The episode opens with Lisa Evans (Jasmine Jobson) walking along the railroad track. In the next scene, she watches two guards playing cards when Edward (Phil Davis) walking his dog, Ulysses, pops up on the railway security monitor. Outside near the end of a ramp, she watches Edward take a seat on a beach. She approaches the bench as he slides a note underneath Ulysses’ collar. She assures him that being dead is not so great. He takes a gulp of alcohol as a train approaches. She pleads with Edward to not do it. A railway worker on the other side of the tracks rushes over to help. Standing on the ledge, Edward falls in front of the approaching train. The engineer brings the train to a stop.

Transport Police PC Akash Lockhart (Yaamin Chowdhury) is notified of Edward’s suicide. He orders the railway station locked down. Platform 7 is a flurry of police activity. Akash interviews the railway worker who witnessed the incident. An official tells Akash that it was the engineer’s first assignment. Counseling is offered to witnesses. Akash looks at Edward’s note that reads – “Please find my dog Ulysses a decent home. He’s a good dog, better than his owner.”

Great Central Rail Station – Lisa looks out a window to see Edward standing in a crowd on the platform below. She tells him that she committed suicide there, at least, she believes that is what caused her death. She denies having any memory of her past, only flashbacks. She questions what made him so certain that suicide was his only option. He says it is not of her business. She assures him that she will keep his secret safe. As he walks toward the train, she warns that he can never leave before he is stopped by an invisible barrier. He tries another exit only to hit an invisible barrier. She tries to reassure him but he wants nothing to do with her.

Lisa is watching a group of young people mingling when she sees Edward. He briefly looks at her and continues walking. A UK Mental Health Alliance “Together Not Alone” poster catches her attention.

Lisa watches an anxious Ella (Emily Carey) pay for her water. She calls Abby to cancel her morning meeting claiming to be ill. When the call ends, she breaks down sobbing. Holding out her finger, Lisa catches a tear which triggers a flashback of her and Matt (Toby Regbo) together. She questions why she would commit suicide when she was a teacher with a family.

Edward apologizes to Lisa for being ungrateful. He suggests the railway station is purgatory. She says at least is not the other place. He questions if they will go there next. He briefly speaks of his daughter. She admits to being confused about why she would commit suicide with a family and career. He says some type of trauma may be blocking her memory. He tells her that his nephew suffered PTSD after a tour in Iraq. He explains his nephew’s memory loss. He warns against trying to delve into her past.

Lisa watches Evelyn (Natasha Joseph) and Trevor (Patrick Robinson) lay a bouquet of flowers near the railroad track. Later, they tell authorities that their daughter (Lisa) died on this date a year ago. Grand Central Rail Station Manager Melissa (Sacha Parkinson) declines their request to leave flowers where Lisa died. She warns of a copycat suicide. Evelyn and Trevor assure her that they would not want anyone to go through what they had to. Lisa seeing Matt triggers a flashback. As they are leaving, Trevor questions why Lisa would commit suicide when she had everything. Lisa passes the barrier for the first time. Outside the station, Evelyn invites Matt to accompany them to Lisa’s gravesite. He claims to have already gone before they depart ways.

Lisa follows Matt to his flat. In a flashback, Trevor asses Lisa’s sprained ankle. Back to the present, she sees how Matt’s apartment has changed since she was last there. She spots a Central City News article about her and Edward’s suicides at Central Station. The article states she had mental health issues. She is confused by it all.

Melissa questions why Lisa came over the security fence on Platform 7, instead of through the front entrance like Edward. He agrees it is strange. Elsewhere, Inspector Barker (Mark Noble) and Sonny Morgan (Lladel Bryant) prepare for an incoming soccer train. Akash researches Lisa’s death online.

In a flashback, Matt and Lisa have dinner. She claims to be the only child. He says she was spoiled by her parents but she refutes the idea. He vows to spoil her. He claims his father walked out when he was two years old and his mother died while he was in med school. Matt’s sobs bring her back to the present. She tries to comfort him. She questions if he tried to help her or if she was too far gone for help.

Akash tells Melissa that investigators did not find a suicide note but the coroner ruled that Lisa suffered mental health issues. He suggests it had to do with her coming over the security fence. She says Lisa was her age. He insists on digging deeper to see what he can come up with.

