It’s the third episode, and we’re no longer involved only in Matilda’s story; Requiem has spread its roots through the whole of the community of the small Welsh town where Carys Morgan disappeared decades ago. There’s plenty to enjoy, and loads of questions to be answered – but is it spreading itself too thin? Still, there was the sense that it was all building to some meaty revelations, and the second half delivered by bringing us back to Matilda (a divisive, driven performance by Lydia Wilson) as an amateur detective who doesn’t know when to stop. Determined to get some answers, she pushed and pushed at three key women who all knew more than they were telling, and was instrumental in causing tragedy for two of them. Aunt Meredith’s (Jane Thorne) death at the very point of deciding to give up the information to Matilda couldn’t be much more suspicious, and the gathering of the main suspects in the drawing room to break the news felt oddly like an Agatha Christie adaptation, although we’re still far away from revealing the culprit. But it was Rose Morgan’s journey that was the most effective in this episode, and it was heartbreaking. Rose (Claire Rushbrook) tried hard to extricate herself from the situation as Matilda demanded to be recognised as her daughter, but in the end it was the actions of her husband that pushed her over the edge. In a series that likes to dial up the sound effects and spooky happenings to melodramatic levels, Rushbrook’s standout performance really grounded this storyline, and made it real to me. I felt for the character, and I’m rooting for her to survive and find the closure she deserves. The big old house in the middle of nowhere continues to creak away as the desolate wind blows (yes, the use of sounds and slow-moving camera zooms continues to mark Requiem as an unashamed horror homage) and there seems to be no end to the amount of rooms that can be found inside. It’s a brilliant trick, never quite letting us get used to the layout of the house – could we get lost inside, and never found? Will there be yet more rooms to uncover in future episodes? There’s a continuing suggestion of the answer to many secrets being contained within the walls. If all disparate trails do end up leading back to the house in a satisfying fashion, I’ll be seriously impressed by the skills of writers Kris Mrksa and Blake Ayshford. This is turning into a very complex set of events, juggling the past and present along with deep characterisation, an investigation into a mystery, and supernatural happenings, while managing to maintain a good amount of suspense. At this, the half way point, I’m hooked to know what happens next. Will Matilda buckle under the huge amount of guilt she must now be feeling? Will we find out who killed Aunt Meredith? Are there devil-worshipping get-togethers taking place in the woods? Who slaughtered all the sheep? Why did Trudie’s dad wash his shirt right after the disappearance of Carys? Can Rose find peace? Read Aliya’s review of the previous episode here.
