Lockwood & Co episodes 7 and 8 reviewed

 

There’s an art of finishing a series that isn’t always easy. Lockwood & Co nails it I’m pleased to say bringing together its multiple strands to create a satisfying finale

 

Spoilers past this point…

 

As the story reaches a climax in episode seven, it smartly becomes packed with jeopardy as Lockwood and Lucy infiltrate the auction for the mirror at which, slightly conveniently, all the bidders are dressed as monks with their faces covered. I’ve been to events like that! Anyway the plan is both as clever and desperate as you’d expect with plenty of moments where you really wonder how they will get out of it. There’s fencing, running, punching and finally, leaping into the Thames. The pace is terrific, just fast enough to keep the tension but not so fast that you can’t work out what’s going on. Luke Treadaway turns up as a pretentious fencer who is yet another formidable villain; he’s great as he takes the role on with serious faced intensity.

Yet what really impresses how our heroes are not undamaged by it. We’re so used to seeing this sort of scenario where the main character emerges looking just a little worn out and with the odd suitably placed scar or bruise. It’s made clear that each encounter hurts a lot and shakes the two as they struggle to deal with such strength and numbers. Lockwood in particular seems to go into shock at one stage and by the time the two of them have emerged from their watery escape route, Lucy is furious that he made her risk her life so often. The kiss on the stony beach we’re maybe expecting is a long way away.

There’s also a slow burn storyline playing out on their rescue boat. George, always the third wheel now it seems, is left behind to help Flo and she recognises he has been mesmerised by the bone glass – now all those scribbled circles make sense- and is in danger of losing himself to the object. This parallels the character always getting left behind and also his passion to find out more. So at the end he runs off with the mirror rather than hand it in as planned.

With much of the action based in rather more solid weaponry and fighting, the ghostly aspect is used more to help Lockwood and Lucy escape the thugs chasing them though I suspect they’re leaving the big spectral climax till the last episode. This penultimate one is a terrific mix of action, ideas and emotions and really demonstrates the great work that has gone into the series.

 

I knew Pamela couldn’t be trusted! In an episode with quite a few villains she turns out to be the most dangerous of all luring poor mesmerised George into the catacombs to force him to look at the bone glass mirror. It’s a climax that works really well as physical fencing duels above ground are mixed with ghoulish goings on underground. Bless him it takes George a while to realise what is happening when she starts blowing out candles and even when she seems to have packed a knife and handcuffs. It’s always the quiet ones!

Louise Brealey who plays Pamela pitches it just right to be convincing, still the same person she initially seemed with a thirst for knowledge, its just that its made her do some very bad things. Catacombs are wonderful places for stories to finish in and this mix of elements gels so well especially the massive ghost of Bickerstaff that lurches into view, a fearsome creation of smoke and fire. There’s some lovely moments too such as Lucy overhearing how George feels and also the sense of freedom when the ghosts are released from the mirror. Only one slight- but probably necessary niggle- how come Pamela didn’t notice that great big object in Lucy’s bag? Perhaps she just thought it was sandwiches.

Pleasingly everyone has their turn at heroics and being noble which brings the team back together again in a satisfying manner. The way the episode is structured and directed really makes you feel they have gone through the mill even if this is only a short time after all that jumping in the Thames! There’s also enough of a coda to hint at where a second season might go, including what the enigmatic Golden Blade is up to. I’m not sure that’s what he calls himself though.

With an excellent cast and some great jump scares, hard fight scenes and some unusual spooksome scenarios, Lockwood & Co is a breath of fresh air. It has a perfect sense of its own time and place while enough momentum to keep you interested. No two episodes follow the same format and there are a lot of surprises along the way. While there are some high stakes developments the series never becomes too overly serious with some lighter dialogue at times and never loses sight of the character interaction even with supporting roles. In the end though everything works because of the great trio of main characters who bring us into this strange world.