In The Flesh series two is double the length of the show's 2013 run and, this week, the offbeat zombie show continues to make the most of that fact, daring to take a dramatic detour and stray a little from the Walker clan.
The first episode not to be crafted by series creator Dominic Mitchell, 2.3 is from new writer Fintan Ryan but furthers Mitchell's game-plan of introducing us to a wider Roarton, featuring a twisted love triangle the likes of which only this particular show could deliver.
Freddie (Bryan Parry) is a PDS sufferer who - post-Rising - has moved on with his widow Haley (Linzey Cocker) and her new boyfriend Amir (the ubiquitous Sacha Dhawan).
Quite naturally, Amir resents Freddie's continued presence in their lives, not to mention their home, while Freddie - again understandably - is struggling to come to terms with how things have changed while he was 'away'.
As has become a hallmark of In The Flesh, you find your sympathies divided - neither Freddie or Amir are really in the wrong, with the former having had his entire life stolen away and the latter being forced to co-habit with his lover's ex.
Pity poor Haley too - torn between past and present lovers through no fault of her own, with the responsible Amir representing a safe and secure future, Freddie her carefree youth.
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Parry is fantastic as the tragic Freddie - in essence, a man attempting to recapture an idealised past that never really existed - with Cocker equally impressive as his childhood sweetheart.
The whole affair's laced with a sense of dread and as the episode approaches its climax, that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach worsens. Sure enough, this love story has an unhappy end - with the irresponsible Freddie putting Haley first in danger and then in an impossible position.
There looks to be more broken hearts on the horizon too - stuck in Roarton and forced to partake in the PDS giveback scheme, Kieren (Luke Newberry) is wallowing in self-pity and while Amy (Emily Grace Bevan) appears to back to her old vivacious self, it soon becomes eminently clear that her 'romance' with Simon (Emmet Scanlan) is a sham - at least on his part.
Simon's passion for the undead cause is absolutely genuine though and - in a twist I didn't see coming - Kieren is soon responding with a little passion of his own. Thus far, Smon has appeared amicable enough - he's driven, determined, perhaps even obsessive, but not overtly dangerous or violent.
But Scanlan's performance hints at a wealth of righteous rage buried just beneath that brooding exterior and it's my guess that Simon presents a threat not only to Roarton's fragile peace but to everyone around him, including Amy and Kieren.
Jem (Harriet Cains) meanwhile was already plenty troubled, but after Henry Lonsdale's death, the one thing helping to soothe her troubled mind - her renewed relationship with Kieren - is under threat.
Jem's subject to a wealth of bad influences, from Kevin Sutton's smitten Gaz to Wunmi Mosaku's sociopathic Maxine Martin. The disturbed Maxine and zealous Simon are both playing with fire - and between them, they might end up burning Roarton to the ground.
This episode provides the strongest indication yet that In The Flesh could well have a grand future ahead of it. By continuing to follow the core characters, yet also branching out into one-off narratives, the show could easily sustain multiple series, if the TV gods smile upon it.
Digging Into The Flesh
- Though this episode affords Kieren his smallest amount of screen-time yet, our lead still plays a crucial part in the climax of the Freddie / Haley plot and his feelings for Simon are clearly going to have serious consequences.
- It's a small but pleasing detail than when Kieren is shirtless, we get a glimpse at the cover up mousse giving way to his natural palour below the neck.
- Simon might not be his biggest fan, but I think Dr Russo (Paul Warriner) is amazing - "Désolé! Désolé!"
- Maxine and Gaz are on the hunt for the first PDS sufferer to rise - but who do you think it is? Kieren? Simon? Place your bets!
- Speaking of Simon, does anyone else suspect he might be more than just a disciple of the Undead Prophet, if you catch my drift?
