As the finale of Four Lives begins, Ryan Edwards (Samuel Barnett) yells at Stephen Port (Stephen Merchant) from his balcony. Stephen doesn’t seem to hear him since he continues walking. Moments later, a woman walks her dog in the church cemetery while police secure the scene around Jack’s body nearby. Jack’s mother begins calling around because she is worried about Jack (Paddy Rowan). She talks to his sister Donna (Jaime Winstone) who promises to call his mates to see if they’ve heard anything. Before the call ends, the police arrive outside and Donna learns about it from her mother. Once the family gathers, Jack’s mom tells everyone what the police said about finding Jack’s body. He was found in an archway at a park in Barking and had drugs on him so they thought it was an overdose. Sarah Sak (Sheridan Smith) and Kate (Leanne Best) visit Anthony’s grave.

When they find a pile of trash nearby, they suspect it was Paul (Shaun Thomas) who has been coming there every night. Sarah is worried someone will get him sectioned because he sits there talking to Anthony while in his own world. Sami Sak (Memet Ali Alabora) sends them a message saying he misses Sarah so Kate recommends trying to work things out. Donna calls the police to inquire about her brother Jack Taylor because they were told 10 days ago they’d need to come to identify him, but they haven’t heard anything since. They try to put her on hold again despite the fact she has talked to four different people in the last half hour. She pleads with them to have someone call her back because they’d like to bury Jack if it is him. Once the parents identify the body, the mother tells her girls they don’t have to do it. However, Donna and Jenny (Stephanie Hyam) want to do it. While doing so, they notice their father has given Jack his ring and he has marks on his hands.

Donna asks one of the workers who recommends asking the police. Jenny walks over to the coffin lid and learns the police claim Jack died on the 14th which was Monday. She explains her brother went missing on Sunday morning so he could’ve died before Monday. The worker at the facility isn’t much help. Later, Jenny and Donna sit down with two detectives without their parents who are very distressed. Donna says they don’t want their mom and dad hearing anything that might upset them. The women realize they’re going to hear upsetting things, but they just want to know what happened. The detectives explain they were the first two officers to arrive at the Barking Abbey and not a park like the family was initially told. Jack was in a sitting position so he might’ve taken the drugs before sitting down. When they dispute the claim that Jack used drugs, they’re told traces of white powder were found in Jack’s wallet and a small bottle and syringe in his pocket.

They also say he had a needle mark on his arm. They never found his phone and they cannot explain the marks on his hands. They claim they could’ve been caused by deterioration due to the weather although Donna can’t believe that. Then, the detectives take them to the spot where CCTV footage shows Jack getting out of a taxi before he walks across the road and talks to some man. They believe the man disappeared and Jack went to the abbey on his own. The women are taken to the spot where Jack’s body was discovered. They’re asked if they know the last people Jack had sex with since the spot is regularly used by gay men. Donna questions whether they’re trying to say Jack was here for gay sex and drugs before saying none of this feels right. She makes it clear they’re not going to stop asking questions until they’re told the truth. Next, Sami tells Sarah he is only trying to help although she says he isn’t because he doesn’t give her enough space to deal with what happened.

In the middle of their conversation, DC Slaymaker (Michael Jibson) calls and confirms they can release Anthony’s stuff although it will take a while. When the call ends, Sami gets loud, curses the British police, and threatens to tell Slaymaker in person. Kate calms him while reminding him that stuff like that won’t help Sarah. Sami just wants a chance to prove himself and says it would break Anthony’s heart if he knew what happened had broken them up. Kate reveals she is going away with Phil and recommends coming with them to see how it goes. Sarah doesn’t want to leave Paul alone although he promises he’ll be okay and encourages her to go. Meanwhile, Donna and Jenny read news articles about Gabriel, Daniel, and Anthony. Since the coroner isn’t satisfied with the evidence provided by the police, they don’t think they should be either.

They speak to a detective about the other deaths. Regardless, they’re told they’ve been looked at it and there are no connections between Gabriel, Daniel, and the suicide note. When they theorize that the suicide note could’ve been fake, the detective responds they might be getting carried away. Donna also brings up the fact that there is a whole 24 hours between Jack arriving at Barking Station and being found dead. She doesn’t believe he was just lying there doing drugs during that time. They wonder who he met with and ask if they can see the CCTV footage for themselves. When they’re shown the CCTV footage, they confirm it is Jack getting out of the taxi. Once they see Jack meet the stranger, Donna comments it doesn’t look like they met by chance. The detective claims they only walked together during part of the route because the tall guy disappears after presumably taking a side street. Although Donna believes they need to find the stranger, the detective doesn’t believe they can or that he would have any useful information.

