It should be easy. Mr Pym (Nickolas Grace) has never actually left the Eternity Club, he thinks. Bernice (Lisa Bowerman) is eager for both an adventure and to stop Pym being both nagger and naggee. There’s a planet nearby! Covered in ruins! What could go wrong?

Yep. Exactly.

Three impossible things in one story. Another welcome character study, this time of Pym. Nickolas Grace does wonderful work threading the needles James Goss’ script asks him to and like previous episodes we see new sides of Pym this story. He’s officious, prissy, delighted, remarkably brave and completely sincere. There’s a moment where he sees a sunset for the first time which made me tear up. The alchemy of personal reasons, strong, kind acting, directing and writing produces something very special here. Bernice gets to be the grown up and finds she doesn’t hate it even if the journey here was anything but easy.

This is also actual honest to God archaeological science fiction and it will give actual archaeologists hives and that, my friends, is the point. Mr Pym’s very enthusiastic methods are hilarious precisely because they’re sincere and destructive because he doesn’t know any better. It’s a smart beat, emphasising his inexperience and determination at the same time as spiking the script gently into a set up for the series finale.

Verdict: The ruins they’ve visited, 312’s past, even the coats from last volume – all of it drawn together to create a story that’s personal, apocalyptic, stands alone and sets up the final duo. Okay, so four impossible things. 9/10

Alasdair Stuart

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