Full Moon Fever –  The episode opens with Sergeant Helen McNally (Joanne Crawford) reporting a fatal shooting at 10:44pm at Waterloo Place. Police Ombudsman official, Geraldine Gilroy (Aoibheann McCann) interviews McNally who describes the shift as a “Full Moon Fever.” In a flashback, Tommy Foster (Nathan Braniff) chases a drug dealer on foot. Gerard “Gerry” Cliff (Richard Dormer) takes off in his direction. Barney (Frankie McCafferty) informs McNally of Tommy in a foot chase. Tommy and Gerry capture the suspect (Alfie Manser). Finding only a ten-spot of weed on the suspect, Gerry releases the suspect.

Stevie Neil (Martin McCann) is performing a breathalyzer on a drunk man (Gerard McCabe) when he asks Grace Ellis (Sian Brooke) how Angela Mackle (Valene Kane) knew her address. She suggests Angela saw it on her mail in her vehicle. After the suspect blows an 88, Stevie informs PS Sandra Cliff (Andi Osho). She warns that the suspect may be sober before they charge him. Back to the present, McNally tells Gilroy that everything came to a standstill.

Flashback, Jen Robinson (Hannah McClean) and Annie Conlon (Katherine Devlin) respond to a bar fight. Mo McIntyre (Michael Shea) and Gordy Mackle (Dane Whyte O’Hara) meet Eoin “Sully” O’Sullivan (Art Campion). Barney reports a disturbance at 2 Waterloo Place. McNally informs him of prior assaults at the address.

Flashback, the barman (Curtis-Lee Ashqar) tells Annie and Jen that the suspect potentially groped a female patron, Chloe (Eimear Bailie). When Chloe points him out to her father (Maurice Lee), a physical altercation breaks out. Jen, Annie, and the suspect, Michael (James Doran)  lock themselves into a room. Barney alerts them there is no backup.

Flashback, Sully reminds Mo of his previous offers to expand on their relationship. Mo claims James McIntyre (John Lynch) suggests running drugs in a specified area doesn’t ruffle feathers. Sully says if a drug operation isn’t growing, it’s dying.

Flashback, McNally orders Barney to put a hold on the disturbance at 2 Waterloo Place. Back to the present, she explains the factors that determine which reports receive priority. Gilroy warns that her decision-making resulted in a fatality that could be brought up in court. Flashback, Barney tells her that the victim at Waterloo Place reports being attacked by her husband. She takes over for Stevie and Grace so they can handle the dispute.

Flashback, Jen suggests leaving because the suspect is a pervert. Annie warns that the victim’s father will kill him. Michael asks what’s wrong with touching an arse from time to time. Annie arrests him for sexual assault before informing the victim. As Jen escorts Michael out of the bar, he makes a snide comment to the victim. Jen is assaulted while Annie holds the mob off with her Billy club and pepper spray. Stevie and Grace arrive at Waterloo Place to speak to Valerie (Helena Bereen). Her husband is deceased at the dining table.

Flashback, Cal Ellis (Matt Carver) and Ryan (Francis Morgan McCoey) are walking down the street when he spots Officer John. He urges him to take a detour. Sully offers Mo a handsome deal that doesn’t involve James. He assures him that his people will support him when James is no longer in the picture. Mo asks how much money would he make. John calls in Cal’s credentials before searching him. Ryan (Francis Morgan McCoey) asks why not him. Cal asks if it has to do with his race before turning to leave. When John grabs him, he hits him with his elbow. He is punched and arrested for assault on a police officer. Valerie explains her husband’s abusive behavior to Grace. She admits to being tired of it after 40 years of marriage.

Back to the present, Gilroy says it took 27 minutes for the police to arrive at Waterloo Place. She asks McNally her reaction when she discovered Valerie stabbed her husband to death. McNally asks for federal representation. Gilroy questions if she really wants to wait for the representative to arrive between four and six hours. Flashback, McNally reports the incident to David “Jonty” Johnston (Jonathan Harden). He orders her to report it to the Ombudsman’s office before promising to address it in the morning. She informs him of Jen being assaulted and may need to be grounded. He heads to the police department. She receives a call from Sandra regarding Michael’s assault complaint against Annie.

Flashback, Cal informs Grace of his arrest. Jonty tells Jen that he came in to check on her. They make out in the exam room. McNally admits it was wrong to put Annie with Jen. She says her plan will require Jen’s cooperation. Grace assures Stevie that it isn’t like Cal to assault an officer. She tells him that she needs to get to him now. Stevie says get in the car. Upon approaching the exam room, McNally hears panting and moaning. Quinny and Sully work out a deal that will earn them 100K. McNally is in the hallway when Jonty and Jen emerge from the exam room. In private, he claims they’re in love before promising to tell his wife, Abigail. She assures him that Jen is using him. She asks what if Jen claims a senior officer was taking advantage of her. She threatens to file a complaint if he doesn’t end it.

