The storm that was brewing now breaks. Trees and lives are uprooted. A hurricane of resentment, a tornado of betrayal, whirlwind romance no longer held under. All blown into the open.

Rivals has been a favourite since its first season defied expectations, but the most recent episode, S2 E6, was a notch up even so. In a sequence of mise-en-scène, one-to-one conversations shielded for a moment from the battering winds, characters let out things long unsaid.

Monica & Lizzy admitting the loves they’ve suppressed, the life they’ve sacrificed for selfish men.

Monica & Baddingham, talking frankly about their broken marital agreement.

Baddingham & his son, a rare and beautifully vulnerable moment. David Tenant finally stepping into this role. This moment reminds us that we want our father figures to be strong, and how saying sorry is the strongest thing we can do.

Next Rupert & Baddingham. More splendid acting from Tenant, who does not fill the boisterous scenes and thrives in these more feeling moments. Baddingham can neither stand nor think as he loses his composure to the bad news. So brilliant that Rupert is the one to deliver it, an opportunity to see his quality. And after all, the unfeeling Baddingham did love his wife.

And finally, Freddy sees Lizzy, sworn to the grave to live like blazes.

As the storm passes we are left to wonder whether some secrets will carry away on the wind, pass like death in the night, or else thunder again.

A moving, touching, sensational bit of TV. I am left wind-swept, blown away.