Lizzie isn’t the only one who tries to resist the Headmaster.

In this second episode, Emma Reeves (still not the Gemma Reeves that iPlayer believes her to be!) shows that the Headmaster’s control is rather more sinister than we had first suspected (even if there were hints of it in the first episode). Those in the school’s hinterland are also caught up in his web, with parents and guardians not immune. But there are ways to get around the control, as Lizzie learns from a new friend, “football star” Ethan Prendergast, who would much rather be gaming than kicking a ball around a field. It’s very much a two steps forward, one step back situation with the pair trying to help each other but not always being successful.

There’s some clever ideas – Lizzie’s notes to herself interestingly matching a similar ploy used in the opening episode of new US genre show Evil (demonstrating the power of parallel development!) – and a sparing use of the Headmaster himself to allow us to get to know our protagonists better. The sibling relationship between Tyler and Lizzie also becomes more important, and I suspect that’s going to be tested further as the weeks go by.

Dijarn Campbell as Ethan makes a good partner for Ellie Botterill’s Lizzie with Sarah Paul giving a deliberately creepy performance as Ethan’s ‘Aunt Beryl’ (I’m putting that in quotes because I have my suspicions…).

Verdict: Still very much establishing the playing field, this continues the strength of the opener. 8/10

Paul Simpson