Episode 2 begins in the Furlong home with the regular breakfast argument between Cian (Rory Keenan) and Niamh (Amy De Bhrun). This morning they appear to have an unnoticed spectator in the form of Fia Lucey (Lisa Dwan) who makes her way to his docked boat when the coast is clear. As she takes a sampling of blood and bags what appears to be discarded jewelry, Niamh asks Cian if he wants a divorce. He says he doesn’t and asks her the same question. The abrupt arrival of Shane (Gerard Meehan) and Mark (Finlay Boylan) prevent her from responding. When Fia watches them leave, she introduces herself to Niamh under the guise that she’s there to pick up Cian for work. Before she can be brushed away, Fia asks to use the restroom.
Elsewhere, Emma Riley (Lisa Dwyer Hogg) attempts to discuss Fia’s past with her father, Donal Riley (Andrew Bennett). She tells him about looking at the photos and asks if Jack Lucey (Sean T O Meallaigh) planned his attack. Donal seems to think so, but can’t understand why he would have left Fia alive if that was the case.
Fia spends several minutes snooping around Cian’s home before joining Niamh in the kitchen to ask for a glass of water. After Niamh fails to brush her off, she asks for the real reason behind the visit. Fia claims that she felt they needed to meet since she will be working so closely with her husband. She immediately follows that up by asking how well she knew Roisin Hurley (Clara Fitzgerald). Niamh suggests she request a new partner if she doesn’t feel like Cian can do his job. The unexpected return of Cian prevents Fia from responding. Cian later calls her out on the visit while driving her back to her car. She claims that she thought she was picking him up.
Returning from the church, Marjorie Whelan (Ingrid Craigie) becomes upset with Dr. James Whelan (Barry McGovern) over his reluctance to speak with Fia about Chloe Whelan’s (Grace Collender), case.
Carrie (Rebecca Hanssen) appears to be growing tired of waiting around in the caravan and bombards her captor with questions about when she’ll be leaving. As she gets more and more hostile and adamant about speaking with Roisin, he reveals her death. Carrie doesn’t take the news well and asks the man to get her out of the country. She then expresses fears about someone knowing she’s there. He assures her that he hasn’t told anyone.
Fia has another run-in with the reporter outside the police station. Although he promises that the other papers will back off if she speaks with him, she loses her nerve. Superintendent Shanahan (Lloyd Hutchinson) witnesses her knock his recorder out of his hands and later calls her in for a meeting. He tells her that presence in town will cause a stir and she’ll have to learn how to deal with it better. She apologizes, claiming that she thought she was prepared before updating him on the Roisin case.
At a later meeting with the other officers, DG Angela Webster (Hannah James Scott) reveals that Roisin’s toxicology report found alcohol and minor traces of Ketamine. DG Luke Gannon (Youssef Quinn) shares reports of two calls placed to a burner phone the night Roisin disappeared. The meeting disperses with Fia suggesting the team make a list and look into all of Roisin’s drinking buddies. She pulls Luke aside and asks him to run the blood she recovered from Cian’s boat.
Fia arrives at the hotel to tell Donna Walsh (Jade Jordan) that they can reopen. Donna shares the news with Sean McGuire (Frank Blake) before Fia pulls her to the side and asks about Cian and Roisin’s relationship. Their conversation leads to Fia learning that Roisin and Cian were romantically involved and he displayed a violent side when she cut him loose. The discovery later inspires Fia to steal Cian’s keys and search his cruiser, which leads to the discovery of a second cell phone.
Fia and Cian return to the Reid Restaurant to question Charlie (Aidan McArdle) and Serena Reid (Natalie Radmall Quirke) about Roisin’s relationships. Serena claims that Roisin was happy just a month before her disappearance, although she can’t say why. Neither Charlie nor Serena can shine any light on Roisin’s argument with the young girl, but Fia’s mentioning the encounter appears to make a nearby Lynette (Megan McDonnell). Fia also picks up on her action and later confronts her about it. Lynette only says that she might have seen her and rushes off.
The reporter that bombarded Fia outside the station visits Bill (Stanley Townsend) and Deirdre McGuire (Orla Charlton) under the guise of learning more about the festival. His true intentions soon surface when he asks how they feel about Fia being the lead detective on the Roisin case. Deirdre appears to be most upset about the misrepresentation and says there wouldn’t be a Blackwater without her Bill’s attributes and that’s where the focus of the festival should be.
