Maggie puts herself in danger while attempting to take a dark, strong creative off the board.

After the high octane previous hour, our heroes mostly get the chance to regroup, recover and reflect on the awful situation that they find themselves in. They tried to protect Bruce from Charlie Manx, but they failed, and Vic’s son is now in the back of the vampire’s Wraith, en route to Christmasland.

Zachary Quinto’s Manx is more in the background this week, with Maggie taking centre stage as she tracks down Paul Schneider’s enigmatic The Hourglass, a manipulative creative who uses his powers to get people to do what he wants. Maggie has never been stronger and more determined, playing a dangerous game with the powerful being, resulting in a frantic fight in a hotel room, with an unexpected outcome.

But it’s Vic we ultimately gravitate towards, desperately clinging on to the hope that she can find her son. The FBI have lost his phone signal, but she knows he’s still alive, and as her bruised and broken family members try to come to grips with what has happened – and why – Vic prepares to get on her bike and lead the cavalry.

Verdict: While not as full-on as the preceding episode, NOS4A2 continues to deliver strong character-driven drama, refuelling our heroes in readiness for the final act. 8/10

Nick Joy