This Too Shall Pass – As the episode opens, Constable Stevie Neil (Martin McCann), Constable Grace Ellis (Sian Brooke), Constable Annie Conlon (Katherine Devlin), and Constable Tommy Foster (Nathan Braniff) are on Lindsay’s Mill when they encounter a burning dumpster blocking their access to the main line. Grace calls in their situation to dispatch as they come under attack by a mob. The dispatcher, Barney (Frankie McCafferty) warns that there are no available officers. The mob begins throwing petrol bombs at them. Grace calls for emergency backup. Barney orders them to stay put as the cruiser engine explodes into a burning blaze. The mob pelts the cruiser with bricks. A man waves a smoke bomb while another activates an air horn. As the mob disperses, the man holding the air horn removes his mask to reveal he is McCloskey (Neil Keery). The officers emerge from the cruiser. McCloskey says their Public Order Training performance is worse than he has ever seen. Stevie tells him that they went wrong when they left the main line. Grace claims they were responding to a casualty. McCloskey stresses the need to stay with the other units and announces everyone died. Sergeant Sandra Cliff (Andi Osho) and Helen McNally (Joanne Crawford) are watching from a remote location.

A local shop owner, Rory (Faolan Morgan) alerts the police of a homeless man, Soupy sleeping on the sidewalk. While checking for a pulse, Stevie sees a used syringe lying next to Soupy. When Grace reaches down to touch Soupy, he stops her because she is not wearing gloves. He announces that Soupy is deceased. Grace notifies Barney of the potential overdose. Rory claims Soupy repeated the phrase, “This too shall pass” every time he brought him coffee. He complains about the lack of police activity in the area. She assures him that they do their best. After Stevie sends Rory away, Grace says he is right.

Barney dispatches Tommy and Annie to Moylan’s Pharmacy at Spire Street to investigate a report of a disturbance. Upon arrival, 18-year-old Eamonn McSweeney (Ciaran Flynn) is demanding his Methadone. Emma (Mary Lindsay) says her hands are tied because his prescription has not arrived. While Tommy runs a background on Eamonn, Annie asks Emma if she was assaulted. Emma complains about the customers screaming at her. Tommy informs Annie that Eamonn was arrested for theft and drugs. She orders him to leave and not return. Eammon calls them “bas**rds” as he is leaving. Annie urges Tommy to call Aisling (Dearbhaile McKinney) because he needs to get laid.

Nicola Robinson (Andrea Irvine) informs Helen that DS Murray Canning (Desmond Eastwood) transferred from Blackthorn to the Paramilitary Crime Task Force six months ago. Scanning the district crime states, Helen says three response officers have resigned from the force in the last six months. Nicola tells her that she has no desire to listen to excuses. Helen assures her crime grows when there are fewer cops. Nicola announces that a transferee, Constable Shane Bradley (Frank Blake) has been recommended by Murray. He explains a plan to cut off the drugs coming into the city to curb overdoses and street crime. Nicola says Murray will be working closely with Helen’s section.

John Desai (John Nayagam) informs Jen Robinson (Hannah McClean) that she will be the only solicitor trainee to join McAleer & Hamilton. When he invites her to lunch, she tells him that she already has plans. She thanks him before leaving.

Opening the locker room to find Bradley shirtless, Annie immediately apologizes and shuts the door. At the shift briefing, Murray shows the constables the Crime Statistics Northern Ireland map. He points out how crime dropped after the arrest of the McIntyre gang and gradually spiked after three months. Mount Eden estate rival gang leaders, Jim “Dixie” Dixon (Chris Corrigan) and Davy Hamill’s photos pop up on the screen. He suggests Dixie and/or Davy have taken over the drug supply. Murray asks to speak with Tommy alone, leaving Annie to pair up with Bradley. After the briefing, Stevie tells Grace if Murray was a chocolate bar, he would eat himself.

Lee Thompson (Seamus O’Hara) watches as Tina McIntyre (Abigail McGibbon) and Dixie talk. Dixie tells Tina that they can double their supply the next time if she informs the Dubliners. She warns him to never give her orders and demands he apologize. He says sorry. She barely misses him when driving away. Back in the car, he swears Tina will someday get what is coming to her. Lee asks where he is staying. Dixie questions why he wants to know. Lee claims to need to know where to take him. Dixie says 12 Glendale Road.

Cliff questions what Murray has up his sleeve. Helen informs her that Murray recommended Bradley. Cliff claims Constable Gerard’s “Gerry” Cliff (Richard Dormer) corny jokes are the only thing that keeps her in Belfast. Helen agrees to start processing her transfer to London.

Murray talks to Tommy about his extensive arrest report and urges him to rejoin the Fast-Track Program. Tommy suggests Gerard would have wanted him to drop out. Murray orders him to change out of his uniform because he wants him to see firsthand how the district works.

Lee reminds Dixie that he owes him 14.50. Pretending to check his pockets, Dixie flips him the bird and tells him to have everything ready for tonight. After Dixie walks away, Lee finds his keys in the backseat.

Jen arrives at a soup kitchen for the homeless to inform Happy Kelly (Paddy Jenkins) that she got the job with McAleer & Hamilton. He congratulates her. She says Gerry would be proud of him. He warns that the soup kitchen will have to close because of government cutbacks. He blames himself for what happened to Gerry and his father. She asks if anyone was arrested for the bomb that killed his father. He says it is an unsolved case.

