TV shows with an ensemble cast often have the same series structure where specific episodes are given to developing a specific character within the group. Class did something like this last week with Ram and the synopsis to this week's episode made it look like it would focus on developing Tanya. It certainly does so, although all of the characters are developed in some capacity.
Tanya's dead father was mentioned in the previous episode and now he comes to visit her in the dead of night. It's blatantly obvious to a genre-savvy audience that the dad is a disguise by an alien being, and it's somewhat obvious to Tanya too. Nevertheless, she has understandable doubts.
The alien parasite, the Lankin, is not too bad a monster. It is yet another monster that matches the theme of the episode, this being grieving for loved ones. A giant series of roots stretching from the rift in Coal Hill, through to peoples' homes. it is more successfully realised than the CGI dragon from last episode.
Ram also receives a visitation by his dead girlfriend, but it isn't long before he and April go on the run, try to sort the situation out, and eventually kiss. Some might find it odd that Ram quickly moves from missing his girlfriend to making out with April in a matter of hours, but I would disagree. Ram already faced his fears last week, so him kissing April is the final move towards losing those fears. April doesn't get a visitor but she knows the term nightvisiting from her fiddle practice and this segues to her backstory and drunken father. Her use of the term nightvisiting makes it seem like this is her episode.
Charlie and Matteusz develop their relationship and Matteusz moves in. They get the first sex scene in the show. His subplot is alright but he feels like the character with the least to contribute to the overall plot.
Miss Quill is by far the most efficient of the protagonists this week. She quickly susses that the dead sister is a fake and moves on to a nasty interrogation. She saves the day by driving a bus into it. It is also kind of sad at the end of the episode that she is ignored by the group. If this show is like Buffy then this episode is 'Dead Things' and Miss Quill is season 4/5 Spike, a character left on the sidelines who wishes to be part of the group but cannot entirely be trusted.
The blatantly obvious plot stops this episode from getting too higher marks. Occasionally the 'I'm your relative...no you're not' conversations do get a bit repetitive. Nonetheless it is an alright episode that does at least give Tanya more depth and gives Ram an interesting new direction now that he is no longer grieving from his girlfriend.
6/10
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