As the episode begins, Daniel Milton (Mark Strong) gets up and sees a bunch of birds from his window. While he washes his hands, Beth Milton (Catherine McCormack) asks if it is today to which he replies it is. She thanks him for everything before they discuss the flat which has become their second home. Daniel kills a bug on his neck. After the intro, Daniel and Beth go to the police station and sit down with Sergeant Samson (Gbemisola Ikumelo). They explain that Beth is alive and was hiding at the cottage. She explains she was going to pretend to kill herself but returned and knocked on the door this morning. As a heart surgeon, Daniel tries to save people’s lives at Saint Simons. We see a flashback of Daniel, Anna (Carice van Houten), Lee (Daniel Mays), and Jamie (Tobi King Bakare) trying to figure out what to do with the bodies.
Lee complains about his pain and the fact he was forced to kill someone while Jamie makes tea. They’re interrupted when Beth walks out and surprises them. Back in the present, Daniel and Beth confirm there was no life insurance or claims made. They also suggest no one else was involved but a flashback proves otherwise. Anna and Daniel take Beth to the flat before Anna says she doesn’t think they should see each other again. She claims they’re violating her although Daniel says they’re preventing her from being complicit in two deaths. He also says they can forget the place ever existed once Lee finishes cleaning it out. When asked what she is going to do now, Anna believes she’ll just move on. Back in the police station, Beth says she happened to find the cure to Lancaster’s right before it could kill her. She believes it would be helpful for people to get time away without headlines and sleepless nights.
When the Sergeant asks if she is completely healthy now, we see a flashback of Beth finding the scar on her belly and Daniel insisting he had to do it to save her. He says she needs to stay in the flat until she heals so she can’t see Eve. He says the transplant team at the hospital helped her and the kidney went to someone who needed it. Beth tells the Sergeant that she feels healthy although she needs to get checked out to be sure. Samson gives Beth her paperwork and tells them they’re good to go. When they leave, Beth wants to get Eve (Lily Newmark) immediately, but Daniel says they need to prepare her first. Daniel decides to call her in the middle of setting up a protest banner with Ash (Ruhtxjiaih Bellenea) and others. As the police show up, they drop the banner which reads “What New Normal?” and run from the police officers. Meanwhile, Anna tells possible investors about her research.
Annie (Esther Hall) and Peter (Ciaran Owens) agree that it is interesting although completely theoretical. Annie admits she was hesitant to meet her but did so out of respect for Beth. Nothing she saw today changed her mind. Peter follows her to the elevator and says he thought she’d go for it. He encourages her to prove this research clinically on her own so they can talk again. Anna realizes that means they’ll need a human trial. When Daniel goes to work, he has a pleasant conversation with the guard Victor (Ross Boatman). As Daniel walks by, Suzana (Anamaria Marinca) looks at him. Then, Daniel gets ready for his latest surgery. He works alongside Joe (Shane David-Joseph) and a few others. He gets a call and tells the nurse to kill it for him, but Lee calls once again. Daniel steps out to answer the call before Lee tells him it is an emergency.
Daniel returns and tells Joe to finish it up before leaving. He meets Lee down in the bunker and finds that Anna was already there. There is a problem because one of the bodies has gotten stuck in the water. Daniel doesn’t understand why Lee didn’t get out of there like he said, but Lee isn’t sure why he’d do that. Anna says they’ll need bolt cutters so Lee goes to get his pair. When Lee leaves, Anna asks if Daniel can see how vulnerable he is. Daniel takes off his jacket and gets into the water with the corpse. He finds that the body is stuck on something. When Anna tries to get in and help him, Daniel tells her not to do that and it is okay. Lee gets the bolt cutters and finds out that someone is coming.
