Catastrophe is one of the best shows on TV at the moment. There, we said it. You know it's true. Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney have somehow managed to find that incredibly fine line between comedy and drama that can have you breaking your heart laughing one minute, and the next, as last night proved, just plain old breaking your heart.
Sharon received bad news in the opening minutes of last night's episode, that her dad had had a stroke on his flight home, although, in pure Catastrophe form, there was still time for a joke when Sharon told her brother who sobbed 'Fucking Ryanair!'
Back on our home shores, Irish viewers were treated to so many perfectly timed in jokes as we were told that the dad's stroke was quiet because 'he didn't want to make a fuss', and Sharon's mum knew something was up as 'he smelled strawberries on the plane and sure there would never be any fresh fruit on Ryanair'.
While of course, the 'golden child' theme rang true for many a viewer....
The 'son being made of gold' situation in every Irish Household is too too real #catastrophe
— Lorraine Monacle (@wwaning_gibbous) March 28, 2017
@sharonhorgan @robdelaney #Catastrophe is consistently brilliant. Glad it's not just me who has a sickening 'golden child' sibling.
— Warren (@ObiWarrenKenobi) March 29, 2017
Meanwhile, Rob was over in London making a holy show of himself on the booze, thankfully the brilliant Lauren Socha (Misfits) was there to keep a handle on things.
🇬🇧Tonight's #Catastrophe is my favorite episode we've ever made. @LaurenSocha may need a spinoff after this one. 10pm @Channel4 pic.twitter.com/w8FIriCtdz
— rob delaney (@robdelaney) March 28, 2017
@SharonHorgan @robdelaney Laughed and cried tonight #Catastrophe. An absolute gem of an episode. The babysitter is subtly excellent ðŸ'ÂÂÂÂ?ðŸ'ÂÂÂÂ?😄😢
— Holly Palmer (@HollyhPalmer) March 28, 2017
The final moments however saw Rob rock up to Sharon's door in Ireland with a cry for help that went unnoticed by Sharon as she delivered the news that her dad had in fact died, and then they hugged her and Frankie stroked his little hand on his mum's back and all of our cold cold hearts filled with emotion.
TV moment of the year#Catastrophe pic.twitter.com/BvvXTMjBS6
— Julian Jones (@julianjones99) March 28, 2017
🇬🇧Treat yourself to newest episode of #Catastrophe: https://t.co/CxJzQnqZ48 Judging from response I think this ep's hashtag is #FrankiesHand
— rob delaney (@robdelaney) March 29, 2017
What a bloody show.
@robdelaney Always enjoyed #Catastrophe but last night's episode like a whole 'nother level of awesome, all human life is here type shit. Hats off.
— rob fraser (@squireknottyash) March 29, 2017
#Catastrophe was absolutely brilliant tonight. @robdelaney and @SharonHorgan should be very proud of their work.
— John Carus (@Snoogoid) March 28, 2017
Lads. #Catastrophe is breakin my fuckin heart. Suck me in with your quality comedy & hit me with the feels, you wily bastards!!!
— Clare Monnelly (@ClareMonnelly) March 29, 2017
Next week is sadly the last episode in the third season, but don't worry a fourth has already been commissioned, but yep, we do have to wait another year for it. Sigh.
My only gripe about @catastrophe_tv is that the series are just too damn short. One of the best episodes yet tonight #Catastrophe
— David Walsh (@dvdwlshhh) March 29, 2017