TV episode review
UK airdate 13 March 2011 (BBC One)

When Fleur’s true identity is revealed, it’s the catalyst for major changes in Forthaven as Julius Berger makes his move…

Oh, why has it taken so long? If Outcasts had been firing like this from the start, we’d have been discussing a second series weeks ago. There’s political intrigue, a medical mystery, revelations about some of our key characters, a gun battle, chases around the town – and all the while, the transport from Earth is getting ever closer.

There are some nice circles closed, with a touching scene between Tipper and Stella, and some form of resolution for Cass and Fleur as they both learn the other’s secrets. We finally see evidence of the political cunning that Richard Tate is meant to have, as he outmanoeuvres his opponents, while Berger realises that maybe he’s underestimated someone that he really needs onside.

It’s not left on as much of a cliffhanger as you might fear from the way that the episode builds towards its climax – in fact, it’s enough to make you wonder whether two versions of the ending were filmed, one for if the show was returning, the other for the current situation.

Outcasts has not been the disaster that its move to a Sunday night graveyard slot might indicate. Writing the final episodes while the first few were shooting has meant a few glitches in character continuity, and it was always going to be an uphill struggle to keep an audience after the exposition-heavy opener.

However it has had some good moments, and marks Daniel Mays and Amy Manson out as actors to watch carefully in future… Paul Simpson

VERDICT: 7/10