFILM.
6 episodes
S1·E1Cooking the Books
Bernard’s dodgy accountant has to go on the run, leaving him ill prepared to fill out his own tax return. In fact Bernard would rather do anything than fill it out.
S1·E2Manny's First Day
After Manny’s help with the tax return Bernard is persuaded to hire him in the shop. Unfortunately he actually sells some books, much to Bernard’s annoyance.
S1·E3Grapes of Wrath
Bernard and Manny accept a house-sitting job to get away from their new cleaner. They also drink some wine.
S1·E4The Blackout
A hyper, coffee fueled Manny is mistaken for a policeman.
S1·E5The Big Lock-Out
The shop gets a new security system that no-one can work.
S1·E6He's Leaving Home
Manny runs away from the bookshop into the arms of a beard loving photographer.
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