The Completely Made Up Adventures of Dick Turpin – Episode 5 Recap & Review

Episode 5

Episode 5 of The Completely Made Up Adventures of Dick Turpin starts with Craig taking a noble family on the ‘Turpin Tour’ where he shows them spots that Turpin frequents as a highwayman. The noble family pay well to experience being robbed by Turpin himself but he does not show up. The rest of the Essex gang show though and the nobleman is not happy.

Just then a rider arrives. He is dressed in all silver attire and is suave in robbing the noble family. He kisses the lady and the lord. Moose asks him who he is. He takes his pointed sword and writes his name on Moose’s back. His name is Tommy Silversides. He tells the Essex gang to warn Turpin that the area is his turf to rob now. Everyone is simply smitten by Tommy Silversides.

Elsewhere, Turpin is at his first ever pamphlet signing. He shows his signature which took him four hours to finish. His father and cousin Benny also visit him at the signing. His father says that he is proud of Benny’s achievements as a butcher and approves of Turpin’s ways. He has also posted a flyer for his meat shop, but it is spelt wrong and there is no address.

Just then, the Essex gang arrive at the signing and tell Turpin about Tommy Silversides. Turpin does not bother about it until Nell mentions Tommy’s luscious hair. Turpin gets up to leave but Tommy arrives, kicking the door down. Tommy and his sidekicks launch into a celebratory song about describing Tommy and his feats.

Turpin confronts Tommy but Tommy only chides Turpin over his outfit. Turpin says Tommy would have to win the area from him. Tommy challenges Turpin to a duel but Turpin suggests a food sculpting competition instead. Tommy already has a thing ready to show, much to Turpin’s surprise. Honesty’s appreciation for Tommy’s work doesn’t help here.

Turpin suggests knit-off and Tommy has a cardigan ready. Turpin then suggests a ‘hair blowing in the wind’ off and here too, Tommy wins. Turpin agrees for a duel but puts a condition that if he wins then Tommy should leave Hempstead and not steal his (Turpin’s) moves. Tommy says if he wins then Turpin should leave Hempstead and his gang will go to Tommy.

Tommy sets the time for duel at two o’clock the next day at Lord Rookwood’s estate. He boasts about the next day’s pamphlet as well, saying that Turpin would definitely die. Ms Beans pitches another headline and Turpin expresses his shock. Tommy leaves and Nell says she will teach Turpin to shoot.

She takes Turpin to an empty barn. There are targets set. Turpin gives each target a name and a backstory. He says that he has given his gun to Craig the warlock to enchant it. If it doesn’t work out then he will execute a flamboyant plan with panache. Nell argues that Tommy has more panache than Turpin does.

Turpin promptly defends himself. He says that Nell is helping him because she cares for him even if a little. Reluctantly so, but Nell agrees. Turpin finally picks up the gun to shoot but he and Nell are kidnapped.

Moose and Honesty keep an eye on Tommy’s preparation. Moose says that since Nell is helping Turpin win, he and Honesty will help Tommy lose. Moose and Honesty approach Tommy. He locks Moose in a chokehold and Honesty requests to let go of Moose.

The duo tell Honesty that they want to invite him to the pub since he might become their new leader soon. Tommy agrees but not before doing 20 pushups. He says he likes to be watched and commands the duo to watch him while he does the pushups.

Nell and Turpin’s kidnapper is revealed to be Lady Helen Gwinear, the head of the Syndicate. Turpin and Lady Gwinear talk a little. Nell is brought in and it is revealed that Lady Gwinear is her mother.

Moose and Honesty take Tommy to The Ruin. They discuss some stronger drinks and Little Karen offers them what seems to be American Scorpion Rum. She doesn’t know what it is because the makers went blind and they did not put a label on the bottle. The trio drink the drink and are stunned by the taste.

Turpin is still in disbelief that Lady Gwinear is Nell’s mother. He says that the two practically look the same age. Nell is annoyed, clearly and asks Turpin to stop flirting with his mother. Lady Gwinear says that she is a fan of Turpin and his adventures. She leads Turpin and Nell to the Syndicate where they train young minds to rob people and where the current criminals frequent as well.

Turpin compliments the place and Lady Gwimear. She says that it was built by her grandfather. Nell retorts that 40 people built it, to which Lady Gwimear says that he had to flog those 40 people so it counts. Lady Gwimear offers Turpin to join the Syndicate.

At the bar, Tommy catches Moose and Honesty in their plan to get him drunk and unable to fight the duel. Tommy instead talks to the two about romance and passions. Moose says he was in love and got married once but his wife ran away with a cheesemonger. Honesty says he has a passion for poems and reads one immediately. Tommy says that in his team, everyone would be on the pamphlet cover unlike the current situation where only Turpin’s photo graces the covers. He says that he has paid the bill and leaves.

At the Syndicate, Lady Gwimear, Turpin and Nell sit down for some food. She even offers a vegan option for Turpin. Nell says it might be poisoned. Lady Gwimear said she did it one time in the past and that Nell should get over it now. She makes an offer to Turpin. Nell isn’t happy with it. Lady Gwimear tells Turpin that he is a celebrity among the common folk. She tells him to widen his horizons and expand his turf beyond Hempstead.

Turpin thinks the offer is evil and Nell agrees but Lady Gwimear tries to persuade him still. Turpin passes the offers and says that he just needs his gang and an occasional Thai massage to be happy. Nell and Turpin turn to leave but guards are in place. Then they run.

That is when they end up in a room containing data about Tommy Silversides. It was Lady Gwimear who hired him. He was supposed to be defeated by Turpin in the duel. Lady Gwimear has a plan B in place: A no show by Turpin for the duel. That will brand him a coward and all that he possess will go to Tommy. He is taken away by the guards.

Lady Gwimear threatens Nell that she will kill Turpin if her offer is not accepted. Turpin is thrown in prison. The following day, everyone gathers for the duel. Nells comes with a news that Turpin has left in search of a better gang. He left a letter for the Essex gang and it is just words of dislike for the gang. Tommy is declared the winner and the Hempstead turf is now his.

Lord Rockwood gives the crowd ten seconds to disperse, whiole Moose says that Turpin would never do this but Tommy shuts him down rudely. Turpin is still in the prison, leaving everything hanging in the balance.

The Episode Review

There is not one moment of calm with Dick Turpin and his Essex gang around, is there? This episode was quite the revealing one for it showed us what connection Nell has to the Syndicate. It is quite funny to see the writers incorporate such silly but noteworthy humour in each chapter and this one is no exception.

This slapstick nature of events is what makes the show an engaging watch. Turpin, for all his fairness and pacifist ways, how will he find himself rid of the Syndicate’s pressure to join hands?