Sean Bean continues with such a touching portrayal of a decent man battling his own demons.
I love the fact that Father Michael's written as a fully-rounded, flawed person: many admirable traits, but far from a pious and saintly stereotype.
Being 'allowed' to show impatience, self-blame, anger, outright fear etc. makes him much more relatable.
I'm not religious, but you get the feeling he'd genuinely fight your corner when needed.
SB so understated, yet you can see real turmoil in his eyes, whilst he attempts to maintain his calm, priestly role for everyone else.
Heartbreaking, as we learn how his childhood was spent being betrayed by the adults he trusted: given the constant message, loud and clear, of complicity, closing ranks, those who try and speak out being threatened or ostracised...obvious parallels with the police storyline...no wonder adult Michael's so zealous in encouraging others to act entirely differently.
Cleverly done camera angles: from small, bewildered schoolboy's perspective (tall, terrifying, authority figure Priest teacher) to the adult reality of small, wizened, pathetic, elderly man.
Yet one still clinging on to last vestiges of power by refusing to acknowledge responsibility for inflicting the abuse.
(Am sure every single viewer cheered when SB finally gave it to the bastard with both barrels.
And I don't feel guilty one jot for hoping the slammed garden gate caused the abusive git a painful fall 
).
The senior police were all a bit pantomime 'cold villain', but PC Andrew was convincing. What will he ultimately decide to do, I wonder?