Apple TV+ ‘Surface’ Season 2 Episode 3 Review - Secrets, Lies, and the Cost of Knowing

"Kintsugi" is where things start to feel sharper, heavier, and far more dangerous in Sophie’s relentless search for answers. There’s something deeply unsettling about watching someone chase the truth when the truth itself might be a carefully constructed illusion, and this episode leans into that tension beautifully. Sophie, now deeply entrenched in the elite world of London’s high society, isn’t just searching any more—she’s maneuvering, adapting, and, most dangerously, trusting. Every interaction feels like a test, every moment loaded with the potential for revelation or betrayal.

Sophie’s relationship with Eliza takes on new dimensions in this episode. There’s an electric charge to their dynamic, a strange, unspoken history that neither woman fully acknowledges but both seem to sense. The way they circle each other, alternately extending trust and withholding it, is one of the most intriguing aspects of the episode. Sophie, who has spent so much time trying to figure out who she is, now seems to be slipping into new identities just to survive. Is she genuinely forming a connection, or is this just another role she’s learning to play? The ambiguity is delicious.

Callum, the sharp-eyed journalist with his own agenda, enters the picture like a match tossed into gasoline. His presence shifts the episode's tone, adding a layer of urgency. If Sophie was cautiously threading her way through this world before, now she’s sprinting, desperately trying to stay ahead of whatever truth is clawing its way to the surface. His offer of help is tempting, but nothing in Sophie’s world comes without a cost, and whether he’s a savior or just another threat remains unclear. The way their interactions are written and performed makes it impossible to take anything at face value.

Sophie’s journey in "Kintsugi" is not just about piecing together memories but also about testing the limits of trust. What makes this episode so compelling is that it refuses to offer easy answers. There’s no clear distinction between who is helping and who is manipulating, who is honest, and who is simply playing the long game. The writing ensures that even when we think we know where things are going, a single glance or hesitation from a character can send our suspicions spinning in a new direction.

The performances are what keep this episode grounded, especially Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s portrayal of Sophie. She continues to walk that razor-thin line between determination and vulnerability, between confidence and the quiet terror of not knowing who she really is. There’s a controlled intensity in her performance, a sense that every action is measured because one wrong move could send everything crumbling. Millie Brady as Eliza brings a fascinating unpredictability to their scenes together, while Gavin Drea’s Callum is immediately intriguing in a way that suggests he has far more to offer than what he’s letting on.

Visually, "Kintsugi" is as striking as ever. The show’s ability to make London feel both breathtakingly glamorous and suffocatingly ominous is on full display. The cinematography enhances the mood, using shadows and reflections to remind us that in Sophie’s world, nothing is as it seems. Wide, sweeping shots of grand estates contrast sharply with close, intimate frames that capture every flicker of doubt on a character’s face. It’s an episode that looks as good as it feels, wrapping its tension in a package that is impossible to look away from.

What stands out in this episode is how well it balances revelation with restraint. It knows exactly how much to reveal and how much to keep hidden, ensuring that every new piece of information only deepens the mystery. There are moments that feel like they might be leading to something predictable, but then the show pulls back just in time, leaving enough room for doubt to creep in. This careful control of pacing and information is what keeps "Surface" engaging.

If there’s any slight drawback, it’s that some moments might feel familiar to those well-versed in psychological thrillers. There are beats in the storytelling that hint at directions we’ve seen before in similar narratives. Yet, what makes this forgivable is the sheer strength of the performances and the overall execution. Even when the story treads close to familiar ground, it does so with enough elegance and intrigue that it still feels fresh.

"Kintsugi" is a standout episode in this season, pushing Sophie deeper into a world where nothing can be taken at face value. It’s an episode that demands attention, rewarding those who invest in its carefully woven layers of deception and discovery. Watching Sophie navigate this increasingly treacherous terrain is equal parts thrilling and unnerving, a reminder that sometimes, the most dangerous thing isn’t what you don’t know—it’s what you think you do. If the rest of the season keeps up this momentum, "Surface" is shaping up to be one of the most compelling psychological dramas of the year.

Final Score - [8.5/10]