Note: A lot of people are upset by this episode - and understandably so. I won't try to justify any of it, but let's see if we can make sense of it. This recap contains spoilers for the end of the episode, since it only makes sense to talk about it all together.

Once again, a thanks to all my anonymous reviewers whom I can't thank individually. One of you corrected me that it's Effy whom Emily slaps, which is a relief and makes much more sense. I can only plead confusion now that Naomi's stopped dying her hair ... but I appreciate any and all corrections!


I forgot to comment on the seasons last time, so let's look at that. Fire Part 1 began in spring, which is the season of beginnings. Effy had a new job, Naomi was planning on a career, friendships and relationships were shown in the early stages. Summer came, and events were looking up: Effy got a promotion, Naomi had her first gig, friendships and relationships blossomed. (That's what the kids are calling it these days.)

Fire Part 2 begins in autumn, and it's here that things start to fall apart. Let's look at that before moving on to the winter of our discontent.

The episode opens to Naomi performing her comedy routine on Last Comic Standing, and she's actually funny. She's a little more relaxed, which helps. She's also making jokes about cancer (Who knew it could be funny?), but the crowd is responding and she's clearly accepted her situation. She reassures the crowd, in fact, "Don't worry, I'm fine." Effy, however, not so much - she storms out, clearly not feeling the same peace of mind.

Cut to Jake's apartment. Jake has a fish tank, and I'm reminded of Chris' fish. If only Jay were the one making like Chris in this episode… Sigh. Effy walks in, ranting about Naomi - she says it's about the rent, but it's really about the cancer.

It's Effy who has the hard time with Naomi's cancer, who rages against it, who can't accept it. There could be a few reasons for this, starting with the simplest: cancer sucks. But it could also be that Effy can't stand to lose another friend, or that watching someone else struggle with - and succumb to - a chronic illness is stirring up some unpleasant memories. More on that in a bit.

Jake interrupts Effy with a kiss, and she pretends to get mad at him, but that devolves into him carrying her, caveman-style, into the bedroom.

Later, Effy wakes up to hear Jake on the phone. It's 2 AM, and he's working - he needs to close some deals. Business hasn't been going well lately, and it's the same complaint we heard from Effy last time. And that's the real moral of Skins Fire, folks - don't get a job as a trader, because it will only lead to ruin. Trying your hand at drug dealing (Sid and the Mad Twatter, Thomas and Johnny White) leads to wacky hijinks; real jobs lead to real trouble. Anyway, it's Effy's turn to go for seductive distraction, and it works just as well.

Next morning, on the trading floor. Effy walks in, in a red shirt and black jacket with lacy sleeves. She just has time to trade coy glances with Jake before Mark walks up. Effy's messed up some records, and Mark angrily tells her to straighten them out. Meanwhile, Jake's got someone (some company exec, presumably) in his office, very upset, and Jake is stressed.

Much later that day, it's dark, Effy's still at work, and papers are flying everywhere as she tries to figure out her mess. She looks out the window, then smiles: she can see Dominic, in his office, also hard at work. We can also see Dominic's computer screen. Remember when his office mate panicked, because Effy wasn't allowed in their office, and started shutting off his monitors? If Effy - and, presumably, the rest of her floor and building - can see over this well, they have bigger security problems. Let's assume this was a not-well-thought-out dramatization…

Effy arrives home, and is greeted with a flying hug by a screaming Emily. Kathryn Prescott fans, enjoy it while it lasts. She gets hardly any screen time, but it is all brilliant. Emily has surprised them both with a visit, and Naomi gives Effy a warning shake of her head. Emily's been taking lessons from Katie, as she notices Effy's ensemble and compares her to a "sexy funeral director". Emily, meanwhile, has on a striped top with a whale in the center of her chest - it's cute, but a screaming contrast to Effy's professional garb. Emily is the perfect friend, asking about Effy's work, and Effy goes for a drink. Naomi is on the couch, looking through Emily's portfolio of pictures.

The next day, Effy and Naomi are sitting in the hospital, waiting. Naomi hasn't told Emily about her cancer, because she doesn't want Emily to get upset and drop out of her internship. Naomi's planning on telling Emily, as soon as her cancer is "over. Which it will be, soon." Naomi is called in, and tells Effy to stay there, but Effy ignores her and quickly accepts the nurse's invitation to accompany them.

They're there so that Naomi can get an MRI. She reaches out for Effy's hand, obviously scared, and holds Effy's hand far too tightly and too long. Watching her, Effy looks just as scared, and has to leave the room.

Nice support, Effy. Your friend is clearly scared, needs you there, and you're running out? This is a little better then when Effy didn't notice what was going on and didn't come to appointments, but it also makes the rejection a little more personal. It's no wonder Naomi doesn't want to tell Emily, if this is the way Effy is reacting.

That night, Jake comes to Effy's flat, bearing a bottle of wine. He's there to meet her friends. Upstairs, Jake plays the perfect gentleman, uncorking and pouring the wine, and he's given a quick summary of his life story. naomi makes an observation about his privileged background, and Effy takes a shot at Naomi's not having paid rent. Rent is always a sure spot between roommates, sure - but I don't think paying the rent is what Effy is upset that Naomi's not doing. Naomi and Emily start to take the piss out of Effy for her clear lack of flaws, but Jake takes them seriously and proposes a toast: "To Effy, the most fucking together person I've ever met." Effy looks like she might cry. Naomi and Emily are unable to keep straight faces - Emily practically doing a spit take with her wine - and insinuate that this is a recent development. Effy leaves and goes to bed, Naomi and Emily make adorable mocking faces after her, and Naomi nods vigorously for Jake to follow after Effy. He politely takes his leave.

Jake and Effy are in bed, trying to enjoy themselves, but two sets of moans and gasps are coming through the wall quite clearly. Kathryn Prescott tweets: Just for the record, those sex noises were NOT me Jake complains of the distraction, and Effy agrees that this happens every night. And good for them! Emily's been out of the country for a while, they don't have a lot of time together… and we Naomily fans will take all the glimmers of happiness we can get. And really, Jake, you should find that inspiring rather than distracting.

Effy twigs that it's not just the noises upsetting Jake, and he agrees that the real issue is work: no financial gains coming in, recession or not, and he needs "another big win… an Effy special". Effy looks panicked. Now, at this point, Jake could just think Effy is particularly skilled, or has great intuition. Effy brushes it off as just luck, but Jake reassures her that she was brilliant. Okay, still just confident, reassuring, no problem here. Effy tells Jake that she had some help. And that tears it - "help" can only mean one thing, in this context. If it was just someone with more skills, better research, etc., they would have been making money for themselves, not coaching Effy. "Help" means someone with insider knowledge; illegal help. And now Jake has to make a decision - react morally, reproach her, and drop the subject? He barely flinches. His smile doesn't falter, he considers for half a second, then tells her that there's nothing wrong with that. He asks for some more of that. He asks her if she could make it happen. And that takes us from Effy and Dominic doing something stupid in the heat of the moment to something pre-meditated. To a pre-meditated conspiracy, because they're both knowingly involved. The music rises, quietly, dramatically. Cut to black.

This first part has set all of the threads in motion that we saw last week - even the long look and smile at Dominic was there - so there are really no surprises. All that remains is to see just how they play out.