Ep 9 marks a welcome return to form after last week's disappointment, though it stumbles badly in one crucial area.
The present-day political drama is back to the show's usual high standard. Rani's character arc reaches compelling territory as she faces her most difficult choices yet. Huma Qureshi navigates these moral complexities with real skill, and the supporting cast delivers when the stakes matter most.
The problem? That bloody flashback sequence. Twenty minutes of ham-fisted backstory that treats viewers like complete idiots. We get it - people have complicated histories that shape their present actions. But this exposition dump feels like first-draft television writing.
The flashback's content isn't necessarily bad, but the execution is painfully simplistic. Characters literally explain their motivations through dialogue that no human being would ever actually speak. It's exactly the kind of lazy shortcut that better shows avoid.
Strip away that clunky backstory segment, and you've got solid penultimate episode television.
Rating: 7/10 - Strong present, weak past.
