Last week saw Helen and Sam’s family about to be potentially reunited, but can it really be “happy ever after” with a divided island and a knife-wielding Jesse at large?

Unsurprisingly we pick up right where we left off last week, as Helen and Sam finally meet again after months apart. Right away we’re supplied a helpful info-dump conversation regarding their backstory, and needless to say things have not been good between them. Quite quickly we realise that we’ve been fooled as viewers, just as Sam seems to have fooled himself. Or has he?

The overriding theme this week, and really of the series as a whole, isn’t mad old made-up religion, but grief. Specifically what the murder of a child can do to parents. I have no idea if this is an accurate representation of that, and of course every case is different, but it does help solidify and motivate Sam and Helen’s characters. He, broken and weak, she hardened and pragmatic, and of course with their other children bearing the brunt of their pain.

This final episode ditches the mounting tension of recent weeks and replaces it with full on survival horror for much of its length. Despite displaying very little gore (a wise move I think, although perhaps it’s a little too timid) more than one character pays the price for their actions, deserved or otherwise, and there are some properly shocking and upsetting events. We’re also presented with the possibility that the islanders might just be right in some or all of their beliefs; despite it sounding like nonsense there’s more than one moment here which implies such. I won’t discuss the ending in detail obviously, but I was happy with how it played out, although I do want to know what happens next – there surely must be an aftermath to these events. I suppose the desire to see more is an indication that they got the ending more or less right so I have no complaints, and most of the questions raised over the last few weeks have been satisfactorily answered. I’m pleased to say that includes the puzzle over why Sam keeps all that cash in that ratty market-stall carrier bag, and it’s rather heartbreaking if you haven’t made the connection yet.

Overall I’ve really enjoyed my time spent on Osea. The fairly strict adherence to setting each episode on different days perhaps unbalanced the narrative a little, creating longueurs which wouldn’t have been present in a more traditional structure. It’s a perfectly valid idea of course, although here it mainly serves to tie the series in with the symbolism of each day’s theme as indicated by the episode titles. It’s not a big problem though, I have no issue with drama taking it’s time, although some may find the relatively sedate pace of much of it off-putting.

My main takeaway has been how much I enjoyed the performances. There were several cast members I wasn’t very familiar with who I shall now keep an eye out for elsewhere (Katherine Waterston in particular, who’s been fascinating to watch), and all the performances have been strong. Even the live event, which I had a number of issues with, has continued to play on my mind, with its many startling images lingering all these weeks later (had I known that at the time I’d have been kinder about it). That along with the series proper is something I’ll continue to be thinking about for some time and I’m intrigued to see what light will be shed by a binge rewatch now we know what the characters’ motivations were. I suspect there’ll be plenty of moments which will read differently in retrospect.

Verdict: A bold, rather experimental, idea which has largely been successful, with an impeccable roster of actors and a script which allows them to shine. 8/10

Andy Smith