Who We Are – Episode 2 opens with Dove Maloney (Siobhan Cullen) returning right at nightfall to the O’Shea’s Guest House. She not only discovers Sean O’Shea’s (Chris Walley) smoldering car outside, but she finds him inside arguing with Edna O’Shea (Pom Boyd). From what Dove overhears, it appears that she is concerned with his safety and he might be as well because he agrees to go to Romania, although he is completely opposed to a trip to Australia. When Dove interrupts them, Sean plays the car fire down to an ex-girlfriend or rival taxi goons.
Dove doesn’t press him much further and goes upstairs to share her evening with Gilbert Power (Will Forte). Despite his concern for her appearance, she is excited because it means they are on to something. She warns him about saying too much around Sean, seeing that he is Mrs. O’Shea’s son, before tending to her wounds.
Emmy Sizergh (Robyn Cara) and Gilbert discuss their next course of action after learning that Bridgit (Gene Rooney) won’t talk to them. Just as Gilbert suggests they focus their efforts on Fiona Doyle, Dove enters the room. When Dove takes a seat and immediately picks up the stolen police file, Gilbert quickly stresses his disappointment over her taking it. As Gilbert launches into a tirade about, honesty being the best policy, Dove discovers from the file that a nun, Sister McDonagh (Aine Ni Mhuiri) found and returned the boy three days after his original disappearance. Although the boy’s name is redacted every time it’s mentioned, Dove uses a clever lighting technique with Emmy’s phone to identify him as Edward P. It doesn’t Emmy long to track McDonagh to a nearby island and book tickets on tomorrow’s first ferry.
Upon their arrival at the island, the group is immediately met by Reverend Mother Bernadette (Fionnula Flanagan). Much to Gilbert’s surprise, Bernadette is familiar with his podcast and offers them a personal tour. She, however, doesn’t appear too interested in them speaking with McDonagh. Emmy and Gilbert are constantly distracted throughout the tour by the rich and unique history of the grounds. Despite the habits and the place being run as a nunnery, it has no ties to the church. Not only that but they soon discover that it’s also run like a 5-star retreat.
When Emmy and Gilbert are drawn away by a yoga session, Dove mockingly comments on the retreat lifestyle, which leads Bernadette to reveal more about Dove’s past life as Dubheasa Maloney in Dublin who started a fire in an abbey. Dove’s expression suggests that Bernadette hit the nail on the head. It doesn’t take Dove long to find out where McDonagh’s room is and stage a fire alarm ruse to draw Bernadette’s attention elsewhere.
Much to the group’s surprise, McDonagh is just as elderly and ailing as Bernadette claimed. When Dove’s direct approach doesn’t work, Gilbert uses her love for podcasts to get her to share the story about the day she discovered the boy. They learn that the boy is actually Teddy (Ger Kelly), the silent singer from Fagan’s (Amy Conroy) pub. Before they can learn anymore, they are rushed out by Bernadette. While waiting for the ferry, Gilbert doesn’t bother hiding his dismay over Dove’s tactics. To make matters even worse, Bernadette has threatened to sue them if they use the footage.
Sean is waiting for the group in the burned-out vehicle when they arrive back on Bodkin. It is here that they learn Teddy’s surname is Power and he has a workshop on Terrace Road. Gilbert’s tactics fail this time and it is Dove who gets him to talk. Their conversation reveals that Fiona was much more than Teddy’s teacher. She would escort him home after school, make him dinner, and tell him stories. According to him, Fiona’s favorite was Grainne Mhaol (Anne-Marie Horan). Dove’s recognition of Grainne as the ‘Pirate Queen’ appears to make him more comfortable with her but Dove is unable to capitalize on this thanks to Sergeant Power’s (Denis Conway) sudden arrival.
Things only get worse when instead of Sean they find a mysterious note, claiming that he had to go see a man about other business. At nearly the same time, Damien (Charlie Kemp) phones Dove to tell her that her e-mails are being subpoenaed under the ‘Official Secrets Act.’ Being that a guilty sentence could result in prison time, she insists on returning but it appears that he manages to talk her out of it. On their way back into town, they learn from Darragh (Pat Shortt) that Frank (David Pearse) is looking for them. Although none of them recognize the name Frank, Gilbert attempts to use the opportunity to get some audio for the podcast that he can actually use but as soon as Malachy O’Connor’s name comes up, Darragh becomes combative and storms off.
While Sean meets Ciara (Claire J Loy) to buy a rifle, Gilbert and Emmy are introduced to Road Bowling. As Gilbert speaks with several bowing spectators, (Tyrone Kearns), Emmy uses the opportunity to try to bond with Dove by revealing that she’s followed her career. This doesn’t go as she planned and leads to her not only apologizing but admitting that she wants to be a reporter like her. Dove cynically points out her current situation and says she’s not doing so well. This eventually leads to her questioning Barry (John Olohan) and Cathal (Brendan Conroy), which only confirms that Malachy was an exceptional road bowler, and uncovering more information about him will be more difficult than imagined. Nearby, Gilbert appears to have a bit more luck when he learns from Seamus Gallagher (David Wilmot) that Frank lives among the New Age Travelers (Hippies) on the outskirts of Bodkin.
Dove later uncovers a possible clue to Malachy when the procession arrives at the pub and she spots Margaret (Mary O’Driscoll) taking pictures of the road bowling winners. This inspires her to tell Emmy to check the ’96 to 2000 papers. At about the same time they learn that past editions are archived at the library, Gilbert approaches with invitations to join him and his new friends for a drink. Once Dove turns him down and proceeds to the library, he encourages Emmy to go with her.
When Farmer Colm (Frank Melia) overhears Emmy and Dove’s plans to visit the library, he offers them a ride on his tractor which turns out to be much more awkward than they could have imagined. Later that evening at the pub, it’s revealed that Sean bought the rifle on Seamus’s behalf. Gilbert finally gets his introduction to Frank, which only causes more problems, given that he owes him $8,000 for a game of darts.
Dove and Emmy arrive at the library to find it locked up for the night but Dove uses Emmy’s admiration for her to convince her to break in. Although she discovers she’s not alone, it doesn’t take the librarian long to finish up and leave. Nearly just as fast, they find a Road Bowling photo that suggests Malachy and Seamus were acquainted. When they share their discovery with Gilbert, it’s also revealed that at the time Seamus was going by the name Jack McFadden ‘The Badger.’ As it turns out, he was a notorious smuggler with an even more notoriously violent reputation. The episode ends when Edna surprises them to announce the death of Darragh. It’s likely she also overheard their conversation.
Bodkin Review
Episode two was surprisingly more intriguing than I would have imagined, despite the unoriginality of the premises. As far as story development goes, it would be hard to ask for more from an episode. That said, the thing I really enjoyed about the episode was the character development. Not only did the episode reveal some truly intriguing things about the case, but even more intriguing things about the characters.
I can certainly appreciate the reveals about Gilbert’s money problems and Dove’s rebellious childhood, but it was perhaps the road bowling, Malachy’s story, the O’Shea’s involvement, and Teddy’s history that I most appreciated. There were plenty of boring parts and overly too-dark scenes, but the episode easily earned a 5.6 out of 10.
Get more Bodkin recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with Reel Mockery can build your brand awareness. Join our newly established forum to discuss new and classic TV shows and movies, celebrity happenings, and much more.
