BBC Radio 4, February 25 2021 and on BBC Sounds

The arrival of the Seven is explained – and it doesn’t bode well for Maya and Jan, let alone the rest of the world.

The second part of Melissa Murray’s SF fable spends much of its time within the facility to which Maya and Jan were taken, as they learn the very unpleasant truth about the nature of the Seven, and why they’ve come to Earth. There’s an extended, and at times quite painful scene, as a man is questioned about what he remembers, and it’s during this that you’ll likely guess what is happening, although by no means all of the ramifications. Murray uses Nigel Kneale’s technique of introducing high SF concepts through ordinary people who are affected by it – in Kneale’s case, initially, the people whose lives are changed by the return of his rocket; here it’s David Sturzaker’s Robin who’s gone home from work, and found themselves living what tends to be a lot of people’s worst nightmares.

It becomes clear that the Seven aren’t united in either their aims or motivations, and Maya and Jan are able to take advantage of that. The episode ends with Lauren Cornelius’ Maya and Fanta Barrie’s Horace on the run, along with a burden they weren’t expecting, with Jane Slavin’s Renata, to put it mildly, not best pleased by the turn of events. I suspect those hoping for a happy ending need to look elsewhere…

Emma Harding has brought together a strong cast for this – Cornelius and Lyndsey Marshall are suitably horrified by what’s happening, while Slavin makes Renata come across as someone doing the right thing, but almost relishing it. You’ll want to jump straight into episode three…

Verdict: Sometimes it’s better not to know the answers – a strong continuation. 8/10

Paul Simpson