Iceberg – As the episode opens at Street Eatz, Constable Aisling (Dearbhaile McKenney) watches Constable Tommy Foster (Nathan Braniff) walk past trash lying on the ground only to return to retrieve and dispose of it. The waitress (Mary Jordan) takes their order. While waiting for their food, she admits to being impressed by him calling, not texting.

Constable Annie Conlon (Katherine Devlin) and Constable Shane Bradley (Frank Blake) respond to an apartment complex fire. Barney (Frankie McCafferty) informs them that the fire engine is five minutes out. After removing their gear, they race toward the burning building. Annie refuses to stay behind while Bradley goes in to look for survivors. Utilizing their uniforms as a makeshift mask, they make their way inside and up a flight of stairs to an apartment. Natalie (Aoife Boyle) and a boy are huddled together on the floor. Annie and Bradley lead the victims toward the exit. Annie and the boy are outside when she realizes Bradley is still inside. Before she can make it back to the apartment, it explodes. Seconds later, Bradley and Natalie emerge through the smoke. Jim “Dixie” Dixon (Chris Corrigan) races over to take Natalie and the boy away from the building. Bradley and Annie collapse on the ground and hold hands.

Geraldine Gilroy (Aoibheann McCann) questions Constable Grace Ellis (Sian Brooke) about the pharmacy incident. Grace admits that she would have shot Eamonn if the backup had not taken him down. Later, Geraldine informs Helen McNally (Joanne Crawford) that her report will suggest Eamonn should have been arrested during the first disturbance call. After attributing his not being arrested to the lack of available police cells, Geraldine assures Helen that they are on the same side. Elsewhere, Constable Stevie Neil (Martin McCann) tries to cheer Grace up by teasing her with his pork belly sausage rolls. Taking the first bite, she says they are very good. They apologize and agree to continue being friends.

Bradley and Annie get a round of cheers when they arrive at the roll call briefing. Sergeant Sandra Cliff (Andi Osho) says Dixie is associated with the burnt apartment building. She attributes Bradley and Annie to Dixie’s girlfriend, Natalie and her son still be alive. Bradley suggests Natalie’s apartment was petrol-bombed after they went to bed. He and Annie deny there is CCTV footage. Cliff believes Davy Hamill (Tony Flynn) is responsible for the fire. DS Murray Canning (Desmond Eastwood) orders all available officers to patrol in Mount Eden and stop anyone connected to the rival gangs. Helen urges the officers to only stop and search when it is viable but Murray insists on it and promises backup. After the briefing, Helen confronts Murray about his giving operational orders to a response section. He smiles and half-heartedly apologizes before walking away.

Lee Thompson (Seamus O’Hara) meets Tina McIntyre (Abigail McGibbon) in front of the Titanic in a museum. He informs her of Dixie’s properties being petrol-bombed which he fears is the beginning of something worse. He voices concern about his family’s safety. She suggests relocating to Spain. He warns that Davy and Dixie’s greed has drawn the peelers’ attention which is bad for business. Tina urges him to stay out of her business. Lee assures her that Davy and Dixie would have gone down with the Titanic but they would have managed to get out alive.

Nicola Robinson (Andrea Irvine) expresses outrage about the unexpected loyalist feud. Murray says no intelligence assets exist in Mount Eden. She is shocked to learn there is no available evidence. Helen suggests bringing David “Jonty” Johnston (Jonathan Harden) back because he knows the area. Nicola agrees to approve his transfer immediately but Helen fears it may be difficult. A short time later, Helen informs Jonty of the loyalist feud and asks for his help. When he refuses, she says he owes the section and Nicola has already approved his transfer.

The Loyal Pub – Lee returns to find Henry Thompson (Alfie Lawless) and Margaret “Mags” Thompson (Seana Kerslake) playing chess. Henry pleads with Mags to let him go into town but she refuses. He asks about Lee’s urn. Lee says it is Soupy. Mags voices concern about the petrol-bombing. He questions why they stay. She says they do not have a choice but he disagrees. He promises to change it and asks her to trust him when the marching band arrives.

Jen Robinson (Hannah McClean) tells John Desai (John Nayagam) that the investigation into the 1978 bombing at Stuart’s Fish and Chip Shop was deliberately flawed. He warns against pursuing the case because it would be a nightmare. She says in 2006, former RUC Special Branch Officer Robin Graham (Derek Thompson) filed a lawsuit against the government alleging he acquired PTSD during the Troubles. She points out that Graham’s complaint was connected to Stuart’s bombing that claimed the lives of six people and the case disappeared. He asks what interest she has in the case. She tells him that Alan Kelly’s bother, and father were killed in the bombing. He approves her investigating the case in her downtime.

