The plot thickens ... and at a nice pace too. Apparently, I've just read, that Lightfields is only a five-part series which is annoying (see here) however, it gives me the opportunity to write a proper, in-depth, analysis of every episode. If you haven't yet read my review for the first episode, here it is: http://whatculture.com/tv/itvs-lightfields-review-episode-1.php Anway, for the second episode: Firstly, in the 1940s world, not too much is happening except the aftermath of Lucy's tragic death. Her funeral takes up much of the first quarter of the episode. It's all pretty slow moving, except the fact that Eve and the American heart-throb, Dwight, are throwing each other a lot of meaningful glares which is .... erm, exciting. However, this is counterbalanced by the 1970s time strand which seems to be moving at lightspeed. So, overall, the episode chugs along nicely, without feeling too bloated or too thin. In 1975, Vivien's husband, and Clare's father, shows up, pretty much defeating the purpose of her getting away, and basically confirms that Vivien is certifiably insane. Of course this gives him, and Clare, the perfect excuse to ignore her ghostly encounters with Ghost Lucy. Lucy seems to take note of this and steps up her
Poltergeist impersonations by making a bonfire out of the stove, and then stopping it just in time for Clare, and her dad, to come running downstairs and make dear Viv look like a right nutter. Meanwhile, Eve has moved into the Felwoods house, into Lucy's room, and seems to have switched from jealous, bitchy frenemy to loya, vengeful best friend hell-bent on finding the real cause of Lucy's death. She starts by rooting around in the barn wreckage and, helpfully, finds Dwight's lighter. She tries to get him to admit he met Lucy at the barn (which he does) but she is unable to pin him as her murderer. Elsewhere, in the present day, Pip's great-grandson, Luke, has begun seeing Lucy at random points of the day and decides she's The Tooth Fairy. Halfway through the episode, Old Pip and Luke are in the car alone when Lucy leads little Luke to her gravestone as Old Pip falls asleep. It's not really made clear why she is bothering Pip's great-grandson. I mean, in Marchlands it was plausible that the house ghost would be annoying random people because it was a little girl. But teenage ghost Lucy is obviously capable of rational thought, unless the writers are indeed going down the route of the wronged, demonised, tortured soul that inflicts arbitrary acts of wickedness. Unfortunately, for Barry and Lorna, however, Luke's temporary disappearance only gives Luke's deadbeat dad, Paul, a case for him gaining parental responsibility. Meanwhile, Old Pip seems incapable of finishing a coherent sentence (which is getting tiresome) and begins having flashback dreams of his sister, Lucy.
However, Vivien and Clare seem to be the focus of Lucy's attention and she appears determined to get Vivien to remember what happened 'that summer'. Conveniently odd-jobs man, Tom, is hanging around and reminds Viv that he was one of Lucy's dull suitors, and that she used to play with Young Pip as a little girl. There is then an important scene in the barn (prior to Lucy's death) where Young Pip and Young Viv are talking about burning something (presumably a bug) with a magnifying glass. Another interesting, and possible telling, indication to the cause of the fire. It's becoming clearer that Viv has blocked out her memories of 'that summer' as some sort of traumatic reaction, and it has obviously affected her mental health ever since. There is no great climax this week, just Lucy's telling Viv (through a ethereal whisper) that 'she knows'. So, either she started the fire, or knows who did. Overall a strong episode with good acting and more interesting layers being peeled off as we delve deeper into the mystery of Lucy's death / murder. Looking forward to reviewing Episode Three, next week.