After Christina mysteriously shows up on her doorstep, Leti confronts Atticus about his plan to return to Florida. Another road trip ensues, this time in the underbelly of Chicago.

As is its wont, Lovecraft Country shifts genre again this week, and apparently even its named author of influence. Instead of H P Lovecraft, we’re in the land of Jules Verne (multiple allusions are made to Journey to the Centre of the Earth) and while a lot of this instalment lands, I have some problematic concerns, and there’s some clunky writing.

Less Verne, and more Spielberg, this hour actually owes more to Indiana Jones or The Goonies than any horror classics, and while it’s fun most of the way, it gets a little convenient as Tic, Leti and Montrose endure peril after peril in their quest to find Titus’ pages from The Book of Names. Montrose, having read and burned the secret society’s by-laws, knows all the right answers to the puzzles, making for a dull audience experience – we don’t even get the chance to make our decision before he’s pressed on.

When the team finally reach their quest (and there’s some crunchy shape-shifting going on) they meet Yahima, a ‘two-spirit’ male and female character, and this is where I think they drop the ball. I won’t reveal what happens, but I hope that some potential hasn’t been squandered purely for a shock cliffhanger. The sub-plot of Ruby having a liaison with evil Michael is an interesting one, foreshadowing a story in the source novel, Jekyll in Hyde Park. And Hippolyta and Dee’s decision to go to Ardham can only be bad news.

Verdict: The first episode to deviate significantly from Matt Ruff’s novel, I’m not convinced that this was the wisest move, though I’m certainly intrigued by the fallout of what happens. 7/10

Nick Joy