The transmissions are intercepted by SHADO HQ and Colonel Alec Freeman diverts the transport aircraft, unaware that it is carrying the antibiotics, to investigate the signals.
The transport then continues on to Britain and Straker rushes to the hospital with the antibiotics but it proves too late as his son has died, with a tearful Mary saying that she never wants to see her ex-husband again.
[4] TV Zone magazine considered this episode the best of the series, describing it as a "perfect fusion of science fiction action and human drama" while praising Ed Bishop's "understated" acting.
The publication noted that the series further explores Straker's difficult relationship with his son and ex-wife in the later episodes "Sub-Smash", "Confetti Check A-O.K."
The review states that despite a number of "moderately corny and misjudged sequences [...] the tangible pain at the climax and the concept of the series becoming this dark is a punch to the gut that's impossible to forget.