In the second episode of Indian Summers, the mystery begins to unfold. Ralph Whelan (Henry Lloyd-Hughes) remains distraught, after his assassination attempt, while Aafrin Dalal (Nikesh Patel) fights for his life. Early in the episode, Ralph grows angry, after Ronnie Keane (Rick Warden) brings in a journalist to investigate the attack. The journalist, Naseem Ali Khan (Tanmay Dhanania), doesn’t believe the story that is being told and vows to seek out the truth.

Eugene Mathers (Edward Hogg) and Cynthia Coffin (Julie Walters) continue to push Ralph and Madeleine Mathers (Olivia Grant) closer together, but Ralph seems to lose interest. The hospital staff takes matters into their own hands and moves Aafrin out of the general area, in order to isolate him away from the other patients. This happens, while Sooni Dalal (Aysha Kala) and Roshana Dalal (Lillete Dubey) work to keep the shooting a secret to Darius Dalal (Roshan Seth). After a visit to Aafrin, Sooni and Roshana run into Aafrin’s forbidden lover, but ignore her pleas for information.

Ian McLeod (Alexander Cobb) finally gets his uncle, Stafford Armitage (Richard McCabe) to wake up. The pair visit the Armitage farm, which is in disarray and only has two employees. Back in the city, the Raworth couple are quickly separating from one another. Sarah (Fiona Glascott) refuses to allow her husband, Dougie Raworth (Craif Parkinson), to leave and search for Adam, when he goes missing. Instead, Leena Prasad (Amber Rose Revah) and the other missionary students hunt for the boy in the woods.

Naseem Khan works to get an interview with Ralph Whelan. During his attempt, he overhears the assassin’s name, Chandru Mohan (Mano Maniam). While he continues insisting the man wasn’t politically motivated, Ralph pays a visit to the assassin, who has refused to speak to anyone. At the same time, Alice Whelan (Jemima West) rushes out of a meeting with Madeleine and Sarah, in order to visit the Dalal family. She finds the family in disarray and ends up spilling the beans to Darius. Ralph attempts to speak to his assassin and offers him a drink. He speaks to the assassin and insists they’re in a bad situation, but he is beaten bloody, before being pulled from the cell.

While Ralph is rushed to a hospital, Alice walks the streets of the bazaar and witnesses her bloody brother being rushed away. Despite his wife’s wishes, Darius vows to go and suffer with his son. Meanwhile, Leena Prasad receives news that Dougie will not be coming. She sends all of the children back to the missionary and continues the search on her own.

Meanwhile, Ralph enlists help, in order to forge a document and make Chandru appear to be a member of congress, which would mean he was politically motivated. Naseem Khan waits for a long period of time, until he is finally allows to see Chandru. When he enters the prison cell, he discovers that the assassin has killed himself or been killed. Back at home, Alice questions Ralph about his bloody attack, but he refuses to answer. Afterwards, Naseem plans to leave, after gathering enough information, but he is stopped by Ralph.

 

Leena discovers Adam out in the woods. When she approaches, Adam begins stabbing himself in the stomach with a sharpened piece of wood. Ralph takes him to Aafrin and attempts to sell him the man’s story. This seemingly throws Naseem off of his conspiracy theory trail and improves Ralph’s peace of mind. He returns home and has intercourse with Madeleine. Near the end of the episode, Sarah writes a letter to an old friend and requests information about Alice. Also, Aafrin gets a visit from his forbidden lover, but believes he sees Alice.

 

Indian Summers Review

Overall, the episode was much improved over the first. The mystery is really good and somewhat bizarre. The romance is beginning to end and begin, at the same time. There are actually several mysteries thrown together. What is going on with Adam? Alice is a mystery of her own. Finally, it seems like Ralph is in on something very bad. What is it and will it destroy his dreams of becoming Viceroy?

The episode was great and deserves an 8 out of 10! Be sure to check out our other Indian Summer recaps now!