As the finale of Bloodlands begins, DCI Tom Brannick (James Nesbitt) collects evidence to frame someone for the murder of Birdy. He goes back to the old barn Olivia Foyle (Victoria Smurfit) told him about previously. After that, Tom and Izzy (Lola Petticrew) meet with the estate agent (Emma Little Lawless) so they can get the house. After signing the paperwork, Izzy leaves in a hurry so Tom says she isn’t feeling right. Tom confirms he is paying for this with a mortgage and authorized overdraft. She warns him that there will be hefty interest payments on the overdraft, but Tom says he has it covered since he is coming into some money. Once he finishes and joins Izzy, she admits she doesn’t want him to kill anyone. She knows he would do it for her, but she doesn’t want him to. They talk about the police as Tom insists they’re just trying to make things better.

Later, Tom tells his daughter he loves her before confirming he is going back to work. He approaches Noel Timoney (Dan Gordon) to ask about him giving Olivia her husband’s will. Noel says Olivia is just a piece of work so he wanted to get them off his case. That is why he broke the law and gave it to her. Tom wants to know more about why he used the word them. DS Niamh McGovern (Charlene McKenna) shows DCS Jackie Twomey (Lorcan Cranitch) the wanted poster they’ve made for Robert Dardis even though she doesn’t think it’ll help. When they join Tom, he tells them that Noel says the will is legitimate. He mentions how Noel says them. Niamh says she is going to Birdy’s house since they’re conducting a search as a precaution. Tom will visit Olivia to see if she will tell who her friend is. Niamh tells Jackie that Tom has ways of making Olivia talk. At Birdy’s place, she asks about a laptop or hard drive only to find out that they haven’t found one yet.

A firefighter notices the poster for Dardis on social media. Tom follows Olivia. He watches her as she sits down with Ryan Savage (Jonjo O’Neill) to talk about the gold. Ryan asks about her shooting one of the cop’s boys. He admits she is only alive because he doesn’t want attention, but that can change. She promises to get the gold. Ryan asks what she is going to do with the cop because he’d rather not have to worry about an angry Irish cop. Ryan gives her the address 439 Broomfield Avenue in Brooklyn since that is where her son lives. He knows that he works as a chef. When she asks him to leave her son out of this, Ryan says there is no loyalty like incentivized loyalty. Once Olivia leaves, Tom approaches Ryan to find out who he is. Once they exchange names, Tom knows he is from America and is there to get the gold. After Ryan asks if he has the gold, Tom says not here. Ryan wonders if he is planning something with the widow.

Tom learns more about Olivia being afraid for her life if she doesn’t get the gold back for Ryan. He tells Tom he is going to tell him what to do and he’ll do it just like Olivia. Ryan believes he is in an advantageous position because Tom is a dirty cop and doesn’t want anyone finding out. He threatens to ruin Tom’s life and possibly kill him if things do not go his way. Ryan wants him to bring the gold to him tomorrow with Olivia. After that meeting ends, Tom argues with Olivia for telling Ryan that he has the gold. Tom claims he could’ve told Ryan the truth. Olivia reminds him that neither of them gets the gold if Ryan gets what he wants. Once Tom finds out that he is likely traveling alone, he wants Olivia to agree to give him half the gold. He goes on to say he’ll frame Ryan for Birdy’s murder. He’ll get tried and they’ll split the gold. Olivia agrees to give him half the gold if he can do that. She won’t give him the pistol until she knows his plan is good enough.

Once Tom leaves, she gets a call from Ryan who tells her about the cop following her. When he says he doesn’t like it, Olivia tells him to kill Tom. The firefighter makes Niamh give her 40 pounds for the information she has. She claims she stopped at a light after work and saw Robert in the car next to her. She knows him because she goes to the Angels club with her friends and he was a bouncer there. She admits Robert was in the passenger seat and won’t say anything about the driver until she gets the 40 pounds. Once Niamh finishes with the interview, she tells Jackie about it and suggests it could be a credible lead. She has already requested camera footage to back up the claim. When Tom enters, he says he never got the chance to talk to Olivia. Niamh tells Tom about the eyewitness who saw Dardis on the night he went missing from the safe house.

Tom learns that the witness’s name is Sadie McIntyre. He gathers as much info as possible before calling the ANPR team to make sure they only send the footage to him. Izzy reads about Pat Keenan. She ignores a call from her father before hearing a knock at the door. Niamh comes up with nothing while Tom finds the wording of Colin’s will odd. The house was bought in two lots with one of them containing the land around the house itself. The 125 acres were on a long lease to a local farmer and only just became available again. It isn’t being used and there might be buildings there that they haven’t searched. Niamh begins working to get satellite imagery of the property. Once Tom runs into Olivia, he is told that Ryan has his daughter. She insists she doesn’t know how he found out about his daughter and it was the same with her son. Tom goes in before coming out to see if Olivia has the gold and pistol. She does.

