Charlie Manx fights for his life, Millie Manx determines to never let the lights go out in Christmasland again and Bing receives a long awaited call.

You can’t keep a good vampiric child snatcher down, and Charlie Manx is resurrected in a manner that a Hammer Dracula film would be proud of. He might have his chest cavity exposed following an autopsy, but that doesn’t stop him from hammering a security guard to death and escaping from the hospital morgue.

Zachary Quinto is unrecognisable as the ancient Manx – and this is the most gnarly, ancient version we’ve seen to date – but once the eponymous NOS4A2 Rolls Royce is fired up, fuelled with a child on the back seat, he temporarily reverts to his youthful guise and can escape the authorities. No Vic this week, though her son has a chance meeting with Manx, putting him dangerously on the radar as a potential future abductee.

This episode also flashes back to Charlie’s youth, sharing his story as he gets married, has a daughter and falls on hard times. He purchases the Wraith and invites his wife to travel with him – beginning the supernatural cycle. I doubt this is the last we’ll hear about Manx’s origins: there’s plenty more background to fill in. And what a joy to witness Charlie and burly Bing back together again, the latter really putting the hench into henchman.

Verdict: Manx is alive! With both our series leads getting their own dedicated episodes, we’re back in business for what promises to be a classy ride to Christmasland and its undead denizens. 8/10

Nick Joy