Noughts + Crosses Episode 4 Review

After the climatic end of Episode Three Noughts + Crosses sees the ramifications on the McGregor family.

Tensions between the Noughts and Crosses communities have increased further after the bombing of the hospital. The Home Secretary launches a crackdown and Callum (Jack Rowan) becomes the prime suspect due to his warning to Sephy (Masali Baduza), leading to tensions between the couple and Callum and his brother, Jude (Josh Dylan).

The series so far has been strong with its overarching storyline about the relationship between Callum and Sephy and the racial divide of this world. The fourth episode continues the look at the racial issues in Albion, and it also works as an episodic story because of the trial. It gave the episode a focal point.

The use of the investigation and the trial gave the episode the chance to look at racial issues in these areas. Callum suffers from police brutality and both Callum and Ryan (Ian Hart) have their civil liberties infringed. When in custody both suffer violence and intimidation. Because Ryan was suspected of terrorism he gets targeted by the prisoners and the guards.

Ryan’s lawyer used the trial as a way to highlight the prejudice the Noughts suffer from. It was a way to highlight issues like stop and search and racial profile. It also shows that within this world there were Crosses who campaign for Noughts rights. The Prime Minister states that Albion looks absurd to the rest of the world for its racist laws. It’s further evidence that Albion is similar to Apartheid-era South Africa.

The trial increased tensions within the McGregor household. Jude was the member of the family who planted the bomb but the rest of the family suffers because of it. Callum gets brutalised and his name gets dragged through the mud, whilst Ryan falsely confesses to the bombing to protect his sons. Even though Sephy and her mother (Bonnie Mbuli) offer to help the McGregor’s Jude still acts hostile because he doesn’t trust Crosses. Meggie lets Jude know her feelings about that has transpired.

The Hadleys also have their own domestic troubles. The relationship between husband and wife becomes more strained, leading to Jasmine to help the McGregor. Kamal (Paterson Joseph) dark and shameful secret comes back to haunt him.  But Kamal is a shrew operator and has a way of making blackmail threats worthless.

The other major storyline in the episode was the power struggle within the government. Despite the growing tensions between the races the Prime Minister offers an olive branch to the Noughts by allowing interracial relations. This was a measure too far for Kamal and his supporters and decided to make their move. Considering the recent political turmoil during Theresa May’s premiership (as well as other Prime Ministers) the scenes between the Prime Minister and Home Secretary will give people political flashbacks. However, due to the different stances on social and racial issues, it leads to the question of how were these two in the same political party?

The fourth episode was a fine example of how a show can do an individual story and enhance its wider themes and story.