Flashback, Gerry and Tommy work a noise complaint. They enter through the back door to find the homeowner deceased. Gerry pries the TV remote from the female’s rigor mortis hand. When he calls it in, Barney says they have a long wait. McNally calls to inform him of the chaotic scene at the station. After the call ends, Tommy dictates what Gerry says, “11:38pm, Sergeant McNally attended the scene. On examination of the premises, she declared there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.” Tommy argues that she didn’t work the scene. Gerry says if it’s documented, it happened. Back to the present, Gilroy questions how she found time to work a sudden death while the call volume was still extremely high. McNally says the inquiry is regarding the Waterloo Place incident.

Present, Gerry tells Gilroy that McNally was at the scene for 10 minutes while Tommy says 30 minutes. She smiles while documenting his statement. Flashback, Jen is on the phone with her mum, demanding to be moved to another district when McNally enters the room to talk about Annie. Back to the present, Gilroy questions Jen about the suspect’s assault claims against Annie. Flashback, Valerie asks Stevie why they’re at a different police department. She suggests he not let what is for him go by him. Grace pleads with John to drop the charges against Cal. He refuses until Stevie and Valerie ask him to let Cal go. Upon arriving home, Cal complains to Grace about how he is treated.

Flashback, Barney dispatches Gerry and Tommy to The Palace. When he realizes it is OOB, he immediately ends the call. Gerry arrives at the scene as a vehicle with a Dublin license plate leaves. Sandra questions what took Stevie and Grace so long to bring in Valerie. He wishes Valerie the best before she is escorted to her cell. Back to the present, Gilroy asks Stevie why they went to the wrong police department. He claims to have been looking for a spare cell because they were full. She questions why he never alerted Sergeant McNally. He admits to acting crazy on full moons. When Gilroy poses the same question to Grace, she doesn’t respond but asks McNally for time off even if it constitutes disciplinary actions.

Present, Chief Superintendent Nicola Robinson (Andrea Irvine) tells Gilroy that Jonty made the mistake of failing to issue an ongoing Ombudsman investigation at their department and she failed to have a superior officer sign off on the investigation. She accuses her of illegally recording her officers and interfering in their work. Gilroy says every officer she spoke with lied. Robinson threatens to file a formal complaint against her for potential egregious abuse of process that obstructed her officers from the course of their duties. She orders Jonty to delete her audio files before she exits the building. McNally asks Gilroy how she would have handled the situation in her position.

MI5 Joseph (Nabil Elouhahabi) informs James of Mo’s side deal – automatic rifles, uncut cocaine, and ammo – with the Ginley organization. He says Gordy, Anton, and Mo plan to remove 12 guns and ammo. James threatens to kill them. Joseph orders him to not interfere with the plan because MI5 can track the guns directly to Ginley. James says it would put 12 AK-47s back into circulation and into the hands of psychopaths. He warns that people will be killed. Joseph assures him that they’re willing to accept the risks. He says Operation Farset will end after the deal is done before promising he’ll be free. The episode comes to an end.

 

Blue Lights Review

The death of a civilian due to delayed police response under Sergeant McNally’s watch prompts an Ombudsman investigation. It’s a full moon and officers are booked when Valerie reports an assault by her husband. She makes several reports with no police response. McNally books an intoxicated man into jail to dispatch Grace and Stevie to the scene. When they arrive, Valerie’s husband is deceased. She killed him with a knife.

Gerry and Tommy work a deceased person that requires McNally to clear the scene. Gerry documents she cleared the scene even though she never left the station.

Annie and Jen work a bar fight erupted from the suspect inappropriately touching Chloe. The scene gets out of control when her father gets involved. Annie, Jen, and Michael lock barricades themselves in a room. Michael is arrested for making an inappropriate comment about touching women without permission. With no backup in sight, Annie confronts Chloe and her father. Everything is good until Michael makes a snide comment to the victim. Jen is accidentally punched while Annie holds everything back with pepper spray. Annie forces Michael into the cruiser when he is injured. He files an assault claim against her.

Mo and Sully partner to move 12 AK-47s, ammo, and uncut cocaine without James’ input. Mo would be paid 100K. Joseph informs James of the deal which he wants to go through. MI5 plans to trace the guns to the Ginley cartel. James voices concern about the guns reentering circulation and people getting killed. Joseph says the MI5 is willing to accept the risks.

McNally discovers Jonty and Jen are having an affair. She warns him that Jen is only using him and threatens to file a complaint if he doesn’t end it. She forces Jen to support Annie against Michael’s assault complaint.

Gilroy is satisfied with her investigation after catching nearly all the officers in a lie. Chief Superintendent Robinson forces her to erase the officers’ statements after she fails to get a senior officer to sign off on the investigation.

Such a shame the episode is tainted by agenda-based writing. The constables, sergeant, chief superintendent, and MI5 are portrayed as corrupt and racial profilers.. Look over the idiosyncrasies to reveal the best episode of the series. The episode deserves a 7. Get more Blue Lights recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Ask about our onsite advertising.