Class – Detained – Review
And just like that we reach possibly the best episode of this sadly short-lived series. Detained is a fantastically well acted, self contained episode that has such a massive impact on the entire group. When I say self contained, I mean it literally.
Synopsis
The students find themselves in detention. However, things get complicated when an extraterrestrial object enters the school through the rift and sends them to an unknown dimension.
The episode kicks off with Charlie (Greg Austin) being put into detention by Quill (Katherine Kelly) who needs to get rid of the kids so she can go get her free will back. Tanya (Vivian Oparah), Ram (Fady Elsayed), April (Sophie Hopkins) and Matteusz (Jordan Renzo) are also there. It becomes very apparent, very quickly, that Charlie suffers from claustrophobia but when April opens the door to let him get air… well, suddenly claustrophobia is the least of anyone’s worries. A fragment of a meteor smashes through a rift, blows up half the classroom and knocks it out of space and time. The gang literally find themselves in a classroom floating in nothing.
After a little bit of experimentation, and some serious bravery from Tanya, we find out that the glowing rock was part of a prison. It has an alien murderer’s consciousness bound to it. Oh and it behaves like a cross between a horcrux and the One Ring, making everyone pissy with each other.
Confesssssss
Tanya figures out that they can communicate with the consciousness in the rock. It’s actually seriously impressive. While Charlie is freaking out and Ram and April are being shitty with each other, Tanya’s cool head goes to work.
Whoever picks up the rock can ask questions of the prisoner, but only if they make a confession first. And this is where this episode truly comes into its own. Each of the gang takes a turn with the rock and their confessions are so powerful. You can watch each of them break, not to mention the effects their truths have on those closest to them. Both fledgling relationships are irrevocably changed by the confessions extracted by the rock.
The final confession from Charlie though comes without the help of the rock and is the most shattering of all. Greg Austin absolutely knocks it out of the park. He goes from so vulnerable during his panic attack to finding strength in his confession. When he finally picks up the stone he becomes this terrifying alien King. It always reminds me of the scene where Frodo offers Galadriel the ring in The Lord of the Rings.
Review
I love almost everything about Detained. Firstly the music – those 80s synth vibes are absolutely perfect, composer Blair Mowat nailed it with this one. Then there’s the lighting – that Noir-esque moment with the bars of light and shadow on everyone’s faces as they all look at the rock, absolutely spot on. There’s phenomenal use of slow-motion in this episode at a number of points. It’s actually almost like the Bullet Time effect from The Matrix. First when the rock crashes into the classroom, again when Ram knocks the rock out of Tanya’s hands. My favourite though is when April collapses from the effects of the rock. Charlie’s slide in to catch her as she falls is (as I said during the live tweet) part baseball fielder and part Disney prince, but all awesome.
Honestly this episode is so well acted from all five of the cast, but Greg does steal it right at the end. I love Matteusz and Tanya’s turns with the rock, we get these little flashes of their backstory – Matteusz coming out to his grandmother and Tanya’s youthful theft – that flesh them out even more. It also has some cracking comedy moments, mostly courtesy of Ram.
And of course that cliffhanger, when Quill returns able to exercise her own free will, tossing the rather squishy dead Arn to Charlie. Such a perfect set up for the next episode.
What do you think of Detained? How does it rank for you alongside the rest of the season?
Don’t forget the Class rewatch continues with episode 7, “The Metaphysical Engine, or What Quill Did”, on Sunday May 10th at 8pm UK. Join us as we livetweet and make sure to use the hashtag #ClassDW.
