Identity Episode Two in ITV1

Well, at least we know who the woman in the green dress is now. And we know that DSI Martha Lawson (Keeley Hawes) had a point when, last week, she asked DI John Bloom (Aiden Gillen) if he was speaking to his girlfriend on the phone.

Though to be honest, it's not as though Bloom's life really works in terms of a girlfriend, as such. Sure, he's sleeping with the sister of a Turkish Mafia boss (who think he's called Brendan) – but she presumably doesn't know where he dashes off to in the morning...New Scotland Yard. You've got to wonder how undercover this man still is.

This week, Bloom's 9-5 life (which he decides to grace with his presence after disappearing for three days) involves a case of a young woman wanting to be a bit too much like her friend. Fatally so. British Olivia (Laura Aikman) has it all, living in Sydney and enjoying beach parties out of the reach of her parents(and step-mother) in Chelsea. She's also – according to Bloom – stunningly beautiful. No wonder then that her friend, Jane (Joanne Frogatt) wants to be her. One bottle of hair dye and a few seconds with a penknife later, and Jane has a new passport...a new identity.

But again – and this was a problem last time – Identity spends too long on the crime of the week (murder, identity theft) and not long enough on the team investigating it. Again, we see Lawson is under pressure from above regarding her tempestuous recruit, Bloom, but no real sense that anyone (bar Bloom) has a life outside the office. Ignoring (and it might be best ignored) that bizarre moment when DC Jose Rodriguez (Elyes Gabel) and (curiously unranked) Tessa Stein (Holly Aird) discuss previous lovers – Rodriguez really is a rather strange character. It seems any series-long arc is limited to the beginning and end of episodes, which doesn't give us much idea about the people we're watching each week.

Perhaps the seeds to watch for are DS Anthony Wareing's increasing dislike of Bloom, and the shark-faced Atif (Aleksandar Mikic) of the Mafia as he works his way toward the mole responsible for selling out his boss.

Best moment:
Either Anthony (Shaun Parkes, inexplicably billed lower than Gabel) hinting mysteriously that Bloom might be around for much longer, then telling Lawson not to worry about it, or when he asks to photograph the mysteriously cut-free hands of a stab victim...clearly, someone's got an issue with Bloom's unconventional methods.

The episode may still be available to view on itv Player here.