As Laura prepares for her meeting with the Dryden Commission, synth bodyguard Stanley reveals his true motives.

Yet again another great episode that delivers on the carefully-crafted build-up. Golden-eyed Stanley has always been too good to be true, and after the shock revelation at the end of the previous episode we know it’s only a matter of time before he acts. In a scene where he protects Laura we’re wrong-footed into thinking he has her best interests at heart, just before he drags up the stairs by the hair! It’s also a tense moment when he has a concealed blade at the Commission (a Stanley knife in fact!), and it’s good to see him back on track by the end.

Niska is back on the warpath, looking for The Synth Who Sleeps, as well as the significance of The Hilltop and The Cabin. I do hope we get some payoff soon, because it’s been a very twisty and tortuous route so far and deserves resolution, no matter how good Emily Berrington is as the no-nonsense synth. The thread with Mattie and Leo looking for the synth creator’s notebook also feels under-nourished, and thank goodness we have bigger confrontations to focus on.

Katherine Parkinson is excellent as Laura, fighting for the synths while still striving to be an effective mother. The scene where Anatol invades the house with his revolting aides is a heart stopper as he forces Laura to make a Sophie’s Choice; she really has no way out. The consequences are immediate and she’s a broken woman who finally loses it, having held things together so well and for so long.

Verdict: With every story thread at a crossroads, the show is moving into its final two episodes, propelled by some great performances, unexpected twists and the promise of big things. 8/10

Nick Joy