Catch Me If You Can – This episode of Bodies begins in 1889. Mannix (Stephen Graham) wakes up in a hospital. He gets up and looks outside. A sign says that the ward is dedicated to Sir Julian Harker who was lost in battle in 1886. Lady Agatha Harker (Anna Calder-Marshall) comes to the hospital because he wants to speak to her. Agatha says they told him that he gave his life to save his men at Mandalay. Mannix claims that the Burmese took him captive and he managed to escape. He wanted to surprise her but he got robbed and shot in the knee. Agatha believes Mannix is her son. A bit later, Elias goes home with Agatha. Mullins (Max Lohan) welcomes him home. Once they go inside, the dog Archie barks at Mannix until he is removed.

Mannix is sent upstairs to get some real clothes and some rest. Agatha reads his future and tells him that he has a battle ahead that he will win. The cards told her every time that her son would return yet she isn’t sure. Agatha asks if he knows her son. Mannix says no. He denies hurting him. Agatha says he’ll only steal her heart because she has little money left to give. Mannix will get her money. If she’ll allow it, he’ll love her like a son. Mannix explains that he wants to change things for the better. They will have a family and Agatha will be a grandmother. Mannix says he’ll meet a policeman’s daughter and they’ll build a beautiful life together. Agatha admits she wants to be a part of it before calling Mannix Julian. In 1890, Julian goes to Longharvest Lane where he waits for Gabriel Defoe (Tom Mothersdale) to arrive.

When Julian hears footsteps, he rushes to hide. Henry Ashe (George Parker) finds Defoe seconds later and yells for help. He snaps a picture of the scene. Julian goes to church where he keeps an eye on Polly Hillinghead (Synnove Karlsen). When they leave, Alfred Hillinghead (Kyle Soller) goes with the journalist, Henry Ashe, again. Julian listens to Polly and Charlotte (Amy Manson) talk about Alfred and Henry. A little boy steals Polly’s locket. Julian trips the boy and helps her get it back. They thank Julian for his help. He tells Polly that she plays very well. Polly offers to play for his mother. She plays for Agatha later. Before Julian excuses himself, he asks Polly to come and play for them again. As Julian begins working on the bank vault, his relationship with Polly develops.

Later, they talk about a painting. Julian says the rumor is that the painter saw the body lying naked in a lane after it appeared out of thin air. Polly admits it is refreshing to talk so unhindered. When she asks what he does, Julian claims to offer advice on the stock market. He claims he is always right about most things. As for the thief, he insists that was a complete surprise. Julian offers Polly permanent employment helping with his mother. After that, Julian tries to arrange the purchase of the bank. He talks to Paxman about Inspector Hillinghead. Paxman warns him that Hillinghead has a photo of Julian that could become incriminating. Julian assures him they’ll have a more incriminating photo of Hillinghead soon.

Later, Polly and Charlotte tell Julian about Alfred confessing to committing a murder. Polly thought Julian might be able to help them. Alfred learns they’re going to be escorting him to Pentonville so he will be treated with some dignity. Julian joins him in the wagon later and questions why he’d sacrifice himself. Julian believes Alfred was just born in the wrong time. He tells him how things are different where he came from. Julian promises to love Polly with all his heart. Alfred gets mad and threatens to kill him before he can lay a hand on her. Ladbroke tells Alfred he is sorry it had to end this way. He begins choking Alfred. Julian approaches Polly to tell her that her father was afraid to face justice. He claims Alfred took his own life. In 2053, Iris Maplewood (Shira Haas) is questioned about Mannix’s whereabouts.

The Prime Minister tells her that she’ll be rewarded and promoted. Iris informs him there is something down there. It is dangerous so it can’t be boarded up and locked away. They tell her that Mannix believed Shahara Hasan was the leader of Chapel Perilous. Her body hasn’t been discovered so they want to know if Iris knows where she is. Iris says no. Later, Iris goes through paperwork and works out the details of the past and present. She remembers when she found Defoe and how he gave a presentation about the possibility of time travel. Iris soon realizes that he is coming back. She meets Alby (Edwin Thomas) because she needs another favor. Alby wants to know what is going on. When Iris approaches Shahara Hasan (Amaka Okafor), Hasan tells her about Jawad.

Hasan explains that Defoe could’ve given Jawad a second chance. Iris says her first memory is watching her mother die. She insists you have to move on and deal with it. Hasan asks why she brought her there. Iris says he wasn’t right. She also regrets shooting Defoe. Iris suggests they can still save everybody. She yells at Alby to ask what he has for holding the head. On July 22, 2053, the three of them go to the spawn spot. When Defoe appears, they try to help him using a special helmet. They try to get him into the back of the van as Alby questions if Iris has a plan. Iris thinks Defoe has a plan. Julian and Polly get married. Before long, Polly gets pregnant and gives birth to a boy. Julian calls the boy Hayden. One morning, Julian wakes up Polly because it is time for her to learn the truth. He shows her Defoe in a cylinder and calls him a messenger.

He is also the man in the painting. Their part is to be the keeper of his secrets until the time is right. Julian explains he knows the future because that’s where he’s from. Agatha says they’re building a future that will be greater than anyone can imagine. A distraught Polly storms out as Julian follows her. He admits his name is Elias. Julian explains that Hayden will have children who will also have children. One of them will be his father. If he doesn’t exist, their son won’t either. In 1941, Polly checks on Elias when he wakes up. She tells him that Whiteman is hiding the girl in his flat. Polly says it was just like a war. Mannix begins recording the last record. Before long, Whiteman kills Polly before killing Mannix. He is hanged. Iris tells Defoe he was right that the truth changes you. He asks what she is prepared to do about it.

Iris says she’ll do whatever it takes. Defoe says he tried to follow Mannix after her bullet hit him but he was too weak. He felt his body split and divide. Defoe argues they can’t do anything because they’re part of the loop. Hasan says she gave Elias everything she had when he was 15 because she thought he’d change his mind. She spent 30 years doing everything she could to stop him. Before the bomb went off, Andrew Morley told her something she never understood. He mentioned that Elias would end up so full of pain over what he did. Andrew says he was doing something he knew he would regret. Hasan thinks Mannix is full of regrets. Iris says they can confront him and plant a seed of doubt. If the universe wants him to live, they just need to outsmart the universe.

Before Iris uses the throat, she suspects she is going to die there. She runs into the throat and ends up back in time.

 

Bodies Review

The 7th episode of Bodies seemed like a long-winded way to explore Mannix’s relationship with Polly. Besides that and Iris finally going back in time, the episode did very little. The series has obviously continued for too long, but that was to be expected with anything on Netflix. If it had only been six episodes, the writers would’ve been forced to get to the point much sooner. The series has a lot in common with 1899 although many differences.

However, they were hindered by many of the same issues. One thing 1899 did well though was its ability to create better characters with some of them being genuinely compelling. After seven episodes with Bodies, there isn’t a connection between the viewer and the characters. The bloated cast and jumbled storytelling don’t give the characters enough time to develop so they’re pretty shallow.

The only relationship that was marginally effective was Alfred and Henry. Otherwise, Bodies just hasn’t given me enough reason to care. If the bomb had exploded at the end of this episode, I would’ve been glad that the series had concluded. I take that back because I probably would’ve felt bad for Archie. The episode scores a 5 out of 10. Recaps of Bodies are found on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link.

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