The Confessions of Dorian Gray: Series 3

The third season consists of seven stories, which, unlike those of the first two seasons, are entirely set in the present day. Most of the episodes are linked by a plot arc, although a couple remain essentially standalone. Also, unlike the previous seasons, the stories here are not narrated, being more or less straight audio plays, structured so as to require a limited cast. Perhaps as a result of this, it's the most consistent season so far, full of supernatural horror and emotional angst.

• Blank Canvas – A particularly dark tale, this follows up on the events of ‘Running Away with You' at the end of the second season. Here, three teenagers break into Gray's old mansion, two years after his disappearance. Of course, some of what they find is familiar to us, but, with the story told from their perspective, Gray's motives remain a mystery until the end. In fact, the overall tone is reminiscent of a slasher flick, as exploration turns to horror for the young intruders.
• The Needle – Gray visits London's financial district to regain access to his funds. What results is a ghost story set almost entirely in one of those flashy modern skyscrapers that dot the City's skyline. There are plenty of references to modern times, reminding us that Gray has been incommunicado for the last few years, and a few chills along the way as the mystery of what's happening is revealed.
• We Are Everywhere – An episode that's more psychological horror than anything else, although it probably wouldn't be if Gray were able to die. This starts in media res with Gray trapped in a cave by a sadistic killer, before we flash back to see how this situation came about. The plot is rather straightforward, although the fatalistic tone and unpleasant consequences for Gray do help to raise it above the mundane.
• Echoes – Essentially a piece of exposition that helps to define the larger story arc for the season, this sees Gray trapped on a tube train talking to what are apparently the ghosts of past acquaintances. It serves to move the plot along and pose a number of questions, and, in that respect, is interesting, but it's a piece of a larger tale, rather than a proper story in its own right.
• Pandora – Gray visits a tarot reader with a reputation for performing miracles and spends much of the episode being grumpy about it. Inevitably, there is something darker going on although it's quite a while before we find out what it is. It's a relatively simple piece, and, like the episode before it, more of a link to what happens next than a strong story in its own right. The tarot reader is, however, well written and performed, avoiding some of the more obvious clichés.
• Heart and Soul – A story that's largely about Gray's past relationships, as he meets an old flame, and tries to cope with the implications. There is a supernatural element, too, involving a circus with an unpleasant secret that ties into wider events. The resolution of that part of the plot is, perhaps, a little predictable, but the remainder is left open, leading directly into the final episode.
• Displacement Activity/The Darkest Hour – The strongest story of the season, this brings the plot arc to a very satisfying climax. The central idea behind it (which becomes apparent at about the half-way point) is a clever one, and the horror elements are effective, but the real strength is in Gray's relationship to his lover, and just how reciprocated those feelings are. This one is an easy 5 stars, and the season as a whole comes close to that, too.