Last week, Atlantis played a bit of a blinder, defying its critics with a knockout episode - its finest hour yet - and delivering a game-changing twist into the bargain.
Has BBC One's family fantasy drama finally found its feet? 'The Price of Hope' would seem to suggest that the answer is 'somewhat' - it's an episode with plenty of potential, but that ultimately fails to deliver on its promise.
The plot sees an impetuous Hercules (Mark Addy) setting out to find a cure for Medusa (Jemima Rooper), landing himself, Jason (Jack Donnelly) and Pythagoras (Robert Emms) in trouble as they cross paths with the Scythians, a band of bloodthirsty thieves.
If mined correctly, a Most Dangerous Game set-up such as this can be mined for plenty of nail-biting tension and, indeed, the hunt sequence is the standout portion of 'The Price of Hope' with Jack Donnelly - a natural action hero - anchoring some exciting and well-choreographed fight scenes.
As ever, it's on the scripting front that Atlantis stumbles. This episode introduces a roster of new and intriguing supporting characters, from Robert Lindsay's eccentric inventor Daedalus to Jason Watkins's sinister Crios to Nora-Jane Noone's Atalanta, but none get the screen-time they deserve in such a busy episode.
Noone is at least all but guaranteed a return appearance, but it's a shame to hire actors of Lindsay and Watkins's stature and ability and then only feature them in a couple of scenes each.
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But the neglect of Daedalus and Crios is nothing compared to the manner in which Hercules's arc is handled. His love is lost to him, transmogrified by a horrible curse, and 'The Price of Hope' does thankfully deliver the emotional beats you'd expect.
The scenes in which Hercules bids farewell to his unwitting friends, his sight-unseen reunion with Medusa - these are deftly handled and sensitively played by Mark Addy.
But these wonderful scenes sit alongside some slapstick crap - quite literally - as Hercules tumbles from trees and ends up coated in bird and animal faeces. It's as if Atlantis doesn't trust the ability of its more dramatic material to hold younger viewers' attention - and that's a pity.
I'm in danger of sounding like a stuck record in these weekly reviews, but this remains a show with reams of potential that is yet to fully find its identity.
'The Price of Hope' features some strong performances and standout moments - the revelation that Jason can look upon Medusa with no ill effects is another decent sting-in-the-tail - and the show's recent focus on character drama is most welcome.
Now Atlantis just needs to cut back on the cheap humour and trust that its characters and their struggles are engaging enough to hold the viewers' attention.
