Ty and Tandy combine their powers in an attempt to discover information that could help Tandy clear her father’s name. But the situation they find themselves in as a result will test each of them and help them to grow on their respective paths, even as it draws them closer together. Can necessity grow into something more?

Picking up at the exact moment where last week’s episode left off (after a brief flashback of Mina and her father on the day of the disaster), Tyrone is still in shock and devastated at the loss of Duane and the last chance he can see at getting justice against Connors for the death of his brother. Tandy however, has more pressing matters on her mind – the door she couldn’t open in Ivan’s head looked to her as if it might yield to Tyrone’s powers, which means that they must both go and visit the catatonic Ivan to try and journey into his mind together.

This is the first time we’ve seen the two combine their powers and work in concert, and it leads to an interesting situation once they’ve gained access to the inside of Ivan’s head. We then spend the majority of the episode in the company of just Ty and Tandy with Ivan as a somewhat confused (and confusing) bystander to proceedings. It also means that we see the two protagonists work as a team, in more ways than one.

We also get a proper look at exactly how Tandy perceives herself for the very first time. The mask slips, and we get the real Tandy, the intelligent, self-aware young woman who realises just how many bad choices she has made, and it’s a realisation that comes at the worst possible time. Fortunate indeed that Ty is by her side. It seems like a deep irony: at his lowest ebb, she’s there to push him into helping her do something which benefits her own interests – when she reaches hers, he’s there to try to pull her out of it.

By the close of the episode though, there’s a distinct sense that a bond has been formed between the two. Up until now, they’ve been allies of convenience, driven together by their shared experience and unique abilities. Now, there’s a sense of a shift in that dynamic – Ty has become a little tougher, Tandy a little more willing to open herself up. And both realise that they share more in common than otherworldly powers gained on the same fateful night, year ago.

Given the nature of the episode, and its tight focus, it could have felt dull. Instead, the opportunity taken to explore growth in both protagonists, in terms of their own respective journeys and the one they’re taking together, make it emotionally engaging and narratively fascinating. Like Runaways, this show is all about character development over action, and it gets better every week.

Verdict: An unusual episode that takes a simple conceit and uses it as a springboard for growth in unexpected and interesting ways. 9/10

Greg D. Smith