The Halcyon Series 1 Episode 7 Review

                                            
Adil (Akshay Kumar) steals more documents from Toby (Edward Bluemel) after another night of passion between the two and hands them to D'Abberville (Charles Edwards). At which time Adil tells him he won't be doing this anymore, but of course D'Abberville is conniving and convinces him to carry on with it.  D'Abberville also meets with his contact to whom he's selling the secrets and he asks for more information, as well as some important documents.  Later Mortimer (Danny Webb) from Special Branch arrives and wants to question Toby as the leak has been found out and is potentially threatening to their ships.  Other members in his Department are being investigated too but obviously he's going to be the main suspect.  His room is searched and Priscilla (Olivia Williams) is angry.  Toby is later taken in for questioning, which of course is more of an interrogation and he declares he loves his job and wouldn't do anything like that.

Freddie (Jamie Blackley) returns home, timely for two reasons: firstly to help Toby and secondly to get Emma (Hermione Corfield) back as he was hasty in his decision.  Freddie wants to get Toby out but Garland (Steven Mackintosh) says his contact might be able to help.  Of course it would mean that his name won't be cleared and he won't be free from suspicion.  Joe (Matt Ryan) overhears them talking but is kept out of the loop.  Later Joe says he might be able to help and asks if there's anything he can do in the meantime, he heard the news and isn't writing a story on it.  But there's not much he can do.  Garland tells Freddie that Lord Ambrose (Geoffrey McGivern) is head of MI6 and also knew their father, but then there was bad blood between them cos of his wife, but he might be a good bet to contact.  Freddie meets with him all in a civilized manner and Ambrose is impressed with that, since his father was all gung ho, but Freddie is refined, if a little feminine, in his approach.  Especially since his father, previous Lord Hamilton had Nazi sympathies, trying to appease Hitler.  Thus betrayal and treason may run int he Hamilton family, beginning with Toby.  He can have Toby released but the investigation will continue.  Freddie asking why his brother would do such a thing against him especially since Freddie is a commended officer and has his wings.

Toby meanwhile gets a clip round his ear hole for shouting to Mortimer and he tells Toby to raise his voice again so he can get him good this time.  Freddie and Ambrose having spoken about the Great War and the changes it brought to the aristocracy.  How they're not respected at all now, which is what Mortimer says to Toby when he's released, that his position got him out.  Obviously he'll pursue this relentlessly.  When Toby is released he wants to see Adil for coffee, yeah coffee being the codeword!  He knows it was Adil and is angry, upset and kinda ashamed he trusted him.  Adil admits he was threatened and it was D'Abberville.  Toby goes to confront him.

Joe prepares a story for broadcast and asks Emma what she thinks of the US president, [what current: no comment but would have plenty to say - sorry] describing her as an English lady.  Then embellishes what she says.
Joe: "The first US president to be elected to a third term...your country’s at war...justice and due process don’t always win out."  being as topical as ever.
Joe invites her to a club and she accepts.  Apparently developing a love triangle here.  But I don't think there would've been much of a love triangle as she's still in love with Freddie and Joe seems to be just a distraction (and what beautiful distraction Joe is!) and cos she's more infatuated with him, not having met anyone like him before.  More like just leading him on in some ways cos when she sees Freddie she can't help but look at him in that way, as if they didn't really break up.  At the club Joe and Emma get closer and as said especially after the events of the previous episode (boy did I have pangs of deja vu when I watched this for the first time on ITV - the scene where they were in the warehouse with the DB during the air raid.)  She tells him how she's succumbed to his charm and she reminds her how she hated him when they met.  He had that effect on her.

Freddie thanks Garland for helping him and he wants his permission to speak with Emma again.  Garland agrees but doesn't want her hurt.  On their night back from the club. Emma is disappointed that she never took Joe for being a gentlemen and so they kiss, watched by Freddie.  (That's they all they do in here spy on each other!)  So when Freddie speaks with her he doesn't get a chance to tell her his feelings since Joe interrupts them and tells Emma he can help with the 50th anniversary party for the Halcyon, all she needs is her notebook and they may get a little snogging action in too (my sentiments).  Well Freddie was despondent, you left it too late man!  At least too late for this ep.

Peggy (Liz White) is still in mourning and feels Dora (Bella Padden) will be safer if she's evacuated along with the other children even if she's loathe to see her go.  As she feels Feldman (Mark Benton) is avoiding her.  As he confides in Garland he is, but only cos he misses Billy and doesn't know how to handle it and his grief in front of Peggy.  he later gives Peggy a poem he wrote and she and Garland share a laugh over how bloody awful it is.  Well he tried.

Betsy (Kara Tointon) is pursued by a man and she doesn't want to have drinks with him.  He later spies on her kissing Sonny (Sope Dirisu) and obviously he then threatens Sonny with losing his job and how they let 'them' into their country and he steal their women.  Calling him an ape and showing how racism seeps into the hotel.  He pushed him and Sonny overpowers him.  Later he complains to Garland and he says the matter will go way with an apology.  Of course Sonny won't apologize as he tells Betsy he's apologized too many times.  Garland however believes Sonny and knows how he can help him out.  He asks the man about the number of rats they have at the hotel, especially at the back.  But Sonny apologizes to him and shakes his hand.  The man asks for a bottle of champagne on the house, calling it the end of the matter.  Sonny tells Garland he apologized for him and not cos he meant it.  Referring to Betsy and how she's singing like her heart is breaking but it's all an act.  Well isn't it always when you're entertaining.

James Bond, er, Joe in his tux!!  Keep having to get that in everywhere I can!!  Actually was also thinking if they ever did a remake of Remington Steele, then Matt would be perfect in that role too!  You know, all suave, sophisticated sweet talker!!  He's got a certain Pierce vibe going, but not cos of the James Bond bit, they're both charming in their own ways!!

Heck critics once again you push the knife in Joe's back and twist it deeply as one critic described his date with Emma and Joe having "dubious charms" - really another ep where I have to strongly disagree.  What's so dubious about him, what you see is what you get with him and he didn't actively pursue her when she was with Freddie, though they did have their moments, they were all innocent and now Freddie's back, well it's every man for himself.  "All's fair in love and war..."  And jokingly let me add: "  "one more drink and then we’ll go...one or two more drinks."  Joe was winning her over with his use of Jim Beam!! ha

There you have it the penultimate ep of the show and things culminating in the epic series finale next week, cliff hanger 'n' all which is a shame cos really, it could've been given another series at least just to tie up loose ends and could've been a shorter episode run, or maybe just a film to finish it off.  But no, no one thinks of such things to end shows when they're not brought back for another series.  Especially as D'Abberville and Priscilla announce their engagement and you know the cad will be found out.