Risking everything, the Boulder travellers face off against Flagg’s followers in New Vegas, among them a very different – and pregnant – Nadine.

As the episode title suggests, this is the point where our heroes – Larry, Greg and Ray – make their stand against Randall Flagg. While this was always going to be a suicide mission, they refuse to bow down before him and manage to sew seeds of discontent before everything goes nuclear.

Readers of the book will know what happens here, and while there are a few narrative changes and flourishes, the outcome is the same, with New Vegas getting what it deserved. Nadine’s story comes to a sudden and unexpected end as she realises what beast she is carrying inside her, taking matters into her own hands and creating a grisly exit plan.

Greg Kinnear’s Glen does a noble job of standing  up against the bullies, Stu also refusing to succumb to evil before his death, but any great emotional impact is lost in the ridiculous, OTT Hunger Games campness of Flagg and his kinky minions. Luckily Stu is far enough away from the drama to protect himself, and M-O-O-N, that’s Tom Cullen coming to his rescue.

Verdict: With a whole episode left to cover the coda, let’s hope things are little more grounded than this Showgirls-style frivolity. It’s true what they say – what happens in Vegas really should stay there. 6/10

Nick Joy