“Happy Valley: Series Three” (2023)

Television Series / Drama

Episodes: Six

Created by: Sally Wainwright

Featuring: Sarah Lancashire, Siobhan Finneran, James Norton, Charlie Murphy, George Costigan and Rhys Connah

Catherine: “Can’t stop thinking about it.”

After a nail-biting seven-year hiatus, Sally Wainwright’s Happy Valley finally returned for its bittersweet final chapter. And what a chapter it is. Series 3 doesn’t disappoint, delivering a taut, suspenseful, and emotionally resonant conclusion that both honors the show’s legacy and carves its own space in television history.

We rejoin Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire, in a career-defining performance), our steely Yorkshire detective, still grappling with the fallout of her nemesis Tommy Lee Royce’s (James Norton) escape and the haunting shadow he casts over her life. Familiar faces return, each carrying the weight of past traumas and unresolved conflicts. Anne (Siobhan Finneran), Catherine’s sister, continues to bear the scars of Tommy’s abuse, while Ryan (Rhys Connah), Catherine’s grandson and Tommy’s biological son, navigates the perilous path of adolescence burdened by a toxic legacy.

The series masterfully captures the cyclical nature of trauma. The past bleeds into the present, poisoning relationships and warping destinies. Yet, amidst the bleakness, glimmers of hope and resilience shine through. Catherine, despite her emotional armor, finds moments of tenderness with Ryan and her colleagues. There’s even a wry humor that cuts through the tension, a testament to Wainwright’s ability to weave complex emotions into a rich tapestry.

At the heart of the season lies the inevitable confrontation between Catherine and Tommy. This dance of predator and prey, simmering for years, explodes in a series of electrifying encounters. Wainwright avoids the obvious, refusing to give us a predictable showdown. Instead, she crafts a nuanced exploration of obsession, vengeance, and the thin line between justice and self-destruction.

Happy Valley is more than just a police procedural. It’s a character study, a meditation on grief and forgiveness, and a powerful indictment of systemic failures that perpetuate cycles of violence. The show doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths, tackling issues like domestic abuse, addiction, and the complexities of family dynamics with unflinching honesty.

But within the darkness, Wainwright finds pockets of beauty. The breathtaking Yorkshire landscapes offer a stark counterpoint to the emotional turmoil, reminding us of the enduring power of nature and the possibility of renewal. The bonds of love and community, particularly the fierce loyalty between Catherine and her sister Anne, provide a vital anchor in the storm.

Series 3 concludes with a sense of closure, while leaving room for interpretation. Wainwright doesn’t offer easy answers, but she trusts her audience to grapple with the complexities of the characters and their choices. The final moments are haunting, lingering long after the credits roll, a testament to the show’s lasting impact.

Happy Valley is a masterclass in storytelling. Wainwright’s writing is sharp, nuanced, and deeply human. The performances are uniformly outstanding, with Lancashire and Norton delivering unforgettable portrayals of characters etched in our minds. The direction is meticulous, building tension and atmosphere with an assured hand.

This final season isn’t without its flaws. The compressed six-episode format leaves some storylines feeling underdeveloped, and the pacing occasionally stumbles. But these are minor quibbles in the face of the show’s overall brilliance.

Happy Valley is a show that will stay with you long after you’ve finished watching it. It’s a dark and gripping portrait of humanity, but it’s also a story of hope and resilience. It’s a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the darkest corners of the human experience and, in doing so, to offer a glimmer of light.

Episodes

1. Catherine is called to a drained reservoir near Ripponden, and identifies a skeleton. Royce is interviewed and tells the police who ordered the killing. Pharmacist Faisal Bhatti is illegally supplying prescription drugs and is blackmailed by violent drug dealers from the Knezevic gang. One of Bhatti’s clients, Joanna Hepworth, is the abused wife of Rob Hepworth, Ryan’s PE teacher, who reports her for possession. Ryan has been secretly visiting Royce, and Catherine wants to know who is helping him.
2. Catherine finds out Clare and her partner Neil are taking Ryan to see Royce in prison, and follows them and confronts Clare. Hepworth accuses Ryan of vandalising his car but there is no evidence. With Joanna desperate to leave Mr. Hepworth, she blackmails Bhatti into helping her, claiming her husband knows about him. Joanna wants him to arrange a place for her to live, or help her kill her husband.
3. Clare finds out that Ryan had been writing to Royce since he was ten, and started seeing him in the last year. Catherine confronts Ryan and asks him to move out, explaining what Royce did. A blind woman jumps out of her high rise apartment window after being exploited by organised crime, which attracts unwanted attention for a gang member. Faisal wants to proceed with the plan to kill Mr. Hepworth, but after Joanna backs out and confesses that Hepworth does not actually know about him, he kills her in a fit of rage.
4. Knezevic tells two of his gang he has a job for them; they create a disturbance allowing Royce to escape from the court dock and flee Leeds on a bicycle. A missing persons officer visits the Hepworths’ house and Rob later discovers Joanna’s body in a suitcase in the garage.
5. Royce is taken to a safe house. He plans on moving abroad and taking Ryan with him. Hepworth reports finding Joanna’s body to the police. Catherine suspects he was involved in her death. Catherine’s family have to go into hiding. Royce and Ryan are still in contact via their games consoles, and Royce asks if Ryan wants to go away with him.
6. The police are closing in on Royce. The Knezevics double-cross Royce, who barely escapes after killing Zeljko and his associates. When interviewed by the police, Ryan reveals Royce has been in contact, while Catherine’s stirred up grief for Becky leads her on a collision course with Tommy. After an emotional final showdown between the pair, Royce fatally injures himself by setting himself on fire. Later, at Becky’s grave, Catherine receives news that Tommy has died. Meanwhile, Hepworth is taken in for questioning. On her final day on duty, Catherine connects some leads that allows her colleagues to solve Joanna’s murder.