My sense that The Minister of Chance was hitting several familiar story beats from Death Comes to Time was only heightened by its second full episode, "The Forest Shakes." In this episode, the pacifist Professor Cantha ends up in a Sesian prison, and much of the discussion she has mirrors what Saint Valentine says to Nessican. In addition, Cantha's comments to the Minister about his loneliness sound similar to what Senator Sala said to him, and Governor Durian's return to Seswan is a lot like General Tannis's return to Alpha Canis, and there's a prison break here, though its connection to the Death Comes to Time prison break is admittedly small.

But though it's distracting, it's not overwhelming. The exploration of how pacifism can be a form of strength actually goes further here than in Death Comes to Time, and I quite liked the scenes where Cantha talks to her well-meaning guard. And given Julian Wadham's much gruffer incarnation of the Minister of Chance, the loneliness angle will probably play out differently as well. It was nice to hear the Minister and Kitty work together, as it was also nice for Kitty to demonstrate her own intelligence in working with Sutu to help liberate Professor Cantha. Overall, "The Forest Shakes" is a fun action piece that sets up some intriguing mysteries for episodes to come. (And, as always, the music is excellent.)

You can read a longer version of this review at Unreality SF.