When they’re shown the alleged CCTV footage of Jack walking alone, they refute that it is Jack because the person looks stockier. Later that night, Jenny and Donna collect evidence regarding the three overdose deaths in the same area. Then, Jenny finds Jack’s profile on a dating website and learns he was experimenting with his sexuality. The profile says he loves women but is bi-curious. The next day, a friend visits the memorial for Jack and leaves a Jack Daniels bottle with cold tea in it. Sarah puts lipstick on for the first time in months as she and Sami go to dinner with Phil and Kate. Sami tells them about meeting Sarah and finding a way to her heart through her stomach before they’re left alone. Sami wants to go forward as husband and wife. The smashes plates with others to symbolize their new beginning. The detectives meet with Donna, Jenny, and their parents to discuss the possibility that Jack had been using the Internet to contact people.

The mother doesn’t believe he would do that since he always had girls chasing after him. She is surprised to learn they’re trying to figure out if Jack was trying to meet a man. When his father says his boy wasn’t gay, Donna suggests he might’ve been exploring the idea secretly. The detective learns Jack was right-handed before saying he had a needle mark on his right arm. The family believes this means someone else injected him with drugs. They’ve enhanced the CCTV footage and it confirmed that the man walking alone was not Jack. When they agree Jack might’ve gone with the tall guy, Jenny says the police needs to go find him. Later, Donna receives a call confirming there has been a breakthrough in the case. They’ve already identified the man in question because he was already known to the police. The detective reveals the man’s name is Stephen Port before asking her not to mention the name to anyone. That night, Ryan walks outside and finds police surrounding the apartment complex.

He watches from his balcony as Stephen Port is led out of the apartment building in handcuffs. Then, Port is interviewed and asked whether he had any involvement in Gabriel’s death. He denies it and insists he hasn’t administered or given drugs to anyone. When asked if he knows anyone who might’ve done it, he begins telling them about Daniel Whitworth. Stephen is shown a picture of him and asked if he had any involvement in his death. As the conversation turns to Jack Taylor, Stephen denies knowing him as well. He explains he usually doesn’t pay attention to the guys’ faces when he is participating. He is asked if he ever had sexual intercourse with him. Stephen says he doesn’t look like the person he’d go for. Instead, he prefers younger more twinky boys. He denies killing Jack.

The next day, Ryan goes to the police station to give evidence about Stephen Port only to be told there is no one here who can help at the moment. He can’t believe they wouldn’t want the information he has about the websites and drugs Stephen used since it is a murder. He is told to inquire at Fresh Wharf. Ryan eventually meets with DC Pericles with the Homicide and Major Incident Team. He explains he is Stephen’s neighbor and met Gabriel. Stephen Port claims he has never been to the grounds behind the church because it is too spooky despite living across the road for eight years or so. When told about the bodies being found there, Stephen says it is news to him. When questioned about the victims having large amounts of GHB in their bodies, Stephen confesses that he can’t account for that. He is shown Daniel’s supposed suicide note and asked whether he wrote it. He says no and also denies sending text messages to Anthony Walgate’s father claiming to be someone named Dan.

After he is asked whether he is telling the truth, Stephen says he is telling the truth about all those boys. The detective goes over the details once again and stresses the fact that it is very important for Stephen to tell them the truth. There is a brief pause before Stephen says everything he has told him has been true. Donna gets a call confirming Stephen has been charged and she had this right all along. Slaymaker calls Sarah Sak to say a man has been charged for the murder of Anthony and three other men and she was right all along. Once she learns that Stephen Port is the person they’ve arrested, Slaymaker says they’re being stood down immediately so the Met’s Homicide and Major Incident Team is taking over the case. Before the call ends, Slaymaker says she won’t be hearing from him again. Moments later, Sarah and Tom (Kris Hitchen) get a visit from DC Ian Atkinson and DCI Tim Duffield from the Homicide and Serious Crime command. Ian expresses their deepest condolences.

