“I don’t even have a child and I know not killing it is like the main thing!”

This week parenting, or lack of, is the theme as Bridget the Alien Baby re-enters Harry’s life. It’s fair to say the little one is extremely hacked off after being packed off by his dad and he’s out for revenge – cute he may be but Baby Yoda he ain’t.

Asta gets a surprise visit from her errant birth-mother, who you’ll probably remember wanted nothing to do with her. She’s obviously excited to find out more about her family history but the knowledge may well come at a cost, as well as force her to examine her own effectiveness as a parent.

More parenting nightmares, literally, as Kate continues to unravel the mystery of her abductions and once again it leads to heartbreak. Meanwhile husband Ben turns gumshoe as he stalks the sheriff and his deputy and might just be in the right place at the right time to save the day. Great stuff from Levi Fiehler who gets to have a lot of fun this week.

You’ll recall D’Arcy’s fractured relationship with her parents, last seen when she tried and failed to perform the tablecloth trick in a fit of pique. A turn of events leads her to reconnect which spurs her on to make a decision that may have major consequences for next week’s eagerly awaited denouement.

Lots of returning faces this week, many due to a plot device I won’t spoil, including a favourite from way back in season 1, albeit in a too-brief cameo.

This is an absolutely terrific episode, the writing debut for this series from producer Donald Todd. It’s witty and sharp and despite the familial theme avoids any hint of saccharine. Fans of slash fiction will have a field day with one sequence which would sound utterly preposterous if I described it but is actually strangely beautiful and wonderfully shot.

Verdict: An absolute smasher which bodes well for next week when we say goodbye (for now?) to Patience and its unforgettable inhabitants. 9/10

Andy Smith