Justice or vengeance?

The aftermath of the previous episode is upon us. If you’ve not seen up to the end of episode 3, run along, dear friend, and watch that first. See you in an hour or so. No seriously, stop reading now, as here be spoilers.

I really can’t believe they killed off the loveliest of the Touched. No room for any Touched healer’s Turns here, no sir. Right, it’s going to be like that, is it, Nevers? You’re trolling us Game of Thrones style: killing off characters you make us love and tricking us into false hope by casting well known and loved actors who we think you won’t slaughter in heart-stopping fashion. I’m on to you now… just let me finish sulking first. “A woman can be killed for just having a voice.” Or, indeed, any kind of agency whatsoever. The times, they are not a-changing.

Naturally our fearless leader, who we find drowning her sorrows rather than paying her respects, blames herself – well it was sort of her fault, and why didn’t it occur to me before that she didn’t see it? I spy a plot-hole, and it’s mentioned but not fully addressed.

The hunt is on for the person or people behind the murder as most of the episode turns into a whodunnit, albeit one with supernatural powers involved.  A precise motive other than shock-factor and terrorism would also be handy. There’s one obvious connection to explore amongst the enemies of the Touched, but this doesn’t appear to be as obvious to them, which irks me. They add this obvious suspect to the list but it feels a little contrived because while we, the audience, know the nefarious connection, the Touched do not.  It’s mentioned that this suspect has done a lot for the Touched but it’s then mooted that this “doesn’t make her a friend”. Nope, sorry, not buying it, that doesn’t make sense.

We’re treated to some lighter moments with our budding young couple falteringly untangling their crossed wires, bless them. I ship it. Representation of marginalised groups is also still front and centre, which I do love to see.

I’m hopeful that justice rather than revenge will prevail, and it’s good to see an honest copper for once – he’s starting to grow on me. An antagonist is caught in short order, again surprisingly, and I’m keen to see what comes of that.

A traitor in the midst of the Touched’s inner circle is both suspected and unmasked in this episode and the clues were there but I didn’t pick up on them – another unexpected curve ball that’s been lobbed gently at our head by the writers. Sadly, here come some more plot-holes though – if a person’s Turn is that she breaks things by touching them, how come her opponent doesn’t break when she punches said person in the face?

We have a glimmer of hope as the siren song that only the Touched could hear is posthumously translated, and this gives us a tender moment as the stresses of events catch up with them.

Verdict: Equal parts entertaining and puzzling. 7/10

Claire Smith