After watching Rosa a couple days ago, I rewatch Arachnids in the UK today. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it - I built it up in my head for a while as me not really liking it, but I hadn't actually seen it since it aired. I don't think it's perfect, and I do think it's quite messy, but it's a fun little romp of an episode, with some really nice emotional beats.

The bulk of the first half of the episode is really good. I really enjoy the whole thing pretty much until they start catching spiders in the hotel. There's a lot of intrigue and implications of conspiracy which fit really nicely into the thriller genre of the episode (I especially love how we come back to Yaz's dads insane rubbish collection as an actual plot point). It's also really genuinely fun, seeing them mooch around the hotel looking for ideas, and I laughed out loud a few times. I think it's a really funny episode, and a lot of it comes from Robertson, who is played brilliantly by Chris Noth. It's such a hammy performance and character that fits the episode really well. The episode kind of falls apart in the second half though. I don't think I'm really that interested in whats going on, the romp kind of wears off, and the episode doesn't really feel like it knows how to end itself. It feels really pretty cruel to just trap the spiders in there until they starve, but we're meant to not want to shoot them all too, which isn't a good solution - it just doesn't seem like the episode actually poses a good solution to the problem. Robertson also becomes less interesting towards the end when he starts touting his presidency stuff, which doesn't isn't interesting when we never come back to him. It could've worked if we actually see him running for president in a later episode, but here that bit of characterisation is just pointless.

I think there are some really nice character bits in the episode though. I really like that we get to see Yaz's family, and her mum especially is a really interesting character. I also really adore how they deal with Grace in the episode. The scenes with Graham at home are so solemn and heartbreaking - it's really deftly helmed by both Chibnall, Aprahamian, Walsh and Akinola. Only real complaint here I have is that issues surrounding Ryan's dead are ignored when we start dealing with the massive spider, which is sad.

I think the episode is a real step-up in direction too. Sallie Aprahamian makes some really interesting choices that work really well, especially with the opening of the episode, having the Shining-esque Steadicam shots perusing through the hotel. There's also some really great horror shots when we see the spiders, it's really creepily done, and it adds a lot to the episode.

Segun's music is great as always too, it's a more understated score than the last 3 episodes, but it is pulsing and keeps the episode going, as any thriller score should. The piece of music that plays at the end of the episode (My Fam) too is really fun. I really like that scene in general, it's nice to see the reasons why all the companions want to join, and the Doctor being weary of them doing so. It's a small scene, but a really good one.

Overall I don't have masses to say about this episode compared to the last couple. I enjoy the first half far more than the second half, which is why I think the episode loses its steam. Nonetheless it's still better than average, just about. I'd give it a decent 6/10.