After a young girl is struck by a car in an illegal street race, McCall tracks down the person responsible for the hit-and-run;

With Michelle set up nicely as a returning antagonist, at least in this season, and McCall’s recovery from her recent ordeal, the next case starts with a street race with disastrous consequences.

Three months have elapsed since Michelle’s escape, and this allows a return to a more regular case for McCall and the team. With the situation fundamentally a hit-and-run, this falls into the police investigation structure – although it allows time for Harry and Melody to provide some comic relief alongside the main mission through his interactions with his new technical assistance programme, which runs like an unreliable wizard’s familiar.

Although it starts somewhat Fast & Furious, McCall is of course herself unlikely to be going undercover as an illegal street racer, and the procedural investigation shapes the episode. There are some other very familiar beats from previous seasons, including a trip to a different foreign embassy to negotiate. Once more, family matters are played out with the aid of diplomatic immunity, though and the son, Ari, appears at the epicentre due to involvement in the street racing. This gets more interesting as the tale unfolds, with a considerably larger plot running in the background, although, if anything, the eventually named villain gets little time to shine due to the steps involved leading up to the reveal.

One follow-up from the previous episode and perhaps the real story is Delilah’s continued interest in a military career. It is clear McCall and Vi want to keep her away from the dangerous career which ironically prompted the interest, but Dee remains determined to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Some amusement lies in the knowledge that had McCall not been as good at her job, as well as such an inspiration outside of it, this may not have been a consideration at all for her daughter. It is also clear to see that the two are far more alike than perhaps McCall would like, and Vi both sees and fears this. A frequently seen device of another experienced veteran coming in at Vi’s request to offer some harsh realities of military life is used, but in this case, it only serves to galvanise Delilah’s resolve. The archetypal tension remains, but is used differently here, and the trust in Dee shines above any personal feelings the other two may have, and the emotion is clear about them being unable to stop her if they tried. There is genuine intrigue here as this is a story arc which could still travel down several paths before the season is out.

Detective Dante’s assistance keeps him prominent in this episode as his police authority is logically called upon to progress the case. His other role though is one of mutual parental support as he endeavours to negotiate his challenging relationship with his own father, who’s attempting to reintegrate into society, and is adored as a grandfather by his own sons. Whilst Dee is approaching adulthood in a way in which her decisions soon become unstoppably her own, Dante’s boys are not yet at this stage, and he remains uncertain as to how much of a part his own father, Big Ben, can and will play in their lives. It makes for an interesting contrast with matters in the McCall household, and between Dante and McCall, provides a fine friendship bonding moment.

Finally, it is almost too easy miss in the aforementioned comedy relief from Harry, the legitimate trauma he is processing as fallout from the abduction which saw him and Melody nearly killed. It is a great bookend to the episode.

Verdict: A solid investigation to follow, but otherwise an unspectacular episode. 7/10

Russell A Smith