The Smoking Room - Plot and Analysis

Plot and Analysis

At the time the series was made smoking was prohibited in the offices of most British companies, but there was often a room in the building that smokers could use during work hours.

The series is entirely set in the smoking room (Room B209) in the basement of the offices of a fictitious company. Most of the people seen in the smoking room are workers in the building.

Room B209 is L-shaped and contains office-style tables and chairs, and a hot drinks machine which often malfunctions. It has two doors that lead to the same corridor and is drably decorated in a dull yellow with signs of water damage on one wall. Company related notices adorn the walls and old furniture and office equipment is stacked in the corner. Only occasional glimpses of the outside world are seen through the room's misted glass.

Although each episode contains a distinct storyline, the series is fundamentally character and dialogue driven. Each episode's story is generally self-contained although there are some ongoing story threads, such as the gradual revelation of Robin's sexuality to the other characters and his unrequited infatuation with Ben from the post room.