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Narin Bahar casts her eye back over the explosive sixth episode and likes what she sees
Written by: Lisa McGee
Directed by: Charles Martin
The One Where: George's rebound relationship sees him dealing with flatpack furniture, family responsibilities and the difference between Samurais and sledging. Annie meets a medium who gives her a chance to say a final farewell to her mum. And Mitchell decides to dump his leadership responsibilities to pursue a blood-free relationship with Lucy – with explosive consequences.
Verdict: It's taken most of the series, but finally we've found out where Kemp's unwavering faith that obliterating the supernatural threat comes from and, while it's not quite The X-Files ’s “Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man” there’s lots of meat here to fill the bones of what earlier in the season looked like being stereotypical Christian zealotry. The opening flashback is suitably gory, while Donald Sumpter shows a couple of cracks in Kemp's creepy armour through the episode that make him the subject of unexpected sympathy – that hug with Lucy should have been creepy, and yet it was oddly heartwarming to see him finally soften into returning her embrace. It appears grief-stricken mass murderers need hugs too – although keeping the Bible stained with his daughter's blood? That's just icky .
Annie takes secondary plot duties once more this week, but Lenora Crichlow again makes the most of what she's given, overshadowing the bigger stories with a funny and moving subplot with some great supporting characters. Her glee at being able to help ghosts talk to the not-so-masterful medium was lovely, and her largely silent reaction to her mum's grief was gutwrenching - all relying in most part on the emotion shining in the "Bambi eyes" she was accused of having last week by Tim/Rufus' mum. The tissue rose was a bit rubbish though - clearly Annie's Blue Peter years were before the Tracy Island heyday. But should we be worrying that Annie will choose to go through the door of her own accord by episode eight?
As for George; his change in domestic circumstances gives the brilliant Molly Jones (Molly) another chance to upstage the grown ups, and Russell Tovey a chance to do the awkward comedy that makes you laugh while hiding behind your hands cringing. The arc of George's new (and surely doomed) relationship still feels slightly disjointed from the rest of the plot strands this series, but there's enough amusement and charm here that it's mostly forgiveable.
Speaking of doomed relationships, this episode is again mostly Mitchell-tastic, with Aidan Turner (just about) staying the right side of giddy romantic loon as our favourite vampire falls head over heels for the dictionary definition of an unsuitable woman. His bantering love/hate exchanges with Ivan were – as ever – the highlights, with Paul Rhys' “everyone should have a Daisy” even more poignant if (as I fear and the "next week on..." trail suggests) Ivan won't survive the Valentine's Day massacre. Not since Joss Whedon have we had a writer/creator so keen on offing great characters. No-one's safe.
Flashbacktastic: London 1972 sees (as it turns out, Reverend) Kemp witness first hand the horror of the supernatural as his wife and daughter are killed by a gang of vampires.
Pop culture reference of the week: Ivan gets some great lines, but the best nod has to be at that sixth ring of shopping hell, Argos. Who hasn't felt the urge for violence while waiting at a collection point?
Soundtrack of our times: "Sleep Alone" by Bat For Lashes gives musical depth to the angst of Mitchell's morning after, but Richard Wells' score over those last few moments shows that even on a show which prides itself on great use of contemporary music, there are points where incidental music is so much more than just incidental.
Our world but not: Forget Stephen Fry bleating on about the brilliance of Twitter, if you want real proof of its power look no further than Ivan using his feed as a way of keeping in touch with the vampire AA.
Watch out for: Some of the outfits that the ghosts wanting to talk to Alan Cortez master medium are wearing. You think Annie has it bad in the cardigan and Ugg boots? Try wearing S&M gear or a bird outfit for the entirety of your afterlife.
Quotable moments Molly: "I love mum, but if she was in my class I have a feeling she'd be on the yellow table."
