The London attack goes sideways as Emily struggles to adapt to who and what she truly is. The invaders make plans, and stage an attack. The French team suffer a devastating loss.

NB Spoilers

This is the episode where the show’s format really starts to pay off. The difference between the human cost of the UK team and the scientific pressure the French team are under powers this episode, especially when the two cross over. The episode is at its best in its moments of chaotic, sudden violence, especially the assault on the observatory. Coming from nowhere, it escalates with chaotic precision and culminates in the shocking death of Colonel Mokrani. On the one hand, it’s a bad call offing one of the few non-white characters. On the other it drives home just how dangerous the world still is, and how much danger everyone is constantly in. Plus it nearly emphasizes how vital Micah (Robert Emms)’s work was. More vital than Micah himself given the fact he’s executed…

That in turn cleverly refocuses the series on what seems to be the new central mystery. It’s now overt, and clear, that the invaders are humans and may very well be humans from the future. They want Bill dead because he creates a biological weapon that devastates them. This in turn, it’s implied, hurts the planet to the point where they have no choice but to go back in time and try and stop it happening a la Terminator. This is all heady stuff, and it’s delivered with a surprising amount of emotion. The invaders and the contemporary characters hate one another in a tangible way and any chance of peace seems slim right now. However there are some intriguing wrinkles the show is only just starting to get to. Are we seeing two Emilys? One from the future one from the past? Is the situation reversible? Is it all Bill’s fault? Right now we don’t know but unlike a lot of last year, the uncertainty is as much fun as the action.

Verdict: Fast paced, unrelentingly grim, clever and off kilter this is a great adaptation in every sense and a fiercely strong piece of TV. Recommended. 9/10

Alasdair Stuart