Pouring oil on troubled waters…

…is supposed to calm or improve things. It doesn’t make the water taste any better though, and as the plot stumbles forwards, I feel a little nauseous.

An example: as one of the first scenes plays out, it’s obvious what leverage Andy now has over Mika, if that’s the way he wants to play it. No issues with that narrative track, it makes sense. It’s then re-explained verbatim in the next page of the script, and my first thought is: yes, I got that, thanks. Show don’t tell, people. That implies that if you’ve shown, you don’t need to tell, or you’re demonstrating you don’t trust either your own storytelling or your audience.

Some dubious verbal explanations to cover up questionable actions follow, and there’s a conflicted double agent that we discover, but I’m struggling to care.

Despite that, we do get some redemptive closure between some key players, and a nice (if drawn-out) reunion. The powers that be have now decided to listen to the only scientist with relevant expertise who they have access to, and this episode still has a surprise up its sleeve, which is in itself surprising.

Verdict: Stale dialogue leaves a bad taste in the mouth as we head to the final serving. 6/10

Claire Smith