As the third season of The Split begins, Hannah (Nicola Walker) puts on makeup in her office while Nathan (Stephen Mangan) gets dressed in his. Hannah takes off her rings and places them on top of the divorce agreement. She puts them back on before receiving a call confirming Dr. Leondra Hale is on the way. As Zander (Chukwudi Iwuji) leaves, Leondra enters and looks at the magazine with her picture on the cover. Hannah arrives, thanks Maya, and learns that Leondra just avoided Zander. Dr. Hale thanks her for seeing her so late in the day. When she asks about Hannah’s dress, she is told Hannah is going out for Thai food with parents from Liv’s old class.

Felix used to drag Leondra to those. As for Nathan, he is going to meet with Hannah for a drink before. Hannah admits he wants to chat. Leondra argues that sounds hopeful as she notices Hannah’s heart rate rising. Leni thinks it is a mistake for them to break up, but Hannah confesses she cheated on him and there are some things you can’t forgive. They discuss Liv coming back from South America late tomorrow. She is going to be studying law. After Hannah asks about Felix, Leondra says he is doing something complicated with cryptocurrencies. Work has been crazy for her since she is juggling surgical with her cardio research. As they get down to business, Leni says she wants Hannah to help her get a divorce from Felix.

She needs to know that she can trust Hannah who says always. After the intro, Hannah walks along the street while Ruth (Deborah Findlay) records audio about divorce and knowing when it is over. Ruth explains this is Noble Hale and Defoe’s LoveCast which is a podcast that talks to real couples about real marriages each week. She says she is coming in live from London, but James (Rudi Dharmalingam) admits she isn’t actually live. Hannah makes it to the restaurant to join Nathan. She asks whether he is touching up his roots before Nathan jokes he’ll deny that in court. He confirms he used FaceTime to talk to the kids. He says he’ll pick up Liv (Elizabeth Roberts) tomorrow, act casual, and say nothing.

She won’t realize the entire Defoe clan will be waiting to welcome her back. After they laugh together, Nathan asks whether Hannah signed the divorce agreement yet. Hannah says Mrs. Stern will reside in the house and Mr. Stern will stay elsewhere until the last child goes to college. She says they’re technically really doing this while he says they’re technically almost there. Nathan describes it as a good divorce. Hannah asks for transparency for relationships status for the first two years because there are only so many swipes to the right a girl can ignore. They agree they should talk about that. Hannah was hoping that was why he wanted to chat. Nathan does want to talk about that, but they’re interrupted when their friends arrive.

Nina (Annabel Scholey) goes to this week’s fellowship meeting with Tyler (Damien Molony). After the meeting, they go back to the room where they have sex. Meanwhile, Ruth and Ronnie (Ian McElhinney) listen as James and Rose (Fiona Button) talk about the time they went camping in the Lake District. James says they climbed over this stile when Rose was suddenly gone. She went halfway down the ravine that she calls a ditch. Her pants ripped all the way through. At that moment, James knew she was the one. Ruth finds that interesting. She says her clients when they knew it was over. They often speak about it in similar terms. The moment of germination has unique parallels with termination.

Mike (Damian Lynch) asks Hannah and Nathan how they did it since they’re so great, but they admit they haven’t done it yet. Nathan says they looked at each other and realized they had spent half of a good life together. A few months of heartache were worth it to be able to look at and like one another before finally signing on the dotted line. Hannah asks if he has signed. Nathan says return of post and should be on Zander’s death in the morning. Kate (Lara Pulver) enters as she is quickly introduced to Mike, Gemma, Connor, and Hannah. Kate says Nathan has told her so much about Hannah.

Although Hannah is called his ex, they wouldn’t know it. Hannah is told Kate is the most amazing child psychologist, she joined the school board, and she writes. Her new book is coming out soon. Nina returns home to see if everything is okay. She asks whether they want to take her baby next week as well, but Rose doesn’t want her encouraging James. She claims they do it better than her. Rose promises she is doing great though. As for Hannah, she is at the grand reunion. Ruth has found the family’s christening robe before Nina asks James and Rose if they want to be godparents. Although they say yes, James is more excited about it than Rose. In private, Rose claims they’re pity parents. Felix returns home Leni and offers to cook. He says he was talking to Tommy who told him he hates that school.

