In the fifth episode of The Iris Affair, we find ourselves in South London, 18 months in the past. Alfie strides into a bar to meet with his publicist, eager to share the latest details of his work. His heart yearns to be a journalist, penning articles for the grandest newspapers, but alas, his journey has been fraught with setbacks. Part of this is due to his penchant for outlandish theories on conspiracies and far-reaching ideas. His latest obsession, the Nine Horses puzzle, consumes him.
Alfie's passion spills over as he enthuses about how Iris's disappearance is connected to solving the puzzle. Unfortunately, his publicist is unimpressed and makes it clear that he won't be working on any newspaper she oversees in the foreseeable future.
With few other options, Alfie's relentless pursuit leads him to YouTube, where he tests his mettle and launches the Two Seconds to Midnight podcast.
Cutting back to the present, Iris trails Casterman and Alfie through the bustling streets of Rome. Clearly a woman on the run, Iris navigates the city's crowded lanes as gangs on high alert seek to capture her. It is here we learn that the mastermind behind it all is a man named Freddo Zonin.
The Special Forces Unit catches wind of the manhunt and heads over to question Zonin. Under duress, he divulges information about the individuals sending pictures of Iris, which leads them straight to Alfie's apartment.
In the secret base, Joy steps out of her room and uses the elevator to breathe in some fresh air before being hounded by drones that monitor her every move. As she looks up, Joy catches a glimpse of Jensen inside the base.
Cameron Beck is joined by Colonel Meski, a formidable military woman who serves as Cameron's head of security and fixer, always one step ahead of any potential threats. As Pym's arrival is imminent, Cameron escorts Joy over to where Charlie is being kept, and the intricate web of connections between Jensen and the machine becomes clear. Joy, with a tentative air, requests a meeting with Jensen, but Cameron's refusal is firm—there's another motive at play, one that involves stealing his DNA for Iris.
Meanwhile, Alfie leads Casterman to his hideout while Iris continues her mishap-filled quest for stealth. Despite her best efforts, she does manage to review the footage from Alfie's jacket, catching a glimpse of his location at number 20. Alfie's nervousness is palpable, causing Casterman to wonder what he's hiding.
Casterman shows Alfie the chilling images of Teo and his children, detailing the manner of his death. Now that Teo is gone, Casterman is determined to uncover the truth. Her curiosity piqued by Alfie's lies about his whereabouts, she presents him with the crime scene photos of the dead officers. The officer presses Alfie to play along, while Iris rushes in and pricks Casterman in the neck with an agent to put her to sleep. Iris calls him a Judas, but Alfie bites back, reminding her that she's a murderer-in-waiting.
As Iris realizes she's surrounded and needs a way out, she injects Casterman with a revival agent. But time is of the essence. Meanwhile, Meski watches Joy like a hawk on the monitors, leaving all the doors unlocked to see exactly what she's up to. Joy is clearly on a mission to find Jensen, and while he's on the treadmill working out, she breaks into his room and takes hairs from his hairbrush.
Elsewhere, Jensen manages to outmaneuver the guards with ease and enters his room, where he encounters Joy face to face. Their conversation is brief and unrevealing, but Meski discerns that Iris has somehow communicated with Joy and has a purpose for Jensen. The exact nature of this purpose remains a mystery to her and Cameron Beck for the time being.
However, matters take a turn for the worse as Hugo Pym arrives at the base. Meanwhile, Casterman regains consciousness, and Iris eventually relinquishes the gun to her, promising to reveal the fate of Teo in exchange for their escape from the building. But as Bruni's men close in, will she keep her word? The tension in the air is palpable, and the stakes have never been higher.
