Ben and Maddie must unite to help Ryn as she guides her surrogate through the birth. Xander and Helen deliver Ryan’s corpse to Beth at the compound.

Much like the previous episode, there’s a lot going on here yet somehow it doesn’t feel quite as breathless. Perhaps it’s that the majority of the drama is focused on Ryn’s surrogate having a baby that may well kill her, and it’s difficult to do an awful lot with that on a dramatic level as it involves a lot of folks standing about the place looking worried.

On the other hand, Helen and Xander get the duty of disposing of Ryan’s body by taking it to the compound. Obviously the folks there aren’t too massively upset at Ryan’s passing, given what kind of guy he was, but they still need to make sure that his body is properly disposed of so that its irregularities can’t attract undue attention. Of course Beth isn’t too happy to see Xander, but Helen vouching for him seems to be enough – for now.

As the birth gets ever more complicated, the gang are forced to relocate again for more help, and the baby’s arrival proves to only be the very start of the dramas there. There’s some really nice scenes between Meredith and Ryn as they discuss the enormity of what is happening and Ryn attempts to coach the poor hybrid through her experience. Then the baby is born and all bets are off again – can it survive? Is it healthy? Only time will tell.

Meanwhile, when Xander isn’t disposing of hybrid bodies he’s at police school, but a rip on the water as a ridealong with the sheriff’s patrol boat brings him into a situation he’s not all that happy with.

Overall, it feels like an odd episode in many ways, revisiting much of what was covered last time out thematically – Xander’s increased maturity, the developing gulf between Ben and Maddie, all of which plays out as things beneath the waves are looking increasingly threatening thanks to Tia.

Verdict: It’s not like Siren to tread water, but that’s what it does a lot of here, narratively speaking. Saved by some excellent moments among a sea of ‘why are we doing this again?’ 7/10

Greg D. Smith