Grace and Stevie visit The Loyal Pub to speak with Lee and Margaret “Mags” Thompson (Seana Kerslake) about Ian Campbell (Soupy). Lee points at Ian and himself in a military photo taken in 2012, Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan. He asks for the scarf that Soupy was wearing. Grace says they will see what they can do. He claims Soupy had no family and admits to throwing him out after catching him doing heroin. Barney dispatches Annie and Bradley to 7 Flax Avenue to investigate a report of a disturbance. Mags and Lee approve Soupy’s cremation. They have a short disagreement about what happened to Soupy.

Upon arrival at Flax Avenue, Bradley and Annie encounter an irate Brendan (Dave Elliot) who orders them out of his house. Bradley offers him a cigarette and introduces himself and Annie. A short time later, Brendan complains about not having access to mental health. Bradley and Annie stay until Brendan’s brother arrives.

While driving around, Murray tells Tommy that Dixie and Davy control the drug supply and loan sharking. He says the more he knows about them, the more he can contain them. Tommy points out that they are not boxed in. Murray explains how Tommy and Bradley will be his eyes and ears when they see Dixie and Keith Wylie (Adam Best). Stopping the car, Murray warns Dixie that he is on his radar. Dixie denies any involvement in the city’s drug operation. Tommy questions why he confronted Dixie. Murray says to contain him.

Jen researches the 1978 bombing at a fish & chip shop when her mum, Nicola calls to congratulate her. Nicola invites her to dinner before ending the call.

Trying Grace’s recipe, Stevie suggests less condensed milk. She tells him to piss off. He asks about Cal. She claims he is getting along okay in Manchester. Barney alerts them of the panic button being activated at Moylan’s Pharmacy. Annie asks if it is a duplicate call. He assures her that it is an ongoing incident. At the scene, Stevie sends Grace to check the rear entrance while he enters through the front entrance. She finds the rear door open. He calls for the attendant but there is no response. The security door closes, leaving him blocked in the lobby. He spots Emma unresponsive on the floor. After updating Barney on his situation, he warns Grace to not enter the building. Turning off her radio, she gradually makes her way through the pharmacy armed with a baton. As she finds Emma bleeding on the floor, Eamonn charges her. Stevie tries to break the window to no avail. Eamonn is armed with a screwdriver. Stevie yells for her to draw her gun. Grace orders Eamonn to put the screwdriver down. He tells her to shoot him when Bradley hits him on the head with his baton.

Annie assesses Emma while a frantic Grace collects herself. At the police station, Cliff orders the constables to hand in their reports no later than today. Annie blames herself for previously allowing Eamonn to leave the pharmacy. Tommy reminds her that Eamonn did not break the law. Grace confronts Stevie about his constant need to protect her. He vows to never do it again.

Tommy calls Aisling to ask her out. When she accepts his offer, he celebrates his success. Shelly (Grace Thompson) is impressed with Tommy calling, not texting. Shelly agrees. Jen works on the 1978 bombing case. Grace puts her firearm in her locker. Cliff holds back her tears while holding Gerry’s sunglasses. Stevie takes his dog for a walk.

The Loyal Pub – Mags gives Dixie and Keith an envelope of cash. Robert “Rab” McKendry (Dan Gordon) pours Dixie a drink. Keith confirms there is 500 in the envelope. Dixie asks about their “wee sideline.” Lee gives him a roll of cash. Dixie warns Lee that he will be forced to join them at some point. Lee claims his only concern is The Loyal Pub. Dixie assures him that it is not always his option before apologizing about Soupy. Lee claims Soupy never talked. After Dixie and Keith leave, Rab urges Lee to sell the pub. Lee assures him that it will eventually pass and walks in the back where Murray is counting cash. Murray warns there will be no going back. Lee admits to having enough before laying Dixie’s keys on the table. He says, “Move or die” as the episode ends.

 

Blue Lights Review

A drug overdose leads back to The Loyal Pub, owned by Lee and his sister, Mags. Lee is being forced to pay Dixie who took over the McIntyre drug operation in Belfast. Dixie insists on Lee joining his gang but Lee wants no part of it.

Nicola brings DS Murray Canning in to combat the rising crime and overdoses. Murray has a close connection to Lee who is ready to help take down Dixie. He believes Dixie and Davy are running the drug trade but in fact, the McIntyres are still involved. Instead of James McIntyre (John Lynch), it is Tina in control.

After resigning from the police force, Jen gets a job with McAleer & Hamilton. She sets out to investigate the 1978 bombing that killed Happy’s father. Happy’s soup kitchen is under threat of being shuttered due to lack of government funding.

Annie makes a decision that nearly cost the lives of a local pharmacist and Eamonn, a drug addict.

Cliff who is still mourning Gerry’s death is ready to return to London. Helen agrees to put in her transfer.

 

Season two starts out strong while continuing the trend of improperly representing Belfast. According to reliable sources, Belfast is one of the safest European cities. How convenient to have a predominately white cast while representing the Northern Irish as drug-fueled criminals.

Not much has changed, other than a few unfamiliar faces. For fans of Richard Dormer, it will be difficult to ignore his absence.

The episode deserves a 6 out of 10. Get more Blue Lights recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with us can help build your brand awareness. Join our newly established forum to discuss new and classic films, crime, sports, and more.