BBC Radio 4, December 11, 2018

The Winter Queen has picked her King, but Pilgrim has other ideas.

The concluding part of this new Pilgrim adventure doesn’t disappoint – not only does it pit William Palmer (aka Pilgrim) against one of his more formidable opponents, but it explains certain aspects of his own life that, as far as I can remember, have very much come under the “accept this is part of the situation” heading up to now. (From William’s reaction, I think it’s definitely news to him.)

The relationship between Pilgrim and the King of the Greyfolk has been central to the entire series, and the introduction of the King’s sister throws everything into a new light – one that I hope continues to shine on the series for future specials, particularly given Pilgrim’s unexpected way of resolving the Winter Queen’s situation. When I interviewed Pilgrim creator Sebastian Baczkiewicz around the time of series 7, he noted that what sets Pilgrim apart is the fact he’s not driven by revenge, and that becomes key to how he deals with someone who is.

Marc Beeby and Jessica Dromgoole have brought together a strong cast, which is essential to ensure that the listener believes that these are contemporary ordinary people, and follows them as they are enveloped in the timeless mystical folk ways. This has been a hallmark of the Pilgrim series since its start – and hopefully for many years to come.

Verdict: An appropriately chilly concluding part. 9/10

Paul Simpson

Click here for our review of episode 1

and here for a wide-ranging interview with Sebastian Baczkiewicz from 2016