Anna asks Daniel if he has told Beth she is the one who came up with the cure. He admits he hasn’t yet before Lee arrives and warns them about the two men coming. They make a run for it while Daniel stays behind and pulls the corpse underwater with him. When the two men leave, Daniel emerges from the water and pushes the body under the chain. He watches it float away. Lee watches a news report about the climate crisis being more mosquitos to the British mainland. Daniel arrives and finds out he hasn’t left the bunker. As for Jamie, he is going to turn himself into authorities. Lee says he is going to block everything off so there is only one way to get in. Daniel says it is crazy and he should just leave. Lee isn’t sure why he cares now. Lee tells him about the complexities of human relationships and the fact he should’ve come back even though he told him he never wanted to see his face again.
Before Anna leaves, Lee thanks her for bringing that stuff last time. Daniel tries to help Lee with the bandage on his foot, but Lee won’t let him. Lee explains he and Anna have been supporting each other and she has been coming even if she thinks that is a bad idea. Daniel makes it clear he isn’t coming back regardless if that makes him a bad friend. Beth visits her hairstylist (Laya Lewis) while Lee gives Daniel some dry clothes. Then, Lee tells Daniel how to get out and back in if he ever wants to come back. Meanwhile, Ash tells Eve she needs to come up with an idea for their next protest. Although Eve is hesitant to do so, Ash pushes her and believes it is best. Beth says she needs to see Eve before she throws a party to celebrate coming back to life. She is surprised to learn that her daughter has left the university. She immediately calls Daniel to ask him about that, but he knows nothing about it either.
When Daniel enters the hospital, Victor tells him one of the girls from the café just collapsed, and it turns out to be Suzana. He talks to her in the hallway moments later and learns this has happened before. She has a new doctor, and she is sicker than before. She knows about the kidney and wants to be paid for it. She wants 50 thousand although Daniel says that isn’t possible. Suzana wonders whether he has done this to others and threatens to tell her story if he doesn’t get the money by tomorrow. Daniel tries to continue with his job, but it is too much for him. While washing his hands, he kills a mosquito. Then, he gets in an argument with Joe during the surgery and nearly kills the patient. Ed (Will Keen) tells him they should’ve never allowed him back to work so soon as his wife’s death.
Ed tells him about everything he has done and the fact he is dressed strangely before suspending him until further notice. Victor is forced to take Daniel’s pass as he leaves the hospital. Daniel gets a threatening message from Suazana when he leaves. He notices all the birds flying overhead before one crashes to the ground and struggles to breathe. Then, he goes back down into the bunker and finds Lee shaving his hair. He stops him in the middle of it to tell him about Suzana threatening him about the kidney. Daniel needs work although Lee is worried about working with the big guy. Daniel pressures him to get in touch with the big man before he leaves and meets with Eve. They agree to talk a walk before going home while Eve goes home. Daniel sits with Eve to tell her about her mother showing up and insists he didn’t know she was alive until this morning.
Beth hears the computer and checks it when she sees an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement. She calls someone to ask if there has been a mistake only to be told she couldn’t have been there two months. Then, she is told she was only there one week. Daniel arrives with Eve outside. Once they go inside, Daniel notices the document on his computer before Beth enters and surprises her daughter. After that, Daniel meets up with Gubby (Rhys Ifans) who is training his son to hold his breath underwater. He doesn’t like the fact that Daniel is late or his excuses. Daniel apologizes and says he understands he needs confidentiality and impeccable timing.
Temple Review
I sincerely enjoyed the first season of Temple and am excited that the second is following perfectly in its footsteps. While the premise has always been a bit silly, Temple has always done a lot of things right with the most notable being the relationships especially the one between Daniel and Lee. It is fun and humorous to see them go back and forth.
Another interesting dynamic is the relationships Daniel has with Beth and Anna. There is obviously going to be more to the story here as the season continues. Near the end of the episode, Beth likely figured out that Daniel was lying about being at the flat all this time. Suzana knows about the kidney transplant and wants to be paid 50,000 for her kidney.
As a result, Daniel is going back to work with Gubby. Now, it is time for Daniel to get the party started and see what type of strange characters he’ll serve in season two. I am also interested in seeing what is going on with the mosquitoes. The first episode was a good start for season two and I expect it to maintain this level of quality going forward.
The first episode scores a 7.5 out of 10. Catch up with all Temple recaps on Reel Mockery here.
Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.
