Rory and Lancelot race back to find Camelot has been taken over – by Merlin…

There’s a lot of answers and matters sorted out in this final story of the second Lone Centurion box set, but equally enough left hanging to keep listeners engaged enough for set three, whenever that might be. We know the end of the story, and where the Pandorica and its faithful guardian end up, but there’s a long time between the now of this trilogy and the early 21st century – I can certainly see a situation where Rory is offered some sort of Faustian bargain (in the way that Ben Grimm periodically has lost his appearance as The Thing) and we have a character here who could do that.

Both Guinevere and Lancelot come into their own in this tale, and the way in which Camelot is left is absolutely fitting – both on a macro level in terms of who’s now doing what, but also on the micro of the friendship between Lancelot and Rory. Arthur Darvill and Hugh Skinner have bounced off each other wonderfully through this set, and Kate Thorman’s script shows us just how things balance between them. She also doesn’t forget that Rory has certain advantages – as well as problems – as a result of his condition.

Rob Harvey’s sound design and score have been an integral part of the atmosphere and Scott Handcock has kept a firm hand directorially, keeping the fine line between comedy or drama – there are numerous scenes in this (as well as the two preceding tales) where it could easily overbalance one way or other, but doesn’t.

Verdict: An enjoyably clever conclusion to a fun set. 8/10

Paul Simpson

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