She tells him he is the kindest man she has ever known. He thinks she is on call tonight, but she says she is staying at the flat because it will be easier for work. The boys will stay here. He says he doesn’t understand. Leonora admits she is leaving him. Nathan tells jokes while Hannah says she needs several margaritas. She tells Kate she didn’t know she had children at the school, but Kate confesses she doesn’t yet. She doesn’t think the intensity of her job would be conducive to being a parent. Kate isn’t sure she could’ve done her work with kids. Hannah says none of them would’ve done it if that was the case. Kate explains she wants to be there when she is a mother.

Hannah asks if she thinks that would prevent a divorce. Kate says no although a present mother may be able to mitigate the damaging effects of a marital break-up. Hannah asks whether a parent who has to work and won’t be there is going to screw up the kids in the midst of a break-up. Mike warns them they’re entering dangerous terrain. They say Hannah is on the front line of divorce in every aspect. Hannah argues it sounds retrograde and anti-feminist. She doesn’t think the end of marriage has to be carnage either. Kate agrees as she begins talking about her new book in which she discusses ways to avoid marital warfare. She reveals her new book is titled “Divorce And Its Legacy – Does It Have To Mean War”.

Hannah believes Kate has already seen divorce as a state of conflict and aligning the language of battle. Kate says that is sometimes perpetrated by family lawyers like Hannah who thrive on such conflict. Hannah tells her she doesn’t know family law and the principle is to find a good divorce. Kate thinks she believes that, but says every parent tries to do as well as they can. She claims it doesn’t serve the legal system to make it easy. She goes on to say it can leave scars on little people. When Hannah questions that, Kate suggests they should agree to differ. Hannah goes to the bathroom to get away from it, but her friend enters talking about how great Kate is. When the night ends, Kate apologizes to Hannah and admits she wanted them to get along.

She often cites one of her cases, Black and Newton, as an example of a family lawyer’s perseverance to reunite an estranged mother with her child. She didn’t know Nathan hadn’t told her she was coming. Hannah wants to make sure she knows they’re still married. When Nathan comes out, he tells Hannah he tried to tell her although she doesn’t think he tried hard enough. Hannah goes home where she takes off her rings and puts them on the counter. She goes outside and kicks a piece of wood while wailing. Ruth comes out saying she thought someone had broken in. Back inside, Ruth asks her about it and Nathan. Hannah says Nathan wasn’t supposed to fall for someone else.

Hannah says she is sure as she begins breaking down and her mother comforts her. Once Hannah says she is a contender, Ruth asks why they can’t just stick with meaningless sex. Ruth reveals that Christie (Barry Atsma) called her last week to pick her brains about a client of his. He said New York was going well and asks about Hannah. Ruth told him she was doing fine. Hannah says she is although her soon-to-be ex-husband is screwing one of the most sanctimonious women she has ever met. Vinnie (Toby Oliver) walks in and walks out before slamming the door. Hannah tells him his dad loves him. Later that night, Rose tells James that Hannah hasn’t texted yet so she wonders if that is a good sign.

She believes James knows something or doesn’t believe they can get back together, but he asks her to leave it. Rose mentions how excited he was to be godparents to Nina’s baby. He denies it although he describes it as pretty cool. Rose calls it humiliating because it is like a booby prize. She claims it is like having to prove you can look after someone else’s kid and maybe you can adopt after that. James wonders if she is delirious or seriously believes the crap coming out of her mouth. He says it is humbling and astonishing to be charged with providing love and godly advice. Plus, they’ll get to do it their way before the kids that they’re going to adopt arrive to keep them busy.

He believes they can have between two and four kids, but they’ll need Nathan to check the adoption papers. They joke around before Rose texts Hannah to see how it went. After Hannah texts her saying he has met someone else, she researches Kate Pencastle online. Rose immediately texts Nina to tell her about it. Hannah tells Rose she is a kids shrink and annoyingly hot. Then, she looks up Christie’s name before calling him and listening to his voicemail message. In the morning, Hannah is happy to see Liv back. Liv introduces Hannah to her friend named Gael who is from Argentina. They reveal there was an earlier flight so they hopped on it. Gael apologizes for his bad English.

