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

489 replies

MorrisZapp · 29/04/2014 22:05

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?

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CoventryUniversityNetballTeam · 21/05/2014 11:50

I am loving this series, I'm completely gripped and I can't wait for next week.

I'm a big wimp and violence/blood etc usually makes me switch off but this is too good. I jump out my seat every time Catherine turns and sees the image of her dead daughter it's scary.

I'm looking forward to the next episode, I think Kevin and his wife will be caught out soon, they aren't as clever as they think they are, he is far too nervous the acting is fantastic

baldisbeautiful · 21/05/2014 15:21

Went to bed not long after this finished last night and couldn't get off to sleep for a couple of hours, my heart was still pounding! Rarely does a TV program have that effect on me. Bloody brilliant.

diddl · 21/05/2014 16:35

It is watchable, isn't it?

SL is doing a great job, but then it is a good part.

I keep thinking now that it'll come out that TLR didn't rape her daughter.

Will Kev get away with it??

He has a legit reason for Ashley knowing him afterall.

Southeastdweller · 21/05/2014 18:40

Hope Cath gets with that detective. She's too good for that ex of hers

everlong · 21/05/2014 18:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Southeastdweller · 21/05/2014 18:55

I wish the Radio Times was more ambiguous in it's previews. They've given away two spoilers for next weeks episodes which I won't reveal now. But I will say that Siobhan Finneran is finally given more to do.

diddl · 21/05/2014 19:01

Just that it would be a twist I suppose.
It is a bit too violent for me overall I think-for the sake of it?
I enjoyed Last Tango in Halifax, but I think that theatre was too much going on.
Gillian supposedly killing her husband.
What was the point of that-just to shock?
And I think that this is the same.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 21/05/2014 19:35

Late to the party but been watching since the beginning.

SL is fantastic, she should win every award possible for this show and the same for Sally Wainwright.

Brilliant tv , grim yet compelling [ cliche I know but so true]

I'm so looking forward to the next episode, come on next week!!!

I have a vague idea in my head how I imagine the last show to be.

Kaluki · 21/05/2014 23:51

I think SLs sister told someone that Ryan was Tommys son because she looked right shifty when Catherine told her he knew.
She used to be an addict so I'm wondering if she's not all she seems

SabrinaMulhollandJjones · 22/05/2014 00:24

Oh, I suppose SL's sister could have been the 'smack-head' that told Tommy's mum about Ryan?? Woah.

I'm deliberately not reading any spoilers about this! I'm dying to google it, but I won't! I want to watch it as it unfolds.

How are we going to get through the next week??

Deux · 22/05/2014 08:56

It's a grim subject re the rape of Becky. I wondered about this too. Tommy has been pure evil but I thought there was a flicker of something when he found out she had died.

When SL confronted him and said she new he had raped Becky, he denied it. I did wonder at that point if he was telling the truth or just fronting it out.

Deux · 22/05/2014 08:58

We don't actually know if Ryan is Tommy 's son, only SL word for it. I wonder if there is more to Becky's back story.

Kaluki · 22/05/2014 08:58

Me too. He seemed to care that she was dead which was out of character.
I'm really overthinking it - have to remind myself it's not true!!!

diddl · 22/05/2014 09:01

He did seem to care that she was dead & that Ryan was his son.

But then he could be desperate for a family/someone to love?

It would be great if Becky hadn't been raped (ashamed of getting pregnant by TLR?), but then I also don't want a false rape claim iyswim.

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MorrisZapp · 22/05/2014 09:11

This weeks episode took me totally by surprise. That final cellar scene was what how I imagined the series would end. I'm thrilled though, firstly be be genuinely shocked/ awed by events - how often does that happen in modern drama - but more importantly because it suggests that we have two episodes now in which it's fair to guess that violence will play much less of a part, and human relations much more.

I honestly think anything could happen. TLR for a very late 'redemption'? Hard to imagine but it's out there. Ashley and the young lad could go either way from here.

Anne will finally get an active, speaking role.

I won't be able to avoid the Radio Times, I just know it! This has been the most involving series I can remember watching. My only minuscule gripe is that the guy who plays TLR is too good looking. I just can't convince myself that he's the product of a crap upbringing with an addict for a mum, he looks like he's one outfit change away from Jack Wills advert.

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Deux · 22/05/2014 09:23

I think that because he is so good looking makes his evil deeds more chilling. He doesn't fit the stereotype look of a monster. I think he does evil very well.

I think it prompts a fear in us, that we would be able to spot evil monsters based on how they look, but here we have model-boy evil.

I'm obviously over thinking this too.

Mind you there have been loads of similar threads about The Killing, The Bridge. So it's great to have one for a homegrown drama.

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MorrisZapp · 22/05/2014 09:24

Whoa! Just got a spoiler pic from next week on my Facebook feed, because I'm following 'Sarah Lancashire and last tango in Halifax'. They had some lovely BAFTA pics of SL too.

I suspect the spoiler is the same as the Radio Times. And not really a spoiler, but I'll keep it clamped anyway.

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MorrisZapp · 22/05/2014 09:26

No such thing as over thinking the nuances of well made drama!

And yes I suppose TLRs good looks add a whole new level of emotional confusion for the (middle aged, female) viewer. Oh blimey, I would...

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Shoopshoop2 · 22/05/2014 09:44

What if Ryan is Richard's son...

SabrinaMulhollandJjones · 22/05/2014 10:04

Omg, I daren't even look at my RT now!

YY to TLR being v good looking - a bit too fresh-faced, public school boy for that sort of upbringing... but then I like that good looking people can be shown to be monsters, plenty are in rl. Too often the goodies in dramas are good looking, while the baddies are rough looking with eyebrows that meet in the middle. Wink

TLR is a psychopath - psychopaths are often very interested in their own children, but only as their 'possessions' - carrying on their family line, name, etc and psychopathic rapists wouldn't admit to raping someone, TLR probably wouldn't think what he did to Ann was rape either.

Saying that, I think it will turn out to have a massive twist at the end about what really happened to Becky, and why she killed herself...

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 22/05/2014 10:46

Shoopshoop I hope not Shock Shock

everlong · 22/05/2014 10:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

diddl · 22/05/2014 11:09

There's a son as well though, isn't there that's estranged from SLs character?

Maybe he knows more?

Shoopshoop2 · 22/05/2014 11:46

Very cruel twist for Catherine,if that's the case.
Richard not wanting anything to do with Ryan. The estranged son. Becky's suicide,unless that was PND...

tobiasfunke · 22/05/2014 12:23

I agree that TLR didn't rape Becky. She may have blamed him because he had already been put away for raping someone else. I'm presuming it was about that time as he didn't know Becky was pregnant or had died.
If it wasn't him it has to be one of the other people we've come across -
Richard, the unseen brother, the local councillor,the detective bloke SL was shagging, anyone really. I bet SF knew.