As Gwen discovers, there’s only one way out of Glynteg – through the bottom of a bottle…

I found a certain irony when listening to James Goss’s very different tale for Eve Myles’ Gwen Cooper, as it was 24 years to the day since I’d last had an alcoholic drink – and I can’t say that it was an enticement to return to that lifestyle. For many who are sober (for whatever reason), the presence of people pissed out of their brains can be something of an irritant, and full marks to Myles for recreating that incredibly annoying tone of voice (or rather, tones of voice – they alter dramatically for reasons that usually only make sense to the person on the receiving end of the alcohol).

There are very good reasons for Gwen to get herself as drunk as possible, and Goss uses this to demonstrate that her abilities are fundamental – she may make some unforced errors, but she’s determined to sort out the situation at Glynteg, particularly once she gets sight of part of the answers. Gwen finds allies and enemies, with Omar Austin’s Martyn and Helen Griffin’s Rhian in particular making their mark and director Scott Handcock ensures that things don’t meander too much.

Verdict: An unusual but effective episode. 8/10

Paul Simpson

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