In The Flesh series 2 finale review 

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In The Flesh’s superb second series bows out on an eventful and emotional finale…

Read our spoiler-filled post-finale discussion with In The Flesh creator, Dominic Mitchell, here.

As flies to wanton boys are we to TV writers, they kill us for their sport.

Dominic Mitchell should have all his toys taken away for the cruel trick of starting joyful Amy’s heart beating just seconds before it was stabbed into a bloody mess. Move over Joss Whedon, there’s a new writer here to try on your ‘killing fan favourites and causing untold grief’ crown. The only way the

creator must be able to live with himself is if he knows that’s not really the end for Amy Dyer. She’s coming back isn’t she? We all saw that plush tiger move. We all heard those Halperin & Weston employees. There’s still time, isn’t there? Tell us there’s still time.

Amy’s death wouldn’t have been anything like as affecting had Emily Bevan not done such tremendous work throughout the second series, particularly in its final two episodes. Bevan showed us Amy’s vulnerability and fear through the character’s breezy, optimistic front. She let us savour every drop of pathos in the story of a woman who died of cancer thinking her body was giving up on her again, only to be rewarded with a literal new lease of life. It was hugely emotional and rewarding to watch.

We can’t stay mad at Mitchell of course, not after all he’s given us. In this finale alone there were surprises, capably handled genre scares, relationships that rang true, fear and joy and romance and the gentle wit that’s become standard of

The scene of Simon, Gary and Maxine, three enemies praying to the same God was a canny comment from the finale on belief structures. Belief had governed the behaviour of series\' extremists, Simon and Maxine, two characters who arrived as the antithesis of one another but ultimately shared a common mania. The difference between them at the end of the series is that Simon shook himself clear of his, and Maxine submitted utterly to hers.

I’ve been critical of the Maxine Martin character this series, as for weeks there seemed no sense of a human being underneath her supercilious looks and patronising rhetoric. All that changed in the finale. From Maxine’s scene at Daniel’s gravestone to her desperate, unhinged speech at the winter fête, Wunmi Mosaku made me care about the character, sympathise even, with her grief-driven madness.

After that eventful village fête, we were left with a budding romance between Simon and Kieren, a re-forged Walker family and no second Rising. Not that that’s going to stop Simon’s band of ex-followers, who’ve hitched their wagon firmly to the Undead Prophet’s teachings and are persisting in their mistaken belief that a second Rising can be brought about. Amy was the First Risen, and her murder didn’t trigger any such thing, but who ever let evidence stand in the way of what people decide to believe.

After all the character lessons learnt in series two - Simon choosing love over dogma, Kieren deciding not to run away, Philip having the courage to stand up for what’s right, Jem finally seeking the psychological help she needs - that scene in the Legion showed that personal growth will always be challenged by public attitudes. Kieren still lives in an intolerant, parochial town, even if he has finally made peace with who he is.

Or perhaps I should say ‘was’. Having spent six episodes watching Amy’s gradual return to life, the significance of that scene of Kieren getting the shakes in the bathroom was lost on nobody. He’s moving on to the next stage, whatever that means. Having the undead rehumanise was this series’ genius moment, one that opens up so many potential paths for future episodes, if and when they’re commissioned.

From the tantalising cold open at the motorway service station to the mysterious final scene at the graveyard, this was a belter of a finale.

’s audience were given things to cheer (Philip declaring Amy valid, his mum’s touching “You’ve done good son”, Steve\'s belief in his Rabid son), things to surprise them (the tense, well-directed graveyard scene, the world of Halperin and Weston), things to wail about (poor Amy’s death), and a satisfying amount to ponder. A round of applause to all involved, now let\'s have that series three order sharpish.

Read Louisa’s review of the previous episode, here.

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Submitted by Dennis Davies on Sun, 2014-06-08 22:08.

Fantastic episode and a fittingly downbeat ending to an emotional season. I\'m glad they didn\'t go with the "hand coming out of ground" ending that I was totally expecting as well. Anyone notice Kieran\'s shakes at the end too? Looks like a third season is definitely on the cards.

Submitted by Robert Hunt on Sun, 2014-06-08 22:21.

(*folds arms, awaits a third series, looks at BBC Three expectantly.*)

Brilliant brilliant brilliant....Need time to process all that went on but need a third series or else BBC!! Was willing Amy\'s hand through the grave thou... and wondered if that was Kieran having tremors. Wonderful script, acting and all..best thing on the telly box

Submitted by Neil Biggs on Sun, 2014-06-08 22:29.

That graveyard scene... Philip holding on to the tiger for as long as he could... Brilliant but painful. Hopefully Emily Bevan gets recognised for next years BAFTAs

But Keiran was the first risen, no? - he said he saw noone around himself when he rose and also thats why Simon was going to stab him.. and why he tried to take him out of town at the end?

I sort of cheated the system and streamed the finale from the States. This was by far a better finale than series one. I will be extremely disappointed if there is not a third series.

I was waiting for Kieren to see pigment in his eyes in the mirror after his hand shook.

Overall it was OK but I could have done without the Orange Men style Northern Irish march around town which was completely out of place in its Yorkshire setting. We just don\'t do this type of thing around these parts!