Cliff and Tommy are patrolling on Jarlath Street when they witness an assault. The assailant flees. Cliff calls for an ambulance while Tommy pursues the suspect to an apartment complex. The suspect goes for Tommy’s firearm. Tommy knocks him out with one punch. Tommy takes a minute to collect himself. The suspect, Keith Wylie (Adam Best) has a “Combat 18” tattoo on his right forearm. A short time later, an EMT approves Keith to be booked into jail. Keith threatens Tommy. Barney alerts Cliff of Davy’s arrival at an area hospital. The victim is identified as Davy’s 17-year-old son, Gareth George. Bradley suggests it is a counterattack. Keith refuses to talk to Murray but taunts Cliff when she gets in the police cruiser. Annie has a lingering cough from the petrol bombing. Bradley invites her out for a drink after their shift.

The Loyal Pub – Lee tells Robert “Rab” McKendry (Dan Gordon) and the other band members about Corporal Ian “Soupy” Campbell. He says at 6pm, they will give him a send-off march. Rab reminds him that no one filed an application to request approval for a march. Lee points out that no one filed an application when the Great War survivors marched in 1920. Rab voices concern about their safety with the loyalist feud in full swing. Lee refuses to ask for Dixie’s approval.

Stevie and Grace are patrolling in Stanford Gardens when they see Dixie getting in his car. Ordering Stevie to stay put, Grace emerges from the vehicle to confront Dixie. Bradley and Annie announce their impending arrival. Activating her body cam, Grace asks Dixie for his driver’s license. When he refuses, she threatens to search him. He gives her his driver’s license. A crowd begins to form and Stevie emerges from the cruiser. As she reaches out to grab Dixie, he knocks her hands away. She tells Stevie to stay back. Dixie asks if they are having sex. She grabs him and he shoves her away. Stevie grabs Dixie by the throat and shoves him against the car. Grace tries to pry Stevie off of Dixie when Bradley and Annie arrive. A short time later, Dixie is in handcuffs in a police cruiser. A search of Dixie’s car produces nothing. Bradley warns Stevie that Dixie will file a complaint against him. Stevie says he attacked Grace first. Bradley questions his claim and agrees to speak to Dixie.

Bradley reminds Dixie that he and Annie saved Natalie and her son’s lives. He offers to release him if he forgets what happened. Dixie walks away. A short time later, Annie tells Bradley that Grace and Stevie have a thing for each other but have not pursued a relationship.

The Loyal Pub – Mags disagree about Henry’s participation in the march. He suggests they walk alongside the band and if trouble arises, she and Henry can leave. Henry pleads with her to let him march. Later, the band gathers outside the bar. Rab asks Lee to not go through with it. Lee tells him that he has the choice to set it out. Rab reminds him that he has participated in every march for the last 20 years. Taking Soupy’s urn, Rab orders the band members to fall in line. Lee, Mags, and several locals join the march. Dixie threatens Lee as the police arrive. Mags leaves with Henry. Davy’s gang and Dixie’s gang are on opposite sides of the street. Cliff agrees to let the band march back to the pub. Davy and Dixie get into a verbal dispute but walk away peacefully.

Robin refuses to talk to Jen about the Stuart’s bombing. She slips a paper with her contact information through the letter slot before leaving. He retrieves the paper.

The Loyal Pub – In a fit of rage, Dixie smashes Soupy’s urn against the wall. He tells Lee that he will no longer receive a supply of weed to sell on the side and increases his protection fee by double. Shoving Dixie’s apartment keys across the bar, Lee admits to the petrol-bombing but apologizes about Natalie and her son. Lee’s men surround Dixie. Lee warns that there is nowhere safe for him to go. Dixie exits the bar.

Annie and Bradley have a few drinks and dance. Elsewhere, Stevie and Grace enjoy a cookie in quiet. After arriving home, Dixie thinks he is safe only to find a gun in his face. Craig McQuarrie (Craig McGinlay) orders him to close his eyes and fires twice. The episode ends.

 

Blue Lights Review

Grace refuses to let Stevie take control of a stop-and-frisk. Dixie gets combative and Stevie intervenes. Bradley convinces Dixie to forget about the incident and releases him.

Lee goes over Dixie’s head by leading a memorial band march for Soupy. Dixie accuses him of working with Davy and cuts off his weed supply. Lee admits to trying to kill Dixie by petrol-bombing his apartment. He later orders his execution.

Helen disagrees with Murray’s tactic in bringing down the Hamill and Dixie gangs. Murray utilizes a strong tactic that she believes puts the constables in danger.

Jen gets approval to investigate the 1978 Stuart’s Fish and Chip Shop bombing in her downtime. She reaches out to a then-cop, Robin Graham who was affiliated with the investigation.

 

The show portrays Belfast’s gangsters as Nazis, with their arms decorated with swastikas. Are viewers supposed to believe all white males affiliated with gangs in Belfast are Nazis? It appears to be the narrative they are trying to push. Hopefully, no one falls for this tripe.

The episode deserves a 4 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 the latest and classic movies and TV shows, crime, and professional Japanese wrestling.