Juliette’s explosive arrival causes Diana to make a brave if rash decision, impressing all concerned. Matthew and Diana hit upon an audacious plan to escape the attentions of the Congregation. In Venice, Baldwin’s time might be running out.

Given the amount of action we saw in the last episode, it feels a little odd that the series ends on a mostly quieter note. However, that’s not to say that it’s any less interesting.

Picking up exactly where we left off, Juliette holds Diana’s life in her hands as Matthew watches on, helpless to intervene. Wherever you think this scene might go, it actually really doesn’t, and by the time the dust settles it feels like there is a deeper level of connection between our protagonists and that finally, we the audience can see just how powerful Diana might eventually become.

That racy opening done with, the rest of the episode mostly revolves around a lot of talking, but in the best possible way. Hamish arrives at the Bishop family home with Nathan and Sophie in tow, and Sophie is finally able to meet Diana and give her the item she’s been holding for her, which turns out to have a connection to Matthew himself. They also reveal the truth about Sophie – that she is a demon born to witches, which raises significant questions and possibilities for Matthew, Marcus and Miriam’s work, as well as for the wider creature community.

In Venice, Gerbert joins forces with Peter Knox in an attempt to force the hand of the Congregation with Satu’s testimony and relieve Baldwin of his seat at the Congregation and much more besides. However, they aren’t counting on an intervention from a couple of unseen angles, and neither is Baldwin himself. Debts are incurred here which may come back to haunt all concerned in future.

Back in the States, Matthew hits upon a fairly unique way in which he and Diana might escape the wrath of the Congregation, based on the revelation of Diana’s father’s special talents and an assumption that she has inherited them. The only thing that they may be lacking – ironically enough – is time.

It all speeds towards its conclusion – friends and allies sent away for their own safety, a burden of responsibility passed on to Marcus and preparations made as the Congregation forces, in the person of Gerbert, Satu and Peter Knox, close in on our heroes. It’s superbly tense, and just when you are thinking ‘they can’t possibly end it here’, they do.

Verdict: It’s been a fairly unique genre entry in some ways while feeling oddly derivative in others, but this show has certainly charmed (no pun intended) me over the course of its eight episode run. Certainly I am looking forward now to the recently commissioned second and third series. 8/10

Greg D. Smith