The team encounter a Djinn…

Katja Herbers gets a chance to show sides to Kristen Bouchard that are normally kept hidden under the surface in this episode – and we’re left to decide for ourselves whether that’s her own natural tendencies being given free rein, or whether she has indeed been possessed. Come to that, if it’s the latter, is it the result of her actions at the end of last season, or what happens this time around?

This episode moves a number of pieces around the board: with the help of the nun who was perturbed by Leland (who’s pretty much unseen this week), David discovers a name on the sigils, transliterated into multiple different languages. It leads the team to a young girl – excellently played by Matilda Lawler, who impressed in Flora & Ulysses a few months back – who apparently is setting fires. Whether she’s possessed by a djinn is the question, and given she’s being raised in two faiths, it’s going to need two different spiritual paths to free her. If indeed, being freed is what she wants… Aasif Mandvi gets more focus as Ben in this episode, as his family’s faith takes more of a centre spot than before, and his ongoing night terrors seem to be getting worse.

There’s a subplot featuring Christine Lahti and Kurt Fuller that seems a little unbelievable in the way it resolves – I’m hoping that Dr Boggs isn’t as taken in by Sheryl as he seems – as well as further intrigue regarding the Bouchard children.

Verdict: A very unusual exorcism and a new side to Kristen are the highlights in what feels like an episode of transition. 8/10

Paul Simpson