Victor is using the remaining fuel to carry his family away from the planet, but will his ship manage to reach escape velocity?

Call it futuristic idealism if you like, but people are very forgiving in this show. Victor’s plan to leave the colonists behind is thwarted, but everyone is soon ok with that, accepting the explanation that once they’d reached the Resolute they’d radio for help. Hmm. The friction between Vijay and Judy isn’t resolved quite so quickly, the younger Robinson sister aggrieved that her new boyfriend betrayed a confidence quite so readily.

Young lovers’ trysts aside, the greater focus is how to get one of the Jupiters up to the orbiting space station by stripping it down to its barest components. Before you can shout The Martian, bits of ship are coming out left, right and centre, and then it’s a case of assessing how much of the life support system can be jettisoned.

Naoko is initially identified as the prime astronaut, though ultimately it’s no great surprise when John is given the task and has to undergo makeshift training to prepare for the extreme conditions. He’s joined by West, who after his steady  support on the fuel expedition is doing his bit to atone for his former selfish ways. But of even greater significance is Maureen’s confrontation with Smith, who has no wriggle room, though now she’s cornered she strikes out in the only way she can.

Verdict: A solid episode that wins an extra point for a most unexpected cliffhanger ending that might take you back to the ending of Blake’s 7’s first season. Whatever happens next? 8/10

Nick Joy