They go inside and sit down as Sarah learns there are three other victims and could be more. Stephen might’ve drugged and raped other guys who later escaped. There is some evidence of this on Stephen’s phone and laptop. Plus, police had been called out to investigate Port on accusations of assault before he met Anthony. He was known to police before Anthony’s death although there were no prior convictions. The Met has voluntarily referred itself to the IPCC so a full, detailed investigation will be carried out. They know it won’t be easy because the team at Barking might’ve lost vital evidence, but they promise to do everything in their power to make sure Stephen is convicted. While Stephen has denied sending the malicious texts, he took the phone and might’ve unlocked them. He tried to deflect blame from himself so it is possible. At this point, the detective says something about Anthony working as an escort.

Tom didn’t know until now. Before the detectives leave, Ian (Tom Christian) tells Sarah he’ll be acting as Family Liaison for all the families. He gives her his personal mobile number and says it is okay to call him at any time. Once they’re gone, Tom questions how long Sarah knew their son was selling himself. She knew for a while, but she didn’t know how to tell Tom. Sarah claims it is something he did every now and then for money although that doesn’t make Tom feel any better. He is worried people will think they can’t support their own son financially. When she asks if he is ashamed of it, Tom says he doesn’t know how he feels. Later one night, the police hold a town hall of sorts to discuss the Barking incident and LGBT hate crimes. As the police officer talks to the crowd, Ryan tells John Pape (Rufus Jones) that this is just PR and it is bollocks. Pape stands up and says he knew one of the young men. He explains he knew Gabriel and had information that would help, but they made him feel like he was interfering.

He is told they can’t comment on that because the case is open. Ryan says this is just PR and spin to tick the frigging boxes. He tells everyone his name and the fact that he was Stephen Port’s neighbor. When he went to the police with information that might’ve been important, the officer didn’t want to know. He had to travel to Fresh Wharf to find someone willing to listen. He starts to say it seems like gay people are a massive inconvenience, but instead says the public in general. He says gay people need protection from the police because they’ve been a persecuted minority for thousands of years and that threat never goes completely away. He alleges that young men died needlessly so Barking and Dagenham police have blood on their hands. The crowd cheers and applauds him. Outside, John tells Ryan he did well, but Ryan says the press isn’t here so nothing will change. Then, we jump to the Central Criminal Court in October 2016.

As Sarah and the family arrive, Ian warns them that Stephen is going to stick with his not guilty plea and will likely claim the boys voluntarily took the drugs. Stephen is likely hoping the charges will be dropped from murder to manslaughter. Ian encourages them to be positive. Next, the group watches intently as Stephen is led into the courtroom. The Crown prosecutor says they’re going to prove that Stephen injected four men with lethal doses of GHB. It is also alleged that it was all driven by a predilection for having sex with unconscious, young, boyish men sometimes called twinks. He mentions the young men who were lucky enough to survive and will testify for the jury. As he continues, Stephen is described as a man utterly devoid of conscience and humanity. During a break, Donna runs into Sarah in the bathroom. Sarah apologizes and wonders whether Jack’s death could’ve been prevented if she had stirred up a bigger fuss, but Donna tells her not to think like that. Later, Sarah and her family watch a news report about two men who escaped Stephen Port testify.

Port allegedly filmed one of the rapes on his mobile phone and the footage was played in court. Tom enters and admits he has said things that he isn’t proud of and believes they should see this through together. He says the things that come out in court won’t make him feel any different about Anthony because he was his son. Kate jumps up and begins comforting him as soon as he starts crying. Back in court, Stephen takes the stand and testifies his sexual relationship with Anthony was consensual since he was an escort. He confirms they had sex more than once. They haggled over the price the first time. On the second encounter, he claims Anthony got really high and just wanted it. He is asked whether he’d have sex with a man who was unconscious on drugs. He might with a boyfriend but never with a stranger. As for Gabriel, he says they never had sex. Gabe told him he was going to a meet a guy at a frat party one day. He went to the frat party which is where guys take drugs and have sex.

There were six guys there while Gabe was there with a guy called Daniel and they were using drugs. He wasn’t sure whether they had sex. Gabe and Daniel left the party early and all of Gabe’s stuff was gone by the time Stephen left the party and got home. He claims that was the last time he saw him. The barrister asks about Daniel Whitworth who he supposedly met around the same time as Gabe. Stephen admits to having sex with Daniel at his flat but claims it was consensual. He testifies Daniel told him he had given too much GHB to Gabriel who died. He felt bad about it and thought about killing himself so he asked Stephen to help him write a suicide note. Initially, he didn’t want to do anything wrong. However, he says Daniel persuaded him to do it by offering him sex. He insists he wrote the suicide note while Daniel dictated it. When asked about the last line of the suicide note, Stephen confesses to adding the bit about the guy he was with last night being innocent.

