Leti and George luxuriate in their new surroundings, while Atticus grows suspicious of their Ardham Lodge hosts.

There’s a lot to say about the second episode of HBO’s adaptation of Matt Ruff’s modern novel, not least because there’s an awful lot going on. Even on the most basic horror fantasy level there’s so much to appreciate, but then add to it layers of allegory and polemic and it’s quite the brew.

Our three heroes freshen up after their encounter with Lovecraftian beasties in the woods, and initially it all looks good. George is lording it up in a sumptuous room with private library and Leti is enjoying a wardrobe of perfectly-fitting clothes, but Tic is suspicious. His fellow travellers have no memory of the previous night’s trauma, the house (or its occupants) seemingly enchanting them in some way. There’s also no let up of exposition, frequently through the mouth of creepy Aryan-in-waiting William, and while it is something of an info dump, these are vital details that both we and the characters need to get up to speed.

Tic spots the silver Bentley which saved them when being pursued the previous day and we finally meet the driver, Abbey Lee’s cold Christina Braithwhite, who is also adept at delivering toothsome Shoggoths from cows’ wombs! While not actually prisoners in the mansion, the trio of adventurers are warned to not be late for dinner, and visit the neighbouring township where the indifferent locals are dressed as if plucked from some period drama.

Everything is slightly off, exacerbated further when we meet patriarch Samuel Braithwhite (Tony Goldwyn, Ghost) who is having his liver trimmed (H P Livercraft?) – anaesthetic free – and we later discover that this offal is to be served for human consumption at dinner. And then things really go bad as Tic, Leti and George fight or are seduced by their own inner demons. To say any more is a spoiler too far.

Verdict: A quality hour of intense TV that hits you from multiple directions, and refuses to let up, even at the end. I have no doubt that a second viewing will throw up even more references and found for thought; how many other current shows could you say that about? 9/10

Nick Joy