eve-3-9Mary makes her final play…

There’s very much an end of series feel to this excellent double episode that wraps up not just the plotlines of the third year but also themes that have permeated the show right from the very first episode. Every single main character has to make a major choice that will affect their life and not everyone is going to survive (at least intact). But there’s always hope – whatever you do, don’t stop watching with the closing credits, as there’s a fantastic final scene (referenced by Poppy Lee Friar in her interview) that suggests future routes for the show.

Every actor involved brings their A game for this – from Eubha Akilade and Oliver Woollford as Lily and Will dealing with conflicting emotions as well as the terrifying threat hanging over them; to Ben Cartwright and Rhona Croker showing sides to Nick and Katherine (both for good and ill in at least one case) that show their true natures; Elijah Ayite demonstrating Abe’s gradual maturity and Shonagh Price as Maddy, the voice of normality; Steve Furst and Jenny Bede as Peterson and Rebecca, caught up in events that have overtaken them but also being true to themselves (not always with good consequences); Jane Asher and Ellie Grainger as Mary and KT, both proving surprising to the end. And of course, Poppy Lee Friar, giving a grand and affecting performance as Eve, coming to terms with the effects that she has had on everyone’s lives around her. The scene where she looks round the Clarke house before departing is beautifully played and directed (with echoes of David Tennant’s “I don’t want to go” in my ears). A shout-out too to Philip Curran’s music, that has underpinned the series – a CD or digital release would be great.

eve-3-10The series has blended humour, drama, emotional development and sci-fi tropes throughout its run, and never better than here. Emma Reeves knows these characters inside out and doesn’t hesitate to put them in situations where there’s no good answer – things aren’t black and white, but phrased in shades of grey – and keeps them true to themselves. It’s sometimes odd to think that the central teens are the same age now as the characters in Class (now there’s a crossover waiting to be written!) but they’ve been written as constantly developing and I’d love to see where they go in the years to come…

Verdict: An appropriate ending for the season. 10/10

Paul Simpson