Some mild spoilers

Fallen alien Faraday is given a mission to get to Seattle but can he persuade anyone to take him there.

Episode 1 of the new iteration of The Man Who Fell to Earth ended on the high of David Bowie’s Thomas Newton brilliantly reincarnated as an older, angrier Bill Nighy. Episode 2 continues this encounter with Ejiofor’s Faraday – a sort of other-worldly Skype call from within a tornado – in a rip-roaring opening set piece as Newton gives his Anthean protégé instructions for completing his mission.

The rest of the episode returns to the Arthouse Resident Alien schtick which characterised the series opener, with Faraday disorientated by his attempts to navigate his new planet; in particular, failing in his attempts to board a plane to Seattle. The show is still playing with familiar riffs, but it looks superb and Ejiofor has fine on-screen company in Naomie Harris, and also Clarke Peters as her eccentric father, both on excellent form.

Meanwhile, up in Langley, Ejiofor and Nighy’s tornado bound Dream-Skype has triggered a 45-year-old file relating to Thomas Newton, and CIA Agent Spencer Clay is sent to Alaska to track down one of the original participants. Let’s just say he doesn’t exactly get a warm welcome.

Verdict: The series is bedding in well – it’s an engaging, absorbing watch – but this reviewer is still waiting for it really to stake out its own territory. 8/10

Martin Jameson