Lisa finds Evelyn deep in thought while Trevor works on a birdhouse. She believes Trevor suspects something odd about her death when the doorbell rings. Evelyn opens the door to see Izzy (Rhiannon Clements). Banjo races in and starts barking at Lisa. Evelyn tells her that Melissa declined their request to place flowers on the platform where Lisa died. Izzy asks about Matt. Evelyn says he is putting a lot of hours in at the hospital. Izzy regrets not being a better friend to Lisa. Evelyn disagrees. Izzy believes she doesn’t deserve their kindness. Trevor claims Lisa referred to her as the sister she never had. In her bedroom, a photo of Richard Shale (Reece Ritchie) triggers a flashback of their encounter in a karaoke bar. She sees Richard looking distraught outside her house.

Akash calls to check on the status of Lisa’s CCTV. He notices Rosaria Diaz’s (Tabata Cerezo) social media post to Lisa – “There isn’t an hour, a minute, or a second that I don’t miss your smile, your wit, and your laughter and most of all your love.” He meets Rosaria in a diner. Rosaria denies having contact with Lisa in the weeks leading up to her suicide because she was in Spain. She says Lisa and Matt’s relationship was good. She claims Matt told her that Lisa became severely depressed and refused therapy. She tells him about Richard, a former roommate and co-worker of Matt’s, stalking Lisa.

A visit to Richard’s office triggers a flashback. They talk about different things until Matt arrives with a bottle of white. Handing her two glasses, Richard wishes her good luck. Back to the present, she visits Matt’s old room, where they had spent time together. Later, Matt claims to have taken a friendless Richard under his wing. He says Richard followed him to A&E. Back to the present, Akash appears at Richard’s flat. Richard declines to answer any questions about Lisa.

Lisa enters the station while Akash is viewing CCTV footage of her running down the sidewalk. Akash pulls up CCTV footage of the Central Station security fence. In a flashback, Lisa frantically scales the fence to the other side when someone grabs her ankles.

 

Platform 7 Cast

• Lisa Evans (Jasmine Jobson)
• PC Akash Lockhart (Yaamin Chowdhury)
• Ella (Emily Carey)
• Matt (Toby Regbo)
• Evelyn (Natasha Joseph)
• Trevor (Patrick Robinson)
• Grand Central Rail Station Manager Melissa (Sacha Parkinson)
• Sonny Morgan (Lladel Bryant)
• Inspector Barker (Mark Noble)
• Izzy (Rhiannon Clements)
• Richard Shale (Reece Ritchie)
• Rosaria Diaz (Tabata Cerezo)

Platform 7 Synopsis

Lisa Evans has been stuck in Grand Central Rail Station since she died a year ago. She has very little memory of her past and death. The coroner attributed her suicide to mental health issues. Lisa questions the coroner’s assessment because she had a family, a boyfriend, and a teaching career. Lisa’s father, Trevor, also has questions about the corner’s suicide claim.

Edward intentionally falls in front of a train. Lisa tries to convince him to tell her why he took his own life. He refuses to talk about it. PC Akash Lockhart is assigned to his case. Akash delves into Lisa’s past. He learns that Lisa was stalked by Matt’s former roommate, Richard Shale, before she died. He tries to question Richard but he refuses to talk to him.

Evelyn and Trevor visit Great Central Station to place flowers near the track where Lisa took her life. The rail manager, Melissa fears flowers would encourage others to commit suicide. Lisa recognizes them as her parents. Matt is also with them. Their visit removes the barrier, giving her to freedom to venture outside the rail station.

Bit by bit, Lisa learns more about her past.

Platform 7 Review

The story is a near replica of “School Spirits”. Maddie dies in the boiler room at the Split River High School. She lands in the school’s purgatory, along with a group of students who died on the school grounds or during school events. The School Spirits spend much of their afterlife trying to move forward and live as normal life as possible. Maddie struggles to cope with her death. She sets out to find out how she died, only to learn she had been murdered.

In many ways, Platform 7 is like School Spirits and The Rising. Lisa is stuck in the Great Central Rail Station’s purgatory until her parents set her free.

The script lacks oomph, originality, and intrigue. It fails to engage the audience on nearly any scale. The writing is amateurish at best. The pace is unbearably slow. The pilot episode doesn’t deliver anything particularly compelling. Not a good start for a new series.

The picture quality is poor. It looks blurry and faded.

The accident scene didn’t look believable. There was no true investigation, just everyone running around doing nothing.

Lisa’s story is boring and uninteresting. Edward’s story, on the other hand, is intriguing. What pushed Edward to suicide?

Phil Davis’s appearance is brief but outstanding. I hope ITV doesn’t try to sell Platform 7 on Phil Davis’s name and reputation.

The episode deserves a 5. Get more Platform 7 recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating to our independent platform. Our onsite advertising can boost online awareness, click here to learn more. Join our newly established forum to discuss Platform 7 and other new releases.