Things go from bad to worse on and around Ilus after the recent explosion on the planet. Bobbie becomes more involved in the crime ring she has joined, and Drummer and Ashford are once again under pressure from the UN to manage the more uncontrollable factions of the OPA.

With the imminent destruction of the camp, Holden (Steven Strait) and Amos (Wes Chatham) must race against time to evacuate everyone from the planet. Murtry (Burn Gorman) continues to work behind Holden’s back and makes plans to destroy the Belters while everyone is in space. However, best-laid plans are scuttled when the protomolecule once again interferes with the laws of physics, as it did in the ring space. With the nuclear power of the ships no longer functioning, the survival strategy changes drastically, soon becoming all about finding shelter in the ancient ruins. This whole plotline is fast-paced and enhanced by the fact that you can clearly see the dangers coming: with Naomi (Dominique Tipper) and Alex (Cas Anvar) standing on the sidelines on the Roci, a feeling of powerlessness is palpable.

We return to Drummer (Cara Gee) and Ashford (David Strathairn), as the consequence of letting Inaros go catches up with them. The chemistry between the two actors is great, and the scenes help maintain the link between the disparate plotlines. Everyone feels the consequences of other people’s decisions, and the halting of communication between Ilus and the rest of humanity has repercussions for Avasarala (Shohreh Aghdashloo) as well as the Medina. There’s a very touching scene involving an old video of Ashford playing with his baby daughter (in the previous series there was a brief mention of her being dead). It is heartbreaking to watch a grizzled old man – who provokes such conflicting opinions from viewers – still grieving for his loss, and it feels like the culmination of a complex character arc.

Bobbie (Frankie Adams) seems to stray even further away from the Martian ideals she had previously held. As she completes several activities for the crime ring. Adams’ excellent acting and physical presence is deftly able to convey just how pent-up and boring civilian life has been for the ex-marine until this point. Watching Bobbie get involved in the action is always a delight to see, but currently this plotline suffers from being the most disconnected, seemingly, from the others.

Verdict: Fast-paced, the game has changed on Ilus and point to a major twist in the series. We also get to see Bobbie stepping up, leaving viewers wondering just how far she will fall down this criminal rabbit hole. Despite the storytelling pace, there’s still room for some quieter moments that shine. 8/10

Emily Day