Don’t judge a book by its… prison cell.

Y makes us reflect that compassion and leadership sometimes come from unexpected quarters.

As Roxanne descends into despotic dictatorship of her cult in the previous episode, at the start of this one we see an example of a more democratic, communal approach to leadership and management from the unlikely group that Yorick, Agent 355 and Dr Mann fall into. Mild spoiler coming up (but it’s obvious and revealed later in this episode): they’re former prisoners. Former prisoners who appear to be ‘doing it better’ than former upstanding citizens.

It might appear that this expectation-twisting narrative turn is being laid on a bit thick, but there’s more to it as there are hints of the lengths the women had to go to for their freedom after the death of everything with a Y chromosome. I’m imagining the worst and I’m probably not wrong. Down, Yorick, walk away from the nice and not at all dangerous lady who stripped you and put you in her bed for unknown, smirk-inducing reasons. Following last week’s unique laundry washroom scene, there is further evidence that the camera is pandering to a heterosexual female gaze rather than a male one. I’ll draw a cushion veil over that, for now.

Back in the Pentagon, the cracks are spreading. President Brown has a welcome visitor who, worryingly, is not being entirely honest with her. Meanwhile the President’s own earlier deceit, however well intended, comes back to bite her with dreadfully sad – but strangely not expected – consequences. It’s a tough storyline and merits the support number flagged during the credits. Use it or your local equivalent if any of this strikes a chord with you – it’s good to talk.

Verdict: Walking into danger and despair in this dark instalment. 7/10

Claire Smith