The group finds itself in a climactic showdown in their last-ditch, desperate attempt to root out El Coco.

Picking up from episode 9’s cliffhanger, possessed sniper Jack is picking off the posse one by one, like fish in a barrel. No one is safe, and it’s only when Cynthia Erivo’s Holly Gibney calls him out that the spell is temporarily broken and the remaining crew can break for cover.

Considering such emphasis was placed on it in the previous hour, it’s curious that no time is spent on the locals who got trapped searching for the missing boys. The focus here is on Paddy Considine’s El Cuco in his lair, barking and hissing. He feels safe that no one will shoot a gun for fear of bringing down the chamber’s roof – one of his many mistakes.

Sadly, the final confrontation is nothing special, the beast getting gored by a loose stalactite and then having its skull caved in by Ben Mendelsohn. It’s not subtle, and the only thing we learn is that the creature favours children as its victims because they taste sweet.

The survivors all work out what their shared story will be, fearing that no one will believe their tale of shapeshifters. And that’s the series’ biggest flaw – it’s impossible to buy this incredibly clever and manipulative ancient beast when most of the time he just comes across as hangry. The best scenes involve the aftermath – the reopening of the case and the dropping of charges against Terry Maitland, and green shoots of hope in a town that has suffered enough.

Verdict: Working best as a mystery thriller rather than a ‘monster on the loose’ tale, the pacing of The Outsider’s 10-part structure has at times suggested it would be better as a six-part limited series. The acting has been impeccable and arguably only so much can be done with a hokey third act. A good effort but no classic. 8/10

Nick Joy