Michael is unimpressed to discover that Arthur has forgotten his birthday and promptly throws a monumental strop, unaware that Arthur has actually planned a surprise.
It's genuinely sad that the show came to an end at this point - Series 3 was wickedly funny, and this episode is another absolute cracker.
Arthur's accident is gloriously surreal. The idea of cold-calling Arthur Strong remains one of the great untapped nightmares of the sales profession - you'd be hitting your monthly target sometime around the year 2087.
Naturally, the safari scene collapses into total chaos. It's a pure "Arthur or the universe" moment: lions on one side, fire on the other, and Arthur blithely wandering through the middle. Wonderfully absurd.
John sprinting across a field of lions is the standout - it's the image that stays with you.
And I would pay good money to see Arthur wandering around Ann Summers, muttering about something "having all lights on it." It's the scene that should have been.
Lovely to see Bronagh Gallagher given something meatier too - that quiet moment with Michael where she opens up is beautifully played and shows the real depth this series could tap into when it wanted.
8.5/10.
