exorcist-1-7The Rance family desperately want to know where Casey has gone, not realising that Fr. Marcus knows exactly where she is and is as desperate to save her soul…

There’s quite a shock at the top of this episode as it seems, for a few moments, as if we’re seeing Casey’s funeral and then the narrative flashes back to nine days earlier. It’s not the case – people are expressing their faith and turning to God to pray for Casey’s safe deliverance – and she’s still alive… but only just.

There’s a side plot that moves the larger story forward featuring Brother Bennett investigating the anomalies that he’s discovered – and taking us firmly into gory horror movie territory with what he finds – but this episode is about the three key players: Angela Rance, Father Marcus and Father Tomas. For Angela, the wait is tearing her apart, and she finds herself increasingly unable to cope. Revelations about what happened between her and her mother after her own exorcism add further layers to the multi-generational drama, and the episode sees some of Geena Davis’ most powerful work.

Ben Daniels’ Marcus meanwhile has realised that God has woken up “from his nap” and is using his hands. He simply won’t give up on Casey, and his own determination is matched by her physical deterioration, as if he can keep her alive by sheer will power (his or God’s) alone.

Alfonso Herrera is given a hard path for Tomas to walk down: he needs to be strong, but his human frailty is constantly present, and at times you have to wonder even if he got the sign he seems to need from God that he would actually be listening. Certainly, his actions at the end of the episode would suggest that he’s giving the wrong side what they need… And through all this, Hannah Kasulka is put through the wringer yet further!

Verdict: Powerful, gripping drama. 8/10

Paul Simpson

Read our interview with Jeremy Slater, which took place shortly after this episode aired