Hannah asks if they can rewind, but Liv reveals they’re getting married. She isn’t thrilled about that. Rose asks James why he didn’t tell her he knew Nathan had met someone. He doesn’t say as he is busy making sure the adoption papers are signed and ready to send. Rose calls Nina to tell her mother about Kate. Nina reminds her it has been ten months although she insists she isn’t sticking up for Nathan. She runs into Tyler seconds later. Nathan meets up with Hannah to ask how Liv’s engagement to Gael happened. Hannah believes it happened the same way they met. She says he was tall, dark, and possibly handsome. Nathan wonders if she has forgotten she is going to university in Durham in just three months.

Hannah says that is why they’re trying to make sure Gael can stay. Although Nathan says he brainwashed her, Hannah believes Liv brainwashed him hence why he is moving his life here. He possibly has a career in electronics leading Nathan to refer to him as a geek. He says at least James will have some company. Hannah realizes it is utterly crazy because kids don’t get married anymore. The one consolation with this whole sorry mess is that they’re best positioned to do both prenup and divorce for Liv when she comes through this. Nathan argues she isn’t going to do anything ever though. She notices he is wearing the same shirt from yesterday.

Hannah reminds him that their agreement included two years of full transparency. When she says they’re still married, he says she was when she did what she did. She tells him he isn’t going to do that. He says he is telling it like it is. She asks if it is serious, but Nathan won’t say. Hannah calls him a coward and leaves. Hannah goes inside to recollect herself. Nine checks on her seconds later and tells her that the First Countess of Brode is on her way up. Hannah was going to be the buffer because it is always bad when they meet. They watch them from a distance as Hannah explains the prenup was supposed to be signed, but he died two weeks before the wedding.

The first countess is making a claim on the estate now and she prefers representing herself. Nina asks what the second countess has in the box before she agrees to sit in on the meeting. The first countess reminds the second that she wanted some of his things. Hannah says it is understandable for her client to be upset. The countess says she was a countess while the other one was a child bride. She changes her mind about the word bride since she never got to walk down the aisle as the other countess calls herself Andrew’s fiancée. Hannah reminds Caroline that they were kind enough to let her stay in the cottage. In exchange, she promised to return his books, paintings, and clothes.

The second countess doesn’t believe the sex toys in the box belonged to Andrew, but Caroline says they did and he made some of them personally. Once they get back to the case, Caroline suggests she could have her removed from the property. She also says Andrew liked to visit although his fiancée, India, denies that. Hannah tells Caroline that she was supposed to vacate the property in the event of Andrew’s death. It was in the will. Caroline says the will was created before she knew about his affair with Miss Rossiter and before he started visiting her. There have been certain adjustments so she recommends they check his recent will. When India gets mad, Caroline tells her she should’ve had that spirit in the bedroom.

After the meeting, Hannah asks Nina to go back through the first settlement and speak to probate. Hannah wants to see the latest will too. Felix visits Zander to talk about Leondra wanting a divorce. Although she is Zander’s sister, it is a mystery to him as well. He doesn’t think she would’ve taken that decision lightly and promises this is the first he heard about it. Zander recommends getting the best lawyer after saying there will be a reason. Nathan goes over the adoption paperwork for James and Rose. He notices Rose is being a bit cold and quickly learns that she knows because Hannah told her. James is wearing a fleece with a sticker that says Brain on a Bike. He gives Nathan the sticker and says he does IT stuff. James steps away.

Rose tries to find out more about Nathan’s relationship with the kid shrink, but he doesn’t want to talk about that. She claims he still loves Hannah and will be making a horrible mistake. James believes Rose will hate him more once he tells Hannah, but he recommends telling her tonight anyway because she suspects he knows something. James worries Rose will get it out of him and then they’ll all know. Zander wants to know if Hannah got a visit from Leni yesterday. Hannah doesn’t want to talk about it so Zander explains Felix is distraught. It is crazy because it is the best marriage he knows. He asks what he should tell him and what Felix should tell his kids.

