Spoiler alert: this blog is for people watching series two of Indian Summers. Don’t read on until you’ve seen episode four.
It’s the Ladies’ Fashion Evening! A gorgeous feast of frocks, frills and flounces! Huzzah. Except, this being Indian Summers, the fashion show is served with a side order of misery and immolation.
A strange episode full of incidents that didn’t quite fit together, but culminating in two very interesting things indeed. We could say it’s rather convenient that Ralphie set aside all common sense by getting jiggy on the balcony with Sirene/Phyllis. And we could say it’s equally convenient that Adam happened to walk in on Lord Hawthorne and Leena at the right/wrong moment … Never mind these remarkable coincidences. It does leave Ralph in an extremely tight spot. And we could really do with a central figure to focus on.
At least the opening scenes were classic. They do like a good bit of cinematography in the first three minutes, don’t they? More excellent colourful street schemes interspersed – unfortunately – with Fifty Shades of Aafrin. There was even some Aafrin buttock action. Were we meant to think that he could not perform here because he was consumed with grief for Kaira? The trouble is, Aafrin and Alice’s love is a bit empty even when he can perform. That’s OK though, because they are both desperate for escape and that makes enough sense on its own. But whether it’s enough to hold our interest in their relationship is another matter. Still, it was nice that he gave her the dress.
For a moment I thrilled at the thought of Rachel Griffiths spicing things up, kissing the boring American woman on the lips and swigging champagne out of the bottle. But by the end of this episode we had seen too much of her character: she’s just as messed up and dysfunctional as the rest of them. Did the reveal have to come on the second time of meeting her? Where’s the mystery? Where’s the suspense? Of course, there’s always the option that she’s playing a double or triple bluff – that the Maharajah sent her on this mission, or that she sent herself on this mission … But I get the feeling she’s out of control. And we could do with someone in the mix who knows what the hell they’re doing.
Not, please, the Baby-Faced Scot. Here he was helping some ladies make a photofit of Aafrin for Mr Khan’s special edition of Crimewatch. Heaven help us. The confrontation between Sooni and Aafrin was almost very good, but ultimately confusing. Surely Sooni must have had some suspicion about her brother’s double life? And why is she offended? He is clearly not a terrorist … Or does she think he is? I like the idea that this business is turning Sooni as devious as Aafrin and the Baby-Faced Scot is not easily fooled. “Whose side is he on?” “His own side as he always was. He claims he is fighting the British ... but in a way that is senseless.” You’re telling me. Also: if you were going to burn the evidence, why do it in your own garden?
Political shenanigans
So it’s all down to the Maharajah … “If he won’t come to us, we shall have to go to him” Would Ralph lose his temper quite so publicly? And does it really all have to come down to the Maharajah, someone we only just found out about? What crazy game is Phyllis/Sirene playing, and is it realistic that Ralph would go along with it immediately? I know Ralph likes to put it about a bit, but he’s not totally indiscriminate. One minute he was roughing up his wife in front of an entire party of people awaiting a fashion show, the next he was humping the mistress of the man he most needs to impress. No wonder the British empire went to the dogs. But now things have a chance of getting interesting. Ralphie has irritated a) the Maharajah, b) the Maharajah’s mistress (probably), and c) Lord Hawthorne – or at least he will have done if and when Lord Hawthorne finds out about Adam. And that’s before Ralph has tried to protect his illegitimate son from being arrested for setting Lord Hawthorne alight ... Hell’s bells.
Evil Britisher of the week
Obviously Bonkers Charlie is Evil Britisher of the Century. That’s a given. But Lord Hawthorne gave us a good run for our money this week. He seemed such a charming fellow, and how nice of him to sort Leena such a lovely job back in Blighty. I was wondering when he was going to pounce. Beautifully acted by James Fleet who, like everyone in this programme, doesn’t have enough to do. But when he does, he does it with class. And a very welty face. Ouch.
Julie Walters fan club
“Bloody fashion parade! Very definition of a desperate measure … give me strength.” Why is Cynthia so angry? Never mind for now! It’s the queen of the hills in a turban with a peacock’s feather fan behind her! As always, Queen Julie was sumptuous in her moment of glory. But there’s a tilt going on here that’s hard to read. She seemed full of fury towards Sirene/Phyllis. But when they actually got face to face, it didn’t build into anything. “You’re quite the bitch, aren’t you?” “I’m not going around pretending to be someone else.” “I think underneath it all, you’re just a bitter, lonely little woman.” Who cares when one has such a fabulous turban?
