Founder rate ends 9th September.

We’re rebuilding theartsdesk to secure the future of real arts journalism. Be part of it by subscribing: if you do it now, the founders’ rate of just £40 yearly is yours FOR LIFE!

SUBSCRIBE NOW 

Keeping Faith, Episode 4 Series 2, BBC One review - murders aplenty

Husband Evan leaves prison, just as Faith risks going in

share this article

Faith's trademark yellow mac risks turning red with blood

Life on the Welsh coast isn’t getting any easier: defendant Madlen was found guilty of murder, husband Evan was coming home from prison, and Faith had just given Steve Baldini a rather uncomfortable snog on the beach. She’s probably pining for that first series now, at least the hubby was out of the picture.

In the latest episode of BBC's watercooler hit, Faith’s become entangled in a murder enquiry of her own. After running errands for local baddie Gael Reardon, one of her contacts has turned up on a morgue slab. The victim had called Faith just before his death, so it won’t be long until the wonderfully-named DI Breeze connects the dots.

Things aren't getting any easier for the rest of Camarthen's residents, either. Steve's daughter is in hospital after a mysterious hit and run, which at least preoccupies him while Evan makes his return to the family home. Faith won't let him back in the marriage bed yet, but she's at least more welcoming than daughter Alys, who's gone goth since daddy went away.Keeping FaithUnlike last series, there’s no straightforward mystery this time around. In fact, the biggest headache is trying to figure what everyone’s playing at. Evan wants Faith kept safe, but is secretly texting Gael, while aligning with DI Breeze, who’s following Faith while she works for Gael. This isn’t helped by Gael’s accent, which traverses the Irish Sea and crosses the Atlantic and back within the same sentence.

Instead, it’s the emotional drama that anchors the show. Eve Myles risks a hernia with her heavy-lifting performance, from rolling around on the office floor to comforting Dyfan at his father’s graveside. However, the most touching moment was the reunion of Evan and Alys, a subtly-played portrait on how imprisonment affects family life. Here’s hoping for more heart and less crime clichés as the finale comes into view.

@OwenRichards91

Add comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
Name that you would like to appear as the author of the comment
The biggest headache is trying to figure what everyone’s playing at

rating

3

explore topics

share this article

Help secure the future of arts journalism

In this era of algorithmic recommendation, opaquely sponsored content and AI slop, theartsdesk’s mission to preserve real journalistic and critical values has never been more important.

If you like what you see here, please join us 
in this mission.

Subscribing to the site will help us in our coming 
redesign and expansion.


If you do this before the 9th September this will be at our guaranteed founder’s rate: 
your subs will never increase again.

Subscribe now for £5 per month. 
or yearly for just £40.

Or if you simply want to support us with a one-off donation, you can do so here.

more tv

Brilliant cast powers gripping con-artist drama
You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time...
Harlan Coben thriller does what it says on the tin
Second series of CIA drama ratchets up the pressure
A cancer operation is just one of the trials ahead for Diddly Squat in a moving new season
The 'Bergerac' star discusses his detective skills, playing troubled men and taking on his first theatre role after a nine-year hiatus
Friendships tested to destruction in Catherine Shepherd's satirical drama
Steve Coogan and Tom Burke lead a formidable cast in Neil Forsyth's drama
Gripping three-part saga is smarter than the average pop-doc
The latest helping of the Jilly Cooper adaptation is much like the first: sparky, filthy fun
The Tony Award-winning star talks female power, sexism and becoming more Scottish with age