Vic McQueen takes the Shorter Way to Haverhill, Lou and Wayne face a terrible threat in her absence and Charlie Manx engages an old friend for a mysterious favour.

Poor little Millie is abandoned by her father again, and this time runs out of Christmasland’s gates into the woods, calling in at the house atop Candy Mountain. She finds the bedroom dressing table laid out with trinkets for trying on, but just who lives there? It’s a fascinating thread picking up from Charlie’s past and we’re sure to follow this further in the weeks ahead.

Vic is still in a bad way, hitting the drink to help her cope and finding time to visit both her parents, but it’s Lou and Wayne who are in harm’s way this week. Bing shows up at the garage with his Harley, serving as a distraction to Charlie’s grooming of Wayne, trying to seduce him into entering the Wraith. It’s a narrow escape, but Manx still manages to make a connection with the child via candy cane.

After the useful setting up of the leads in the first two episodes, this is a confident hour that moves everything along. Manx’s visit to Honest Abe’s bar finds the vampire engaging with a fascinating supernatural underworld (and look, that’s Tom Savini!) and a request to engage with mysterious figure The Hourglass. Vic and Charlie meet up at the end, but this isn’t time for battle, rather a slapping of gauntlets across each others face. Charlie wants Wayne, and Vic will protect him with her life.

Verdict: Another strong episode, with Joe Hill’s characters going through the wringer again. Steadily paced, tensely shot top quality fantasy TV. 8/10

Nick Joy