In Episode 5 of "Bodies," set in 1941, Whiteman grapples with the emotional aftermath of a young girl's death while nursing a fresh knife wound. Seeking solace, he ventures into a synagogue, confessing his guilt to a rabbi and finding comfort.
Later, risking it all, Whiteman infiltrates the commissioner's office, using a firearm to press his point. He unveils his troubled past marked by gambling debts and desperate measures to clear them. Surprisingly, the commissioner assists in treating Whiteman’s wound, during which Whiteman demands justice for the deceased girl. A revelation emerges: the receptionist had snitched on Whiteman's confession, falsely implicating Cozen.
Whiteman confronts Polly, the elderly informant, demanding answers about the child's death. Polly claims she had no alternatives. In a dramatic twist, the commissioner arrives to arrest both, but Officer Hayden Harker intervenes, killing the commissioner and releasing Polly-revealing a deeper, maternal bond.
Flash-forward to 2023. Hasan is discovered in a locked room at the Harker residence by Barber's team. The evident bodies mysteriously disappear. Concerned for Hasan's mental health, Barber removes her from the case. A startling phone call soon informs Hasan that fingerprints from Julian Harker in 1890 align with Elias Mannix’s.
During her prison visit, Elias pleads ignorance about Harker. Yet, the fingerprint connection shocks him. His fragmented memory recalls only his mother. Hasan's investigation subsequently leads her to Elias’s still-living biological mother, Sarah Mannix. Distressed, Sarah reveals her son's father was Danny, a progeny of the affluent banker, Julian Harker. This revelation ties Inspector Barber directly to Elias.
As Barber absconds with Mannix, an elusive trail confounds the police. Hasan, however, discovers a cryptic vault key in Barber's apartment. Simultaneously, she hears an aged Elias Mannix’s voice on a gramophone, hinting at a future rendezvous.
Rewinding to 1890, Hillinghead is hell-bent on exposing Harker as a murderer. Under custody, Harker admits being in a photograph but extorts Hillinghead to falsely accuse Henry Ashe for Defoe's murder. A compromise meant to suppress Hillinghead's compromising séance images.
Jumping to 2053, Iris is covertly transported with Lorna and Defoe. Upon arrival, she meets a senior Hasan, now leading Chapel Perilous. Hasan explains that Mannix, by traveling back in time, founded a 1890 cult to orchestrate a catastrophic 2023 London explosion.
Despite Mannix's insistence on her pivotal role in his envisioned utopia, Iris remains skeptical. Yet, her escape efforts are curtailed as she's shown the "Throat" time machine. Faking compliance, Iris signals the KYAL for help. Commander Mannix eventually rescues her, tracking down the time machine's location.
This episode is arguably the series' most intricate, with the narrative weaving between four timelines. The complexity may leave audiences perplexed, potentially questioning the storyline's consistency.
Stephen Graham's performance remains commendable, but his talent seems underutilized. Perhaps a collaboration with renowned director Martin Scorsese could be more befitting, rescuing him from such befuddling time-travel ventures.
