3. Paul's Subterranean Meeting With Holloway
The subplot revolving around Paul Woodrugh's (Taylor Kitsch) repressed homosexuality might have felt a little undercooked, but at least it injected a hint of subversion to the otherwise testosterone-fuelled conception of masculinity exhibited throughout the show. Episode 7 concludes with Paul facing up to his demons - or at least, his blackmailers - in a subterranean network of tunnels and corridors beneath the city of Vinci. Here, he meets up with corrupt cop Holloway and a group of Black Mountain mercenaries, who demand that he hands over the incriminating documents taken from the sex party. Turning the tables on his aggressors, Paul's evident military skills come to the fore as he outflanks them and escapes to the city's surface. True to form for a penultimate episode, a huge cliffhanger is almost a prerequisite, and as Paul steps out towards the streets he takes a bullet in the back from Lieutenant Burris. Crawling desperately towards his gun Burris steps over him and shoots again, killing him instantly.