Donna delivers stolen meat from the hotel to her father Larry Walsh (Michael Power). She tells him it will be the last time and will start looking for her own place. He tells her she can get her own fancy flat, but Brittany Walsh (Emeli Doyle) will be staying with him.
Bill and Deirdre both continue to grow upset that the town’s focus is on Fia and the Roisin case. Bill expresses his disgust during a boxing session while Deirdre shares her distaste with Niamh. Deirdre drops subtle hints encouraging Niamh to convince Cian to steer the investigation away from Sean.
Cian arrives at the Walsh’s house and gets into a fistfight with Mikey Walsh (Isaac Finken) after accusing him of selling Roisin Ketamine. Walter intervenes and assures him they do not do business where Donna works. Cian offers to lose Walter’s paperwork if he will share who did. After some consideration, Walter subtly hints at Sean McGuire’s involvement.
Niamh visits Fia at the hotel to tell her about arguing with Cian the night Roisin was killed. Niamh says Cian feels guilty because the two of them left the function early and might have been able to prevent whatever transpired. Fia accepts the answer but does ask several questions that indicate her doubts. The conversation ends with Fia learning from Luke that the blood sample on Cian’s boat matches that of Roisin.
Armed with the new discovery, Fia calls Cian into a meeting in Shanahan’s office at the station. Although Shanahan has not arrived yet, Fia doesn’t waste any time laying out all the evidence against him. Knowing that Roisin made two calls to a burner phone the night she died is what saves him. Right before Shanahan arrives, Fia uses Roisin’s phone to call the burner number which is revealed to not be Cians. When Shanahan finally does show up, Cian shares his discovery about Sean McGuire selling Ketamine. Shanahan agrees to work on a search warrant but tells them they better be absolutely sure.
Fia confronts Cian outside the office where he reveals the truth about what happened the night Roisin disappeared. The blood is described away as nosebleeds. He ultimately admits to caring about Roisin. She agrees to keep his secret and work the case with him.
Fia later confirms Cian’s alibi and shares the USB footage with him at the hotel. This proves useful as he points out the prescription inhaler Cassie uses during one of the scenes. They agree to check with pharmacies within a 50 to 60-mile radius. Once he leaves, he sees the media articles online about her past. After several visions that don’t reveal much, she visits the boat dock to check on her father’s boat. Once there, she is overcome by several other visions of happy times. Ferguson eventually shows up and offers to get the boat back in running shape if Fia wants. She claims she won’t be around long enough. Their conversation leads to Fia discovering that Jack and Dr. Whelan were good friends who planned on racing the boat together a week after the incident.
Marjorie finally confronts Fia at her brother, Aidan (Senan Jennings), and mother’s, Elizabeth Lucey (Siobhan O’Kelly), gravesite. Marjorie says she’s a Christian but oftentimes struggles to forgive. When Fia subtly alludes to Jack’s possible innocence, Marjorie says her mother and brother’s gravesite at proof of his guilt.
Impressed with Donna’s ability to navigate the hotel through the hysteria of the last few days, Bill temporarily gives her Roisin’s management position. During the short encounter, he learns that the nosy reporter is staying at the hotel. He makes plans with Fia to meet with him in an attempt to return focus to the Festival.
Fia takes her suspicions about her father’s involvement in the tragedy to Donal. He claims that he never believed Jack was behind Chloe’s disappearance. If anything, he suspects that Chloe got tired of her mother’s religious boot camp and ran away. The discovery sends Fia back to Roisin’s apartment where he discovers a photo that ultimately leads to her learning that Roisin was meeting with her daughter, Carrie on Wednesdays. She shares the discovery with Cian. An extremely quick scene at the caravan alludes to Carrie having medical complications.
The episode ends with Lynette’s confession to Fia that she not only saw the young girl with Roisin, but suspects she was raped by Sean McGuire like herself.
Blackshore Review
Being that this was merely the second episode, there is an incredible amount of information being thrown out at one time. I understand it’s necessary and laid out in an understandable format, but as you can likely see, it makes for incredibly drawn-out episodes. I can’t help but feel that it would be better to have shorter but more episodes. There are also plenty of things that could be cut, but for the most part, the series stays on point. Although things are not entirely perfect, I am continually impressed with the acting. In fact, there isn’t much I can throw off on other than the long-winded episodes. Episode 2 easily deserves a 5.7 out of 10.
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