Am I the only one who was left uncertain - and I thought deliberately so - as to whether Simon pounced on Kieren intending to stab him or take the bullet? The clock struck 12, and Simon made his dash - I thought perhaps the bullet stopped him in his tracks and was misinterpreted as saving Kieren?? Am I off the mark here?

"The disciple was meant to kill the first risen"

She knew about the plan all along and clearly had insider information from The Undead Prophet.

Regarding the finale, I thought it was very predictable but quality regardless. I\'m not sure about the dead becoming living again, it seems a bit early for that storyline

Nope, Amy first. Witnessed by that awful woman with the fantastic undead mother-in-law.

Submitted by Spencer Barringer on Mon, 2014-06-09 02:06.

Would honestly rather see Kieran die than never see Amy on the show again.

I believe u might indeed be/have, as otherwise Simon who was running at Kieren from behind would have just stabbed K\' in the back (due to the urgency, bells already mid-ring & all) and not need to instead jump him from the front as he did in order to shield him from the gun shot (which he would\'ve clearly seen being pointed at him as he ran up - & probably exactly why he actually ran up in the first place.) ... It\'s one thing being conflicted about having to kill off your new loved one, BUT quite another seeing someone else threaten them, enough to shake one to their senses I imagine.)

Plus it\'s obvious the scene was played out purposely ambiguously just to ratchet up \'will-he-or-won\'t-he\' suspense for us, only to instead play out as it did (so perfectly understandable you read it that way). :) ... Anyway, that was my understanding of the scene, (but we might all be wrong of course.) :)

Nah, the extremist Prophet & his misguided followers just got it all wrong (as they wont to !) ;) Not only about who was the first risen but I imagine the true meaning behind said \'second rising\'. ... IMO Amy is the 2nd rising - or rather was in the process of becoming/going thru it just as she was stabbed. The \'2nd rising\' IS their re-humanising. ...

yes and if u think about it..amy became human at exactly the time the second rising was supposed to occur so i agree the second rising is becoming human not another zombie rising.....

But that\'s because she had seen the Undead Prophet\'s video that was meant for Simon (Gary stole it remember).

As far as hints go, it looks like a lot of signs were pointing to Dr Russo as being the Undead Prophet -

a) nobody said the Undead Prophet had to himself be undead

b) his refusal to assist the Halperin-Weston employees in finding Amy early on

c) his dawdling when Amy was brought in dying (as life saving efforts go - it wasn\'t the best)

d) the Halperin-Weston employees dropped it in there that Dr Russo used to work at the Norfolk Treatment Centre.

I really hated Kieren\'s funeral outfit. Awful.

And was I really the only one who DIDN\'T sympathize with or come to care about Maxine Martin just because of her sob story about her dead brother? The \'reveal\' (for those who couldn\'t see it coming a mile off) only added "hypocrite" to her list of character faults.

:) - (glad u agree) ... tho\' of course I may well be totally wrong, but that was my understanding of the \'second rising\' anyway. I imagine that\'s wot the Helperin&Weston people were expecting from their Neurotriptyline - & the whole thing just got twisted by the \'prophet\' (who I actually believe is probs one of the doctors we saw) ... BUT I imagine DM probs has all other sorts hiding up his sleeve still, so ... . :) (& anothr whole yr to wait for it at very least - aaaaargh !) :(

Submitted by Jason Clogg on Mon, 2014-06-09 06:54.

If a new series of In The Flesh isn\'t commissioned by the BBC then that\'s proof to me that there is no god! And the second rising is either the return to full life of the partially dead, or the second rebirth of Amy Dyer.

It was so fantastic and brilliant. I was scared for certain characters, even laughed a little, teared up and felt shocked in the same episode.

Submitted by Bubba Harley on Mon, 2014-06-09 08:24.

Series 2 was awesome very emotional and entertaining please make a season 3 as there is a lot more to be discovered in this brilliant series bring back Amy :0)

Submitted by Bubba Harley on Mon, 2014-06-09 08:33.

I don\'t think Simon can be trusted I agree with what Linda said I think he was going to stab Kieran not save him I think there is a darker sinister side to Simon that we haven\'t seen yet :0)

Submitted by Robert Lythgoe on Mon, 2014-06-09 15:33.

Looks like another BAFTA award. This series was even better than the first.

Some think one of the Halperin-Weston pair is the Undead Prophet. The one who claimed the undead were superior species, could find some tumblr spectulation but laziness~

But Halperin and Weston won\'t want a "re humanising", would they - think of the money and influence they\'d lose? Plus the Prophet has to be *someone* from Norfolk (his voice was heard in the treatment center when he talked to Simon). My money is on that guy who played Mr Rook in Being Human :-)

Make the most of it as assuming they show it May-June again as subject to the approval of the BBC Trust BBC Three closes as a broadcast TV channel in autumn 2015.

They\'ve said it on here too, on previous weeks\' reviews. It\'s a fair guess given what he said, but also somewhat obvious given what he said.

Personally I think they should surprise everyone and make the Undead Prophet be Kieren\'s dad, or someone totally unexpected.

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