After having sex, Stephen woke up later and found Daniel gone. Although he claims he has never given drugs to another man, syringe marks were found on Jack Taylor’s body. He says that would be GHB and he had some crystal meth at his flat. He suggested they take some and he agreed. They injected themselves despite the fact that Jack had never done that before. He goes on to say they had sex till midday on Sunday. He offered Jack some GHB before he left and he agreed. He pretends Jack wanted some outdoor fun so he agreed to take him to the abbey to have sex there. When Jack said he was tired and sat down, Stephen supposedly left him and went back to the flat. Although the prosecutor claims everything that he said is lies, Stephen sticks with his story. He is asked about his Internet searches for “unconscious boy drugged and raped” and “gay teen knocked out and raped”. Stephen responds it was just general curiosity. As he is accused of lying to save himself, Stephen says he lied at first but only because the truth would make him look guilty.

He is given another chance to change any part of his story although he refuses and remains adamant he is telling the truth now. During a break, Jack’s mother tells her loved ones he has put things in their heads that they’ll have to live with for the rest of their lives. His dad wonders if he’d met that animal if he didn’t feel like he needed to hide his sexuality from them. They learn the jury is coming back in so a verdict might be handed down. The forewoman says they’ve reached verdicts on all counts except for the charge of murder of Anthony Walgate. Stephen is found guilty of killing Gabriel, Daniel Whitworth, and Jack Taylor. Outside the courthouse, Donna talks about her brother in front of the media. Ian visits Sarah and Sami so he can personally return Anthony’s items. Sarah admits she is worried he is going to get away with Anthony’s murder. Ian thinks the problem is that Anthony was his first so he might not have known the drug could have fatal consequences.

They’ll find out tomorrow. Before he goes, Sarah and Sami give him a box of chocolates and thank him for doing the job right. Once he is gone, Sarah finds that one of Anthony’s items is covered in mold. Back in court, Stephen Port is found guilty on the charge of the murder of Anthony Walgate. Stephen looks directly at Sarah on his way out of the courtroom. Outside, Sarah speaks to the media and says the police is the other half of the story because the case has been a disaster. She isn’t sure whether it was caused by laziness, homophobia, cutbacks, or lousy management. If this is what policing is like in this country, it is broken and someone needs to sort it out. As Sarah and Sami sit on the beach, she believes Anthony would ask them why in the world they would go to Hornsea. Regardless, Sarah loves it because it is the nearest she’ll find to peace. She got a letter about Anthony’s graduation next month and they want her to go up on the stage with the other students to accept his degree.

They agree to go together. Sarah says all those dreams of those boys were just rubbed out and questions left unanswered. She still wonders if her son even loved her. She’ll never get to tell him she loves him again regardless of the stupid mistakes he made. In text, we see that Stephen Port has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order so he will never be eligible for parole. In December 2021, inquests into the deaths rule “fundamental failings” by the Metropolitan Police “probably contributed to three of the four deaths”. The families believe the case should go in public record as “one of the most widespread institutional failures in modern history” and say the actions were “driven by homophobia”. The police deny that claim. None of the officers involved were formally disciplined and five were later promoted. Then, we see a video of Sarah accepting Anything’s award and real pictures of the victims.

 

Four Lives Review

Overall, Four Lives was a worthwhile examination into the events surrounding the four murders in Barking and pieces of the flawed police investigation. However, I wouldn’t call it a comprehensive retelling of the events since the allegations of homophobia were barely touched. I can’t say for certain that the show intended to spotlight the claims of ‘institutional homophobia’, but it seemed to only scratch the surface.

Without that key piece, it didn’t do much to distinguish itself from other true crime dramas. While the decision is understandable, the screen time was not evenly distributed among the impacted families and friends. To me, many of the other characters were more sympathetic and interesting than those given most of the screen time.

It might’ve benefited from a fourth episode to give more time to everyone involved, but Four Lives was still worthwhile. It isn’t powerful enough to change policies, but the series is interesting and emotional enough to hold the viewer’s attention for three hours. The finale scores a 7.5 out of 10. All recaps of Four Lives can be found on Reel Mockery right here now.