Blue Lights Series 1 Episode 3 Recap

The Fear – As the episode opens, Mo McIntyre (Michael Shea) informs JP Senior (Packy Lee) of something going down tonight. Gordy Mackle (Dane Whyte O’Hara) apologizes for spilling petrol before getting into the car.

Siobhan (Mary Moulds) gives her son, JP Junior (Isaac Heslip) some whiskey and pills.

At 7pm, Grace Ellis (Sian Brooke) tells Stevie Neil (Martin McCann) that her son, Cal Ellis (Matt Carver) is working on his A-levels for college. Stevie denies having children before going on night duty.

PC Gerard “Gerry” Cliff (Richard Dormer) and Tommy Foster (Nathan Braniff) speak with Dr. Wallace (Tim Loane) regarding his stolen Range Rover 50.

At 9:30pm, Siobhan reassures JP Junior who then apologizes to JP Senior. A masked orders him to get down on the ground before another masked man approaches and shoots him in the leg. The shooter removes his mask to reveal his true identity, Quinny (Shane McCaffrey).

Gordy and Mo are in Dr. Wallace’s stolen vehicle.

JP Senior applies pressure to JP Junior’s leg when Grace and Stevie arrive at the scene. While Stevie applies a tourniquet, Grace takes Siobhan’s state. She blames the shooting on neighborhood children. Grace asks why they delayed calling emergency for about five minutes. Frustrated, Siobhan says because their son was shot. Grace asks if they knew in advance. Siobhan refuses to talk.

James McIntyre (John Lynch) confronts Angela Mackle (Valene Kane) about her refusal to accept her monthly allowance. She tells him that she no longer wants it. He says her previous public display isn’t good for the community before reminding her how he promised Rory to take care of her. He warns that another public meltdown will mean she and Gordy are on their own. He leaves her allowance on the table before leaving.

Stevie assures Grace that she will get used to the circumstances. She says the police can do so much better.

Eoin O’Sullivan (Art Campion) tells Mo that they’re even since the last batch of drugs containing more than usual.

Grace tells JP Senior that he needs to monitor JP Junior after the doctor prescribes opioids and possibly antidepressants. She warns that physiotherapy is the most difficult since there is the chance that he’ll never walk again. She says he may even hate him for letting him get shot. He refuses to give a statement because they will kill them the next time. DS Murray Canning (Desmond Eastwood) confronts Grace about being at the hospital when she is off-duty. She tells him that she worked the shooting.

After waking to a loud noise, Annie Conlon (Katherine Devlin) grabs her gun and makes her way to the front door where she finds her mum, Bridie Conlon (Antoinette Morelli).

Gordy and Mo leave the garage in a vehicle, not Dr. Wallace’s.

MI5 Joseph (Nabil Elouahabi) watches surveillance footage of Mo and James at a Moylough junkyard. The stolen vehicle was stripped. He suggests the Ginley crime syndicate is their way in. Inspector David “Jonty” Johnston (Jonathan Harden) warns that people are talking. MI5 wants to operate without interference from the police.

James pays Tina McIntyre (Abigail McGibbon) for allowing him to shoot up her house. James orders Mo to get tea when the doorbell rings. Angela asks Tina if she is worried about Gordy after hearing about the shooting involving a boy. James forces her to leave.

Bridie is upset that Annie was threatened. Annie decides to move out to protect her.

Cal Ellis (Matt Carver) is asked by a shopkeeper (Joe Rea) to open his backpack. One of his classmates demands to know why he wanted to check Cal’s backpack. Another boy urges him to let it go.

Grace tells Canning that JP Senior may be willing to talk. Canning says out of 43 punishment shootings, no suspects were convicted. She reminds him of the term being replaced with a paramilitary-style attack before asking if the 15-year-old victim deserved to be shot. He invites her into his office.

Jen Robinson (Hannah McGibbon) responds to a partially nude male on a bus. They arrive on scene to find Alan “Happy” Kelly (Paddy Jenkins) on the top level of a Belfast Tours bus. The driver (Andrew Porter) makes a verbal complaint when they arrive. When Happy urinates off the side of the bus, Annie breaks the door glass. He thanks them for arresting him. Angela tries to contact Grace at the police station but she is on duty. Jen changes her mind about resting Happy until he claims to be suicidal which requires them to stay with him at the hospital.

JP Junior suggests the suspect confused him for someone else. Grace asks how long he has been with the McIntyre gang. He curses her. She warns that he will struggle to cope. JP Senior denies knowing his son was working for James. He tells her that JP Junior delivered tainted drugs in South Belfast and charged the customers double. He claims to have been held at gunpoint while working. She suggests Canning check the CCTV footage at his workplace on Floralhall Road.

Cal tells Grace that he is considering going to college in Manchester or London. She suggests tuition would be expensive. He assures her that it wouldn’t cost her anything. He asks what’s wrong with him wanting to spread his wings.

Annie suggests Jen gets away with sitting on her butt because her mum runs the police departments. Jen assures her that she won’t be a constable much longer when the doctor (Rodney Tosh) releases Happy.

James wants Gordy to move into one of his high-end apartments.

Annie stays with Cal and Grace until she gets her own place.

Stevie and Grace watch the CCTV footage from JP Senior’s workplace. Mo can be seen in the driver’s seat of Dr. Wallace’s vehicle while Gordy gets petrol.

Gerry tells Sandra Cliff (Andi Osho) that Tommy connected the OOBs with serious crime reports. She suggests letting it go. He flirts with her again before leaving.

Grace and Canning show the CCTV to JP Senior and Siobhan. Out of fear for their lives, they refuse to give statements. Grace suggests their statements may earn them enough compensation to move. Siobhan says there is a hotel in County Mayo where her sister, Clodagh lives. When he refuses, she asks if Ciaran and Lorcan are their next victims.

Jonty watches the CCTV from the petrol station. Canning says it may be possible to prosecute Gordy and Mo but Jonty refuses. Gerry listens as Grace blames herself for JP Senior’s family putting their lives in danger for nothing. Gerry confronts Jonty about the OOBs. Jonty assures him that it doesn’t concern him. Gerry asks Tommy if he still has the cross reference of OOBs and emergency reports. Tommy pulls it up on his computer.

Grace and Stevie watch Siobhan and JP Senior pack their vehicle when Mo and Gordy pull up. She threatens to kill James if he comes near her family again. Stevie tells Grace that it’s impossible to fight shadows.

Grace arrives home to find Angela waiting as the episode comes to an end.

 

Blue Lights Review

James orders JP Junior shot for selling drugs outside their territory. Grace convinces his parents to give a statement against Mo and Gordy. Jonty refuses to file charges because they’re OOBs. JP Senior uproots his family for nothing.

Jen and Annie arrest Happy after a public demonstration on a tour bus. Jen later withdraws the arrest until he claims to be suicidal. She’s thrilled with spending their entire shift at the hospital. The attending physician releases him to go home.

James offers to move Gordy into one of his high-end apartments to get him away from Angela. He warns Angela that another public outburst will lose his protection. She decides to talk to Grace.

After getting a threat, Annie temporarily moves in with Grace and Cal.

Cal rethinks his decision to enroll in a local college after a shopkeeper searches his bag, not his friends.

The writer has an agenda that becomes more apparent with each episode. The scene in which the shopkeeper searches Cal’s backpack but not his friends is an inaccurate depiction of Belfast businesses. Enough already, give viewers what they pay for, not this ridiculous tripe.

The episode deserves a 5.5. Get more Blue Lights recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Our onsite advertising is a great way to build online awareness.