As the episode begins, Alison Wilson (Ruth Wilson) looks at photos of Alexander (Iain Glen). She finds several pictures of Dorothy Wick (Keeley Hawes). Gordon (Calam Lynch) enters and asks about Dorothy. Alison doesn’t answer any of his questions. She goes to Coleman (Fiona Shaw) and asks her about Dorothy. Coleman explains that Shahbaz Karim was Alex’s handler in Lahore. Coleman explains that they sometimes created new identities and wives for their agents. Coleman refuses to say whether or not it was a marriage of convenience or an arrangement. She tells Alison that she knows all she needs to know. Coleman tells Alison not to jeopardize her sons’ futures. When Alison returns home, she finds out that Gordon is trying to follow his dad’s advice and step up.

He has written to the government about the Ministry of Works returning to Blakefield. Nigel (Otto Farrant) and Gordon convince her to agree to speak to them about Alex’s house. Alison wants to sign the letter once it is finished. Once the boys leave, Alison signs the letter. She recalls happier times with Alexander. Alex shows Alison his old home. Alison tells Alec that she is pregnant. He asks her to marry him. He promises that they’ll move back to the house one day as a family. Back in the present, Gordon becomes suspicious of his father too. He wants to make some calls and look into dad’s worth. Alison tells him not to. Gordon leaves them moments later. Then, Alison invites Nigel to go away for a few days.

He turns her down because he has other plans. Alison drops off the letter. She tries to track down an old landlord. She is told that she owes rent. The landlord speaks about Alec’s books. Alison remembers Alec chatting with a colleague outside of the window. She asks the landlord about Dorothy. Alison pays her rent. The landlord knows Dorothy. He explains that she lived there during the war before Alison. They went to India together with a boy. He finds a document with Dorothy, Alec and Michael written on it. The landlord explains that Alec never mentioned her. Michael doesn’t have Alec’s surname. The landlord explains that the couple used to fight all of the time.

Alison runs into Olive (Joy Richardson) on the way home. She smiles at her and rushes inside. Nigel gets a letter from Oxford inviting him to read there. He prepares to leave. Alison promises that she’ll be fine. Soon, Alison finds herself on the train recalling old times with Alec. She manages to track down Dorothy. Dorothy tries to shut the door on her. Dorothy eventually lets her inside. They speak about Dorothy’s days as an actress. Dorothy denies being a spy. She tells Alison about sleeping with Alec and marrying him after he watched her in a play. Dorothy confirms that Michael is Alec’s son. Dorothy admits Alec didn’t lie to her back then. She believes that Gladys was Alec’s sister.

Dorothy explains that Alec tells her all about Alison. Dorothy admits she spied on Alec and was doing so when they met in the bathroom. In a flashback, we see Alec return home to Dorothy after his date with Alison. He tells Dorothy that Alison is his secretary. Eventually, Alec encourages Dorothy to stay with her mother. She does so not too long after that. Dorothy explains that she returned to Alec as soon as she could and followed him for months. She watches as Alec had dinner with Alison. Later, she slaps him across the face. She beats him up a bit and leaves. Alison tells Dorothy that she should have warned her. She also learns that Alec gave them money once. Dorothy admits she hated Alec. She explains that she would never turn Michael against Alec.

Dorothy tells Alison that she pretends Alec died at war. Alison wonders whether Dorothy regrets lying to Mike about his father. She explains that it is better than a life with Alec in it. Alison runs into Mike (Wilf Scolding) outside. She tells him that she knew his father. She admits that he looks just like him. She says little else. We see a 1944 flashback in London. Alison finds out that Alec has been kicked out of his apartment. He has found them another place to live. On the train ride home, Alison gets drunk. She removes moving with Alec and Gordon while pregnant. After Alison gives birth to Nigel, her mother asks them what they’re doing to provide for their kids. Alec promises that he is working. Her mother suggests that Nigel should be adopted. A drunken Alison continues hearing her mother’s words over and over. She gets a letter about the property. She learns that the property has never been owned by anyone in the Wilson family. She runs into Olive and gets angry when she hears about Alec being a good man. Nigel returns home and Alison goes out. She seeks out Karim. She calls him a bloody liar.

Alison asks Karim in what way Alec was a good man. Alison wants to know who her husband was. She is told that he saved hundreds of lives during the way. We see that Karim introduced Alec to Dorothy. Karim explains that Alec was reluctant to do it at first, but had to for his country. He explains that Alec eventually began to enjoy the deception. Karim admits he didn’t think they would actually fall in love. Karim warned her not to get in too deep. Alec and Karim worked together to lie about sister Gladys. Karim explains that they got married because Dorothy got pregnant. Dorothy wanted to abort the child, but Alec wouldn’t let her. Karim faked a wedding for them.

Alison heads to the church to speak with Father Timothy (Ian McElhinney). Alison tells Timothy about Alec letting her down. Timothy tells her to keep the secrets from the boys and protect them. She returns home and finds a note from Nigel. She becomes concerned about the house and Nigel finding out. Alison forges another letter. She gives it to Nigel and Gordon when they return. It claims that the house is theirs, but they’re using it as a training base. Nigel has found a place to stay in Oxford. Gordon made calls and found out that the house never belonged to them. He also learned that Alec didn’t go to school where he said he did. Gordon wants to know the truth about his father. Alison forces him to leave and take Nigel with him.

Alison gets Alec’s wallet. She cuts it open. She finds a card for a licensed pawnbroker.

 

Mrs Wilson Review

This episode of Mrs. Wilson was pretty interesting. As with the opener, the episode was very slow. This isn’t an action flick in the least. It is a calculated slow burner. The acting has been great in both episodes. I know the story is based on something true, but parts are really difficult to believe. Nevertheless, it makes for pretty darn good television. I’ve enjoyed both episodes and I am eager to find out how things are going to end. This episode scores an 8 out of 10. Catch up with previous recaps of Mrs Wilson now!