The finale kicks off with Jessica Haynes (Claire Goose) still trapped in the front hall closet while Nick Haynes is processed and released from custody. DS Ibrahim (Colleen Keogh) ensures he knows he’s still a person of interest. Outside, he receives the text that Sian Gregson (Jill Halfpenny) sent from Jessica’s phone.

Although the stop is extremely short, Alice Haynes (Freya Hannan-Mills) and Sian’s road trip hits a snag when Alice becomes sick with guilt and Sian is forced to be over.

Immediately escaping the hall closet, Jessica calls Alice and leaves a warning voice message about Sian being dangerous. At nearly the same time, a noise sends her racing to the front door. It’s Nick, who assumes Jessica is mad over his return. Their differences are put aside when Jessica tells him about Sian taking Alice.

Stopping at a petrol station, Sian goes inside to get something to settle Alice’s stomach. Alice covertly listens to Jessica’s voice message and demands to use the bathroom when Sian returns to the car.

Jessica beats herself up while she and Nick plan their next move. After quickly ruling out the authorities, Jessica remembers that Nick’s phone can track Alice’s.

Alice is contemplating calling Jessica when Sian catches her phone. Despite Sian’s clear frustration, she asks Alice if she wants to go home. Alice’s reluctance to answer leads to Sian lying about Jessica and Nick not wanting her.

Jessica and Nick track Alice’s cell signal to the petrol station only to discover that it has been left behind. This forces them to bring in the authorities for assistance. While doing so, Sian tells Alice that they have nearly arrived at their destination.

Nick immediately becomes hostile and only grows more so as Ibrahim treats Alice’s case as a runaway. At one point, Ibrahim orders Nick to take her associate for a look in Alice’s room. When they are gone and despite Jessica’s avid claims, Ibrahim continues to treat the case as a runaway and Jessica as a frightened spouse. Nick’s displeasure leads to him remembering that Sian used her Aunt Fay (Marjorie Yates) as a reference. He’s right in the middle of calling her when Jess points out that calling her will be like sending up an early warning.

Sian destination appears to be a seaside community that appears currently abandoned due to it being the off-season. Sian brags about the place being a huge hit in the summer but appears to grow even more frustrated as Alice appears to only be concerned with returning home. At one point, Sian flat-out tells Alice that this is their new home and shows her where she was born. The place is not at all what Alice would have assumed and the shutoff water only appears to further unnerve her. Alice only grows more disturbed as Sian shares the shocking story behind her birth.

Rather than phoning Auntie Fay, Nick, and Jessica pay her an in-person visit. Although she initially hides from them, she opens the door when they mention Sian and Alice. Nick immediately barges in and searches for Alice. Enigmatically, Fay tells them that Sian may have done some bad things, but the only person she’s ever hurt is herself. Nick and Jessica soon learn that Sian thinks Alice is her daughter, which is impossible because she died shortly after her birth.

Nick and Jessica race to the seaside trailer park community while Alice convinces Sian to show her the sea. At the beautifully scenic pier, Sian becomes so lost in her thoughts and reminiscent stories that it takes her several minutes to realize Alice has run away. Alice is loose in the neighborhood by the Sian realizes. When Sian manages to catch up to her, Alice claims she is just playing a game. Overrun with fear and anger, Sian whisked Alice back to the trailer where her behavior grows odder by the second. Alice soon makes the mistake of suggesting that she isn’t Sian’s daughter, which leads to Sian physically pushing her down. Sian manages to collect some semblance of herself once she realizes how frightened Alice is.

As Sian regains her composure and begins preparing a meal, Nick and Jessica arrive in the community. After realizing there is no cell reception, they split up to better their odds of quickly locating Alice. Alice is quick to take advantage of the distraction and hit Sian in the back of the head with what appears to be a can of beans. Although Sian cowers like a beaten dog, she’s still alert enough to hand over the keys when Alice demands them. Sian attempts to intervene as Alice fumbles with the door but ends up on her back with Alice running out the door. Sian grabs a knife from the kitchen before going after Alice.

As the chase proceeds, Alice is able to respond once to her parent’s beckoning pleas. Although they hear it, Alice soon finds herself unable to respond because of Sian’s close proximity. Nick is the first to discover the now-abandoned trailer. Once he’s inside, he is surprised from behind by Sian. He ends up stabbed but the awkward encounter plays out more like he ran into her holding the knife than her stabbing him. Jessica soon joins them but it’s only seconds before they both are drawn to Alice’s pleas.

For some reason, Alice has chosen to run near the pier. Sian is the first to find her. The fear in Alice’s response causes Sian to realize she’s brandishing the bloody knife. After throwing it down and approaching, Jessica arrives. Jessica manages to retrieve the knife but Alice tackles her before she can use it. They spend several seconds struggling before Alice intervenes by referring to Sian as Mom and telling her that she remembers. Sian goes to her and apologizes and once Alice forgives her, she practically jumps off the pier.

A moving van, packed boxes, and Ibrahim’s ensuing conversation with the Haynes reveal that they are moving back to London. The couple also appears to be in good spirits as they learn that Sian can’t be officially declared dead without a body but authorities have already notified next of kin. When Jessica goes upstairs for a quick conversation with Alice, it’s also suggested that their relationship has improved.

The series ends in a blurry scene with a young girl named Alice opening the door to a stranger who looks eerily close to Sian.

 

The Cuckoo Review

Although I was expecting a very similar outcome, I still enjoyed the series. I was especially pleased with the ending, but not because it could mean a second season. Rather, because it leaves things more open-ended/enigmatic. It’s the type of ending that can leave you guessing/speculating for days, maybe even weeks. Similar to that of the Soprano’s ending. The series did an incredible job of wrapping up the storylines.

From my perspective, I felt the acting was superb. Of course, nothing is perfect and I am not an expert, but the suspense was real. As with many shows, my biggest complaint would have to be some of the questionable way things played. For example, the scene where Alice attacks Sian with canned food and makes her hand over the keys. And, why in the world would Alice run so close to the water instead of going to her parent’s car or at least staying on land? All in all, the big finale still deserves an easy 6 in my eyes.

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