Legends: Old Kings

 "We can't afford false moustaches. But you can lend us a couple if you like."

The penultimate episode and, in a deliberately jarring jolt, Hakan announces to the whole alliance- Turk and Scouser, both Guy and Eddie included- that the Istanbul connection is gone and there's only one thing for it- go to Karachi and deal with the opium suppliers direct. The episode thus begins as it ends, with Customs struggling for some semblance of control as events speed up around them.

Yes, permission is given to go ahead with a potential two tonne drug bust, but Customs are  outmaneouvred not only by Hakan but also the Secret Service, all-knowing, omnipotent and absolutely nothing like the James Bond films, thank the Lord.

We get some good character scenes, though. Don and Bailey. Bailey and Eddie. Eddie realising what Guy is, and keeping quiet. Bailey versus Guy. And Kate connecting with Erin, who is dealing with how "London can be a confusing place when you're poor, but sound like you're rich."

Once we reach Karachi, though, things veer out of control as we're introduced to real life drug lord Afridi, and to the Khyber Pass with the Cure's "A Forest" as the perfect soundtrack.. and this truly is a different world, with both gangs in the clutches of a ruthless man with absolute power who, naturally, has a man casually killed in front of them, just to make a point, yet also discoursing in a learned way on the solid history of the Silk Road. Not only the Scousers but also the Turks (well, Kurds) are out of their depths... until things are salvaged at the last moment by Mylonas' wife, a not-so-real Afghan princess.

Kate gets some nice scenes, too, as she chases and catches the Liverpool copper who's working with Carter through sheer brass and cleverness. But we end, with only one episode to go, with Guy's physical safety hanging by a thread as the boat leaves. Legends has been bloody good throughout, but this instalment takes things up yet another notch. Excellent stuff.