User Reviews

Hearing Ann deliver that GLORIOUS speech was very satisfying, and incredibly overdue. Somebody really, really, really had to tell the truth to Ryan already, and they should've done it ages ago. Enough with the "he's just a child", "we need to protect him" bs, he needed that clear, factual account, without any sugarcoating. Even after that he can't really seem to comprehend the reality, he would have no chance with the continued tiptoeing and talking around the facts. When a child is standing next to hot lava and you can't help the situation itself, you don't protect them from the uncomfortable thought of pain or the fear of it. You protect them from the darn lava, by telling them in no uncertain terms what will happen if they go any nearer, and what exactly happened to those who touched it before him. And if necessary, you slap them silly if they still try to go nearer, because that will still hurt a lot less than melting into lava.

Ryan calling that scum "dad" annoyed me for ages. Even if the situation was "just" an abusive relationship and him deserting his pregnant mom, that alone would already disqualify him entirely from being "dad". Not to mention trying to kill him when he was a kid. But knowing the actual truth and still clinging onto some idiotic fantasy of a daddy... Amazing. (Yes, I do understand that this sort of thing makes sense, it happens, the human mind is weird. It still is annoying though.)

IMHO, Catherine is far too docile in this episode. She has a conversation with Clare and should have lit into her, but didn't. After all, it was Clare who stabbed her in the back. It was Clare who has helped put everyone in danger. Yes, Catherine did say something to Clare but it wasn't nearly as direct as it needed to be under the circumstances.

And the last scene of this episode was unforgivable. Considering the level of danger, how is Ryan NOT being monitored? He's PROVEN himself to be a danger to himself. AND he's already demonstrated he'll run away at the drop of a hat. So, the response to that behavior is to NOT monitor his phone? That made NO sense, other than a dramatic ploy to intensify the story.

The only character who acted sanely was Ann Gallagher. And even she pulled her punches too much, imho. Ann needed to get right up in Ryan's face and scream "Rape!" over and over to force him to feel the pain he's been cooperating with and condoning, but she didn't.

That's the real tragedy of Happy Valley: All of the women keep their feelings bottled up inside instead of expressing them openly and with conviction. That repression eventually manifests as some horrible situation which could have been avoided if everyone had simply communicated honestly.

Ultimately, the lesson of Happy Valley is: Secrets Lead to Tragedy.

The really big question here is why oh why hasn't Ryan googled anything on Tommy Lee Royce?? Surely he would have had a peek years ago?

Anyway, moving on to this episode - probably the weakest in this season. Why didn't we (the viewers) get to see any of the forensic team inside the house of where Joanna was found and her husband phoning police and his reaction etc? We really needed to see that storyline.

Now to the part of Richard driving off and leaving Ryan. Ahhhhh!

And then of course he arrives at his meeting and it has been cancelled. Now, let me guess - the person who cancelled is watching him and then will follow him and will lead him straight to where they're all hiding. I guess I'll have to wait for the next episode.

I understand everyone is angry and annoyed at Ryan and Clare and Neil but why the sudden hatred towards Ryan especially from Anne?

It's not Ryan's fault. He's just young and naive and feeling unwanted by everyone.

I'm looking forward to the finale next week. Im sure it will be a thriller!