Liz and Max race to locate Heath, hoping that the research he took might be the key to topping Jones’ plans. Michael, Isobel and Alex work together to try to reach Dallas and perhaps solve the mystery of the Lockhart device.

Considering there’s two basic plots running in parallel through this episode, there’s still an awful lot more going on. Max and Liz are working together still to try to track down Heath and get back the research he stole, although of course the revelation of his motivations for pursuing it (to help his friend Dalla) cast him in a slightly different, and more sympathetic light. There’s still a lot to resolve though – clearly Max and Liz are meant to be and clearly they both realise it but there are significant issues including trust, jealousy and guilt for both of them to overcome. It also doesn’t help their case that Max has an evil twin running around the place, who already got to Heath first.

Sheriff Taylor is causing all sorts of issues herself, because as unlikeable as she may be, she’s a decent investigator with a good instinct for when people are lying to her. This means that she’s starting to ask all the questions nobody wants her to, and leads to several run ins and at least one person being in jail when they really need to be somewhere else. Taylor is certainly an interesting character to have around – not on the side of the angels, for sure, but not exactly evil either – there’s great potential there moving forward.

Isobel and Michael meanwhile, have to try to introduce the idea to Dallas of him being an alien – not necessarily the easiest sell to a pastor. Turns out though that Dallas may not be as unaware of his abilities and differences as they had imagined, though whether that will make their lives easier or harder is difficult to predict.

It doesn’t help that neither of them is exactly one hundred per cent focused on the task at hand, distracted as they are by their respective personal lives. Michael is concerned about Alex and the Lockhart device but also just excited to finally be getting the shot at happiness for them both. Isobel meanwhile is happy to take Maria’s advice and spend a little more quality time with Anatsa. There’s also a deeper reason behind Michael’s reluctance to fully engage with Dallas, and it’s a deeply sad one.

Verdict: Although it won’t win any prizes for some of its ‘twists’, overall it’s another very strong episode, focusing heavily on the relationships between characters and their personal triumphs and tragedies. 8/10

Greg D. Smith