Hannah suggests saying people have reasons that we don’t always know or see, but she wants out of the marriage. He confirms he got Nathan’s copies of the divorce agreement and offers to give her a few days. Hannah quickly signs them, hands them over, and tells Zander to tell talk to Leni. Rose gets mad at James for stalking other people’s babies, but he claims he just being nice. Rose comes clean that she doesn’t think she can adopt someone else’s kid. James tells her that they have everything and can do this if she just has a bit of courage. He can’t drag her along on a dream she doesn’t want. She needs to grab it or she’ll miss life. James says he doesn’t want to miss life before riding away on his bicycle.

Hannah calls Leonora to say she might want to call her brother and they got the initial documentation for the petition. She offers to get it sent over to her to get it signed tonight. Hannah believes Felix does a reason and the truth. It is better for him to know than to be blindly sifting through the past and hoping for things to be different. Nina catches up with Tyler who reveals he was sparring with Zander because he was angry he was late for dinner last night. She says he should’ve called although he was busy with her. They can’t do it again tonight since Nina is going to be welcoming Liv back.

They talk about Nina never being engaged although she might’ve drunkenly. She claims alcohol is always a part of her relationships, but Tyler says not this one. Zander catches up with his sister to find out what is going on, but she doesn’t want to say. He tells her she sounds like dad after she claims it is the best and only thing to do. She quickly leaves. Nina shows Hannah the new will with an added provision for all assets to be reverted back to Caroline. It was signed two months ago. India will get some type of provision although the house is a crumbling pile. Hannah says this is about a woman scorned and she’ll call India. She asks Nina to get that couriered back to the dowager.

There is no need because Caroline is with Ruth doing the podcast. Caroline supposes she was able to show Andrew what he was missing with her. He’d arrive uptight, but after a few hours with her, he’d be fine to go back to the humdrum of life. Hannah listens as Caroline asks if they stray to remind themselves that they can while knowing real life is at home waiting. She understood the comfort of normal better than anyone, but Andrew didn’t until he left her. Caroline says a marriage is likely worth reviving if it still has a pulse. Her mistake was letting him go in the first place. Leni ignores a call from Felix while Tyler approaches Zander to make sure he is okay. Zander asks him to never leave or be honest about it if he does.

Hannah asks him about her agreements on his way out. She gets them from his office and rips them up. Kate calls Nathan to tell him to have fun tonight and that she wants to do this. She tells him she loves him, but Nathan doesn’t say it back. He goes inside and is promptly introduced to Gael. He tells Rose to keep the drinks coming. He says hello to the kids and holds Nina’s baby Cora. He sits down and calls James, but only gets his voicemail message about Brain on a Bike. Nathan admits he just can’t tell her. It is a baby and he barely survived his last three. He isn’t ready to be a father again. Nathan questions how you tell the person you love most in the world that you’ve screwed up.

Rose calls James too and leaves a message apologizing for what happened before. She admits she wants the kids after all. Hannah and the others arrive at home. Leni calls her to say her colleagues are trying to get ahold of Rose about James. Vinnie asks her what is wrong, but Hannah doesn’t say. She tells Rose it is James. A flashback shows James getting hit while riding his bike. Rose and the others rush to the hospital where he is being operated on. The doctor comes out and says he is sorry. Hannah and the others try to comfort Rose as she begins breaking down. Nathan gets the call from Hannah who confirms James is gone.

Nathan says it is okay because he is here and won’t be gone anywhere.

 

The Split Review

I’ve always enjoyed The Split although some episodes have been better than others. The opening episode of season three had some genuinely good moments, but it felt a bit slow at times. I worry that the series might be trying to tackle too much during this season. There is the stuff with the Countess, Tyler and Nina, Liv and Gael, Rose’s loss, Ruth’s podcast, Leonora’s divorce, and Hannah’s desire to get back with Nathan.

The episode gained steam near the end as Hannah decided to give it another chance with Nathan and James was killed while riding his bike. The latter was deeply emotional and well done despite being predictable. Since this is the last season, we might as well sit back, enjoy, and not complain too much. The episode scores a 7 out of 10. Recaps of The Split can be found on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support Reel Mockery by following this link.