The consensus I saw online was this episode was a bit of a return to form after a mini slump that season seven has proved to be. I'm not sure I really agree with either half of the sentiment. I'll accept that this season hasn't really had a standout classic yet, but I'm also not convinced that this is better than what's come before.
Shane (Daniel Mays) kidnaps Lara (Daisy Haggard), the wife of banking executive Dominic (Reece Shearsmith). With Detective Inspector Ellis (Steve Pemberton) working the case, Dominic tries to negotiate the ransom demands. Shane doesn't seem bright enough to have come up with this scheme on his own, and that proves to be the case when Clifford (Jason Isaacs), the mastermind behind the crime appears - he though, has a grander plan.
Again, for me, the problem with this episode is the ending. With the twist revealed fairly early on - and fairly well signposted. So much so that you expect another one, I found the resolution to be disappointing, and to make less sense the more you thought about it. Much more successful was the look of the episode, the splicing of contrasting images to form reflecting wholes was really well done.
I do think this was the funniest episode of the run so far though and the guest performers were really impressive. Haggard and Mays are good in everything and the surprise of Isaacs, who was not featured in the advertising very heavily was also nice.
Again though, I just came away wishing that the resolution had been sharper or cleverer than it was.
