Happy Valley, same writer as Scott and Bailey [Poss spoilers - added by MNHQ]

[MorrisZapp]

I thought it was brilliant, although some generational shifts confused me. The lead character played by Sarah Lancashire had a grandson but didn't look old enough.

The company boss had been friends with the accountant's father, that didn't add up did it? Or did I get that wrong.

Great to see the George Costigan and Siobhan Finneran reunited although not onscreen together.

Brilliant writing and simply superb acting I thought, anybody else enjoy it?

[fussychica]

If Ann becomes a copper that will be pretty unrealistic as recruitment is near zero, especially if you aren't already a PCSO or Special Constable - but I'm being picky and this is drama.

Great series - better ending than your average BBC drama but not as good as I'd hope.

Another picky point SL was moving around and bending over very well and rather quickly for someone who had been almost beaten to death.

Sorry - I'll get me coat!

[IceRocket]

Rachel lescovak dame, thanks for reminding me to google who she is, it was bugging me too

[Southeastdweller]

She was in Last Tango and in Corrie.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

What Ashley's wife in? I have googled and googled,I know I recognise her from somewhere

[bleedingheart]

Nev's ears pricked up when Catherine mentioned the dealers.
I did think they'd put Ashley in witness protection straight away but she said they make arrests first I suppose.

Poor Ryan, really hopes he gets some counselling. What he's been through!
I hate violence but I was with her when she was attacking TLR.
I liked the fact the characters were flawed. I can see the storyline with Ann becoming a cop after her little speech about her degree. I didn't think Scott and Bailey could keep going but it did so hopefully they won't rush this and ruin the memory with a poor second series!

[drivenfromdistraction]

Boob semaphore? I like your thinking slarty :)

It did occur to me that she might dob him in because she didn't want to go into Witness Protection, and she didn't seem too fond of him either.

[slartybartfast]

perhaps Ashle's wife gave the game away by flashign her boobs!

or it was just obvious that he got let out of jail.

i would have thought he would have been put on witness protection on leaving jail!

[drivenfromdistraction]

And Catherine told Nev and his wife about Ashley dobbing in the drug kingpins in order to save himself from prosecution. I reckon that's why Ashley got killed. Nev either is the kingpin (and therefore ordered Ashley executed) or he is a business associate/involved and informed on Ashley to the kingpin.

Actually, I think Nev is just involved rather than being the kingpin. He's not hard enough to be the kingpin - if he was, he'd have got his own men on the trail of the kidnappers and they'd all have been found and slaughtered pretty sharpish.

[GypsyFloss]

Yeah, the same police whose seniors are up their eyeballs in trade too I suspect.

[GColdtimer]

Oh good spot gypsy!. I think nev will have something to do with it too. Could explain why he didn't want to go to the police to start with...

[GypsyFloss]

I like your thinking Driven. I can imagine all those scenarios especially Ann becoming a copper. I think the scene with her and SL smoking together had that written all over it.

I'm convinced that Nev is involved in the drug trade. Up to the last one I didn't know what his business was. Previously in his office/ reception we saw his name on the wall but not his trade. The other night we got to see all of it and he's in refrigeration... which made me wonder whether his refrigeration vehicles/ containers are involved in the shipping of the drugs from the ports.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Driven-that's a good version, hadn't thought of that.

[drivenfromdistraction]

Yes, I think that Becky was raped but not by TLR, by someone else but she told her mum that it was TLR (why? because it would be worse for her mum to know the real rapist?)

YY to Ann becoming a policeman - and SL will be a semi-mum figure to her (after her own mum dies). They will form a kind of partnership in figuring out the drug kingpin story. I think that the councillor, the senior police officer AND Nev will all turn out to be involved. Gripping stuff!

[tobiasfunke]

The end was a bit predictable and disappointing. A bit like most crime novels really. Still enjoyed it muchly.

[2rebecca]

Agree that at the end it sounded as though she hadn't been raped. TLR denied raping her, and it seemed unlikely he would lie when he was happy to admit to raping the hostage and didn't seem ashamed of it. Also why kill yourself after the baby rather than when you find out you are pregnant. It seemed more likely that the bloke she loved had gone to prison, she wasn't coping with a young baby and SL was giving her grief for hanging out with losers and pestering her about who the father was.
I didn't like the kid though but thought it unlikely SL's husband would leave rather than help raise his grandson.

[Shoopshoop2]

Very lame ending after such a faultless production. Brilliant acting though.

[Clawdy]

Tommy was insisting to Ryan that he loved Becky. Would he say that just to make Ryan feel better? not sure.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I presumed she was into drugs as well. If she'd been raped then it's odd that abortion wasn't an option although if she was in denial perhaps she left it too late. I quite like the fact even at the end we don't really know.

[theliverpoolone]

Do we think TLR did rape Becky, to conceive Ryan? Given what the brother said last night, maybe not. But if it wasn't rape, why did she kill herself? I've been mulling over this all day!

[Blondeshavemorefun]

Haven't read any replies. Watching from beginning so have 6hrs to catch up on

[Clawdy]

I assumed the animosity towards Ryan was because Becky's father couldn't bear to look at him and think of the child's father raping his young daughter. At the time that was the accepted version of events. I did find Catherine telling her young son she wished he had died instead of his sister very sad and probably unforgiveable. Brilliant series though. Hate violent scenes normally but this was too gripping to miss.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I agree about it being ridiculous letting Ryan cycle home from school. 7 and on busy roads with his killer Dad on the loose?

We're sure we saw our car in one of the street scenes Dh is CONVINCED, it's a possibility but I doubt it

[Southeastdweller]

I thought that Cath not killing Tommy was predictable – killing him would have jeopardised her career, her family life…it would make for more interesting TV. Or he could have got someone to help with escaping with Ryan. The reunion with her son at the end, after him resenting her for years, felt forced and it was convenient the accountant’s wife didn’t get charged for being culpable. All in all, the last episode was very safe, very convenient, very BBC. Previous episodes had messy, dark storylines and surprises but in the final one it felt like Wainwright had run out of steam from exhaustion or just wanted to give the audience a not too believable Happy Ending - I was half expecting Cath to get a call at the very end from that nice detective asking her out on a date.

[emotionsecho]

Just caught up and agree with everyone else, excellent series.

About Ryan and his cycling home from school, I can see why they did it as it was the only way for him to realistically fall into Tommy's clutches. Tommy couldn't risk snatching him from the street or school.

Kevin's little self justification rant was priceless, God help his defence lawyer if that's the sum of his defence, wonderfully whingey Kev though.

Glad SL didn't kill Tommy, sending him to prison which is what he didn't want is a much better revenge even if he remains a 'presence' in their lives.

Ashley's protection wasn't up to much, and I did think him continuing to drug deal under the noses of the Police was a bit far-fetched. If he was doing a controlled drop or trade it would have been much better organised.

Glad also that SL's character looked like a woman in her late 40's.

[ExitPursuedByABear]

Maybe she was channelling Shakespeare's double time scheme