Episode 3 begins at a press conference where DI Fia Lucey (Lisa Dwan) seeks the public’s assistance in identifying Carrie Hurley (Rebecca Hanssen). With the presence of Ed Donoghue (Brain Doherty) and his questions about Fia’s past, it doesn’t take long for the event to spin out of control. Despite his persistence, Fia handles the situation rather well while Dr. James Whelan (Barry McGovern) makes a scene. The man at the caravan is finally revealed as Liam McArdle (Dara Devaney) when he is approached by his landlord Gerard (Phil Kelly). Gerard doesn’t appear too nosy or pushy but does ask if Liam has company. Liam claims to be alone. When he returns to the caravan, his conversation with Carrie reveals that he’s not holding her hostage but trying to help. Startled by last night’s asthma attack, he encourages her to speak with authorities. She claims they can’t be trusted.

Much to everyone’s surprise, Sean McGuire (Frank Blake) voluntarily shows up at the police station to share his relationship with Roisin Hurley (Clara Fitzgerald). DG Angela Webster (Hannah James Scott) turns the tables on him when she asks about the Ketamine. When DG Luke Gannon (Youssef Quinn) interrupts to reveal the 25 grams of Ketamine discovered in Sean’s hotel office, he is arrested.

At the hotel command station, Cian Furlong (Rory Keenan) tells Fia that he’ll touch base with the pharmacies and report back to her. Emma Riley (Lisa Dwyer Hogg) interrupts to offer solace from Ed’s attack during the press conference. Their meeting doesn’t last long thanks to what appears to be an argument between Ed and James. After intervening and intimidating Ed in retreat, she apologizes to him. He tells her that Jack Lucey (Sean T. O Meallaigh) is the one to blame.

An upset Deidre McGuire (Orla Charlton) arrives at the station to advocate on Sean’s behalf. In Superintendent Shanahan’s (Lloyd Hutchinson) office she claims that Fia is on a revenge path to get back at the town for what they did to her father. Overhearing the conversation from her desk, Webster calls Fia to warn her. She also mentions something about the McGuires bringing in Breda Gleeson (Claire J. Loy) to represent Sean. Fia claims they will need her before asking about Lynette (Megan McDonnell). Although she’s a no-show, Fia ends the conversation by telling her not to push Lynette.

Donna Walsh (Jade Jordan) attempts to sympathize with Fia as well about Ed’s behavior at the press conference. Their conversation soon leads to Fia requesting Donna’s help making Donna feel comfortable with testifying and trusting Fia. Donna agrees to help. Despite this, it is Charlie Reid (Aidan McArdle) who later provides a shoulder to lean on when she asks for the afternoon off to speak with the guards. He also encourages her to trust Fia.

Cian attempts to smooth things with his wife, Niamh Furlong (Amy De Bhrun), at home. He not only apologizes for the affair but for putting her in a position that made her feel like she needed to lie to give him an alibi.

Carrie’s landlord reports the theft of Carrie’s inhaler and passport from her apartment. After providing a description, Lance Gannon cross-references it with the list of Roisin’s drinking buddies, which leads the team to Liam. Although his record is relatively clean and he doesn’t own a gun, Fia orders Luke to bring him in. Although Lynette finally shows up and gives her statement, it is extremely fuzzy and might not provide enough to hold Sean. When the interview ends, Fia embraces Lynette and tells her how to reach her if she ever needs to chat. Lynette’s hint about the possibility of other victims surprises Fia. Fia orders Cian to look for other complaints while she questions Sean.

With Breda by Sean’s side, Fia’s interrogation doesn’t start off as planned. Her luck quickly changes when Cian calls with reports of numerous female employees being fired within just weeks of working with Sean. Despite the discovery, Cian doesn’t return in time with the files, forcing Fia to release him even after attempts of intimidation. Fia charges Webster with cross-referencing the files to other reports which eventually leads them to a Zara Bailey (Lynn Rafferty).

Although Zara agrees to give a statement, it isn’t any clearer than Lynettes. Their meeting also reveals that Zara only further pursued the matter because of her mother’s insistence. She claims that when she reported the incident to authorities, the interviewing officer didn’t take her statement seriously and basically reported a story he concocted. Shanahan takes Fia’s complaint a bit more seriously but warns her that the continued pursuit of Sean will only look like a vendetta.

After learning about Sean’s release, Carrie experiences another breakdown during which she reveals a bit more about her troubled childhood of growing up in orphanages.

When Fia revisits her childhood home, she has several memories of Jack and Chloe Whelan (Barry McGovern) that appear to contradict everyone’s claims that he was innocent. This leads to her returning to Donal (Andrew Bennett) and Sandra Riley’s (Ally Ni Chiarain) where she searches through a tin container filled with old greeting cards. He also discovers a cell phone inside, containing texts between Jack and Chloe. Although the messages aren’t revealing, she uses them to confront Donal the following morning. He maintains his stance that Jack is innocent. She later visits Fergus Slattery (Brendan Conroy) at the docks who advocates for Jack’s innocence as well.

Charlie Reid (Aidan McArdle) becomes upset and causes a scene at the restaurant when he learns about Sean’s release from Serena Reid (Natalie Randmall Quirke). His reaction startles Serena and makes her think out loud that his relationship with Roisin went way beyond friendship. He responds by storming out of the restaurant.

While still at the station, Fia receives a phone update about Cian’s shocking discovery at the hotel. It turns out that there were not only several other sexual assault victims, but Roisin facilitated payoffs and bribes to keep the complaints to keep some of them quiet. Armed with the discovery, Fia approaches Donna and all but accuses of her being involved. After a bit of back and forth, it appears that she convinces Fia that she had nothing to do with it.

At the bar, Ed stops and apologizes to Fia for the press conference. He offers to buy her a drink and asks to speak with her, “off the record.” Much to his surprise, she accepts his offer and orders a double Blackshore 25. She then refers to him as a parasite and demands he never speak to her again. He later learns he can’t return the 174 Euro drink because of the ice.

While Liam unsuccessfully tries to get Carrie to speak with the cops, Fia fathers her officers to lay out a search strategy for him and Carrie. Despite his non-violent record, she says he’s to be taken so. Deirdre catches Sean in the middle of packing his clothes. Despite her threats to financially cut him off, it appears his mind is made up.

Although Fia manages to track down Carrie, Liam is already gone. Carrie initially puts up resistance but appears to be coming around until the sound of nearby sirens freaks her out. She manages to overpower Fia and escape into the woods. Carrie emerges from the woods at Charlie’s house. She attempts to overpower his as he appears to be in the process of loading his luggage. Instead, she ends of battered and stuffed in the trunk.

 

Blackshore Review

What happened? I certainly hope this isn’t a sign of things to come. In one episode, this episode went from decent to a feminized campaign for women’s rights. The ending scene was just outright stupid and didn’t make much sense to me. I’d give the episode a disappointing 3.5 out of 10. I am nearly ashamed to say, I would almost recommend skipping this episode!

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