If there's one thing that bothers me about the second series of In the Flesh, or at least the very idea of there being a second series, it's that Dominic Mitchell lacks an ability to provide a sense of contrast. I don't mean just within the context of the episodes itself, but compare series 1 to 2. They're little different and aside from the second series being more tense, it rarely becomes more than just plain In The Flesh 2.0. That said, despite this, and a rather rough and anticlimactic start to the series, episode 2 is an improvement but it still has some issues that tend to get in the way
No doubt the episode begins brilliantly enough, with Jem's nightmare about seeing her class become rabids. It also sets up the tone for the episode rather well. Much of it is focused on Jem and we haven't gotten some proper development yet. In tact, the episode's best scene happens when she fails to kill a rabid and is lectured by a fellow classmate for it, despite her time in the Human Volunteer Force. Growing tensions between her and Gary are brilliantly executed. And probably the best and most involving subplot of the series happens: the murder of a rabid in the woods. It's of Jem's own classmate and someone who could have been a love interest us. This is the moment where the show reaches first season brilliance. Shockingly enough, this is the one episode where Simon's absence doesn't equate to a substantial drop in quality
Which sadly is to say that when the episode isn't focusing on Jem, it suffers. The good part is that Maxine is finally beginning to get some proper development. The idea of the Give Back Scheme is a good plot device, but the problem is that we are given an all too obvious plot device to spearhead it: the travel ban. We already can see it from miles away that Kieren won't be able to travel, and that's a problem. Given the pressure from the WBC type church group expy you think it would be further explored
Not to be too negative though, despite these flaws, I enjoyed the episode for the most part, and it does get the show in the direction it should be going, even if it's just a light push. Dom Mitchell does his best when he realizes what the show really is: a show that focuses on social issues with some light horror thrown there for good measure. Thankfully the taste help elevate it too, but the big issue is that the cast seem to be more into putting this story first than Dom and that's a problem
No doubt the episode begins brilliantly enough, with Jem's nightmare about seeing her class become rabids. It also sets up the tone for the episode rather well. Much of it is focused on Jem and we haven't gotten some proper development yet. In tact, the episode's best scene happens when she fails to kill a rabid and is lectured by a fellow classmate for it, despite her time in the Human Volunteer Force. Growing tensions between her and Gary are brilliantly executed. And probably the best and most involving subplot of the series happens: the murder of a rabid in the woods. It's of Jem's own classmate and someone who could have been a love interest us. This is the moment where the show reaches first season brilliance. Shockingly enough, this is the one episode where Simon's absence doesn't equate to a substantial drop in quality
Which sadly is to say that when the episode isn't focusing on Jem, it suffers. The good part is that Maxine is finally beginning to get some proper development. The idea of the Give Back Scheme is a good plot device, but the problem is that we are given an all too obvious plot device to spearhead it: the travel ban. We already can see it from miles away that Kieren won't be able to travel, and that's a problem. Given the pressure from the WBC type church group expy you think it would be further explored
Not to be too negative though, despite these flaws, I enjoyed the episode for the most part, and it does get the show in the direction it should be going, even if it's just a light push. Dom Mitchell does his best when he realizes what the show really is: a show that focuses on social issues with some light horror thrown there for good measure. Thankfully the taste help elevate it too, but the big issue is that the cast seem to be more into putting this story first than Dom and that's a problem