Crowd Network, out now

“How the hell do you think you’re going to exist out there without me?”

And yet, how can she stay? She’s damned if she does and damned if she doesn’t.

As Eliza wrestles with her regression at the end of the previous episode, we find her in a deeply introspective mood – but ready for action as she plans her escape.

It’s hard to hear Eliza still making excuses for Him, and blaming herself for falling back into His bed – was she too vulnerable? She blames herself – she was present for the whole thing… she “chose it and now [she] must live with it”. At least she doesn’t become consumed by her moment of weakness, she doubles down on her anger and refocuses – not all women are that strong. Not all women are that lucky.

Eliza escapes after she finds clothes that will cover her joint connectors. She finds Zeta in a discarded and desolate state, and Eliza plots a valiant rescue – but the consequences of the “no” that she has reiterated are more terrible than anything that’s come before.

Fear claws its way through her wires and processor – and there’s a clever explanation that’s fitted very naturally into the narrative that ramps up the tension as we head into the final episode. I’m genuinely on the edge of my seat, fearful myself of her fate – this synthetic woman who bears the scars of men, just as so many of those who identify as female do. The one point that niggles is why He keeps her around… she picks up small clues and either overlooks them or believes them to be a result of her ‘over-fuelling’, another example of the tell-tale signs of a lack of self-care.

That alone is enough to break your heart when the horrible penny drops. I want to cry my eyes out for Eliza too. Speak out, Eliza. Speak out.

Verdict: “Denial is so much kinder than reality.” 10/10

Claire Smith