The team investigate an apparent miracle.

In many ways, this second episode – also written by the show’s creators Robert and Michelle King – feels like the concluding part of the pilot, demonstrating how the team are going to face diametrically opposing forces. We had a case of demonic possession in the first half; now there’s an angelic influence in this – and both are treated with equal scientific rigour (if not necessarily equally by the church – watch the expression on the face of David’s superior towards the end).

It’s also a chance to expand some of the characterisation of the team, notably Mike Colter’s David. I particularly liked the way in which elements weren’t instantly explained, but left the viewer with questions throughout the episode, that were, to an extent, answered by the end. It means that we as an audience treat David with a degree of wariness for areas that Katja Herbers’ Kristen isn’t yet aware of. There’s also an ambiguous scene with Michael Emerson’s Leland – the show is doing a fine job of blurring the edges between reality and dreams but unreliable narration has to be handled well consistently for it to work.

Herbers’ interactions with the actors playing her children feels very natural, and there’s a healthy degree of scepticism on show from Kristen as well with regards to the demons – although I’m a little surprised the writers went for a rather cheap gag with regards to the voice of one character.

Verdict: An intriguing look at the other side of the coin. 7/10

Paul Simpson