He asks her to take it inside because there has been a change of plan. Tom asks for the gun and questions whether Olivia is telling the truth about them being in this together. She gives him what he needs as Tom begins working to create what appears to be a bomb. Niamh spots the barn with the red roof using satellite imagery. She goes to Jackie to tell him while he is busy writing an email to Birdy’s mother. Tom and Olivia load the bags into the bag of the vehicle. Ryan stops the car to check on Izzy who has been stuffed into the truck. He tells her about her father being a dirty cop and sleeping with a woman who killed one of his officers. Ryan warns her that today is going to be tough for her before shutting the trunk. Tom gets a picture of himself in the vehicle with Robert so he deletes it. He disconnects the radio’s microphone just before Olivia joins him. Jackie tells Niamh that Davy has gone missing too. Once she says he connected Rob to Olivia, Jackie says they should get her in.

Tom and Olivia go to the meeting point while Niamh tells Jackie that nobody was at the Foyle house. Jackie wants a search on Tom’s phone and radio since they don’t know where he is. Jackie gets the warrant to search the barn on the property so he offers to go with Niamh. On the way out, Niamh asks for the search on Tom’s phone and radio. Ryan approaches Olivia and Tom. He takes Izzy out of the boot of the car and forces Tom to give up his gun. Ryan warns Olivia that her son will die if his people don’t hear from him in 20 minutes. He threatens to shoot Izzy unless he is given the gold. Tom retrieves it for him as Olivia says they should give him the gold and save their children. Jackie learns about Olivia’s meeting at the motel with an American. He suspects the American is here for the gold. Ryan makes Izzy open the bags to confirm the gold is inside.

Once Izzy opens every bag for him, Ryan agrees to hang her over to Tom. Izzy runs into her father’s arms. He gets her out of harm’s way just in time for Ryan to get hit by the explosive device Tom created earlier. Tom runs over and hits him in the head with one of the gold bars. Olivia tries to get Ryan’s phone so she can save her son. Then, she turns her attention to disarming the bags. Jackie and Niamh reach the barn and go inside where they find Birdy’s body. Once they find blonde hairs, Jackie says she left him for the rats. After Tom disarms the other bags, Olivia grabs the handgun and shoots Tom in the leg. Izzy crawls around as her dad pleads with Olivia not to do this. Olivia says she doesn’t need Tom anymore and he’ll only come looking for her if she leaves him alive. Izzy ends up shooting her with the other gun. The photos from Dunfolan Road are delivered to Tom’s desk as Judith watches.

Izzy reminds her father that he knew Birdy was dead. He is forced to admit that he was there when Birdy died, but he didn’t help Olivia do it. Izzy insists she doesn’t know her father although he says otherwise. Niamh tries to call Tom and only gets his voicemail. She gets the picture from the traffic camera though and gets suspicious. Tom urges his daughter to take the gold because he protected it all this time for her. He questions what she is going to do about killing someone. As she begins realizing what is happening, Tom offers to take the blame. He gives her his phone and asks her to tell them that he did it all. As Niamh drives, she learns that Tom’s phone is transmitting from St. John’s Point Lighthouse. She is asked about sending units up there while Tom tells his daughter he loves her. He says he did it all for her before encouraging them to tell them everything.

 

Bloodlands Review

Bloodlands isn’t groundbreaking or even spectacular for that matter, but the season has proven itself to be surprisingly enjoyable. Viewers have to be willing to overlook some hiccups and eye-rolling moments to fully enjoy watching the corrupt cop attempt to get rich by stealing an American gangster’s gold. The cast of characters is relatable even when they’re engaged in unrealistic activities.

Although Tom is a sleazy guy with bad intentions, it is fun to watch him dig himself deeper and deeper into trouble. The season was vastly improved over the first even though it is hard to imagine how long the writers will be able to carry on Tom’s devious deeds.

With the way the season ended, it would be easy to create a 3rd season and clear Tom’s name so he can continue without being locked up.  At some point though, he will have to meet justice whether that is prison time or death. With Birdy removed from the picture, it may be difficult to find characters to cheer for considering Tom isn’t exactly a good guy.

The finale wasn’t bad even though it didn’t close every door and left enough room for another season. It was laughable at points, but that is part of enjoying everything Bloodlands has to offer. The series is quickly becoming a guilty pleasure if viewers don’t take it too seriously. The finale scores a 6.5 out of 10. Recaps of Bloodlands can be found on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support our independent entertainment website by following this link.