The show begins with Sergeant Patrick Joseph “PJ” Collins (Conleth Hill) suddenly waking up from a dream. Lizzie Meany (Brenda Fricker) drives on a scooter through the small village of Duneen in West Cork. Upon arriving at Collins’ flat, she totes two bags inside. While preparing food, she receives a phone call, which she ignores. She yells upstairs to alert Collins he has a phone call. He gets out of bed and goes downstairs, where he meets Lizzie who complains about the phone ringing while pointing at a skillet of food. Disgusted removing his robe, he briefly looks at his hefty reflection in the mirror.

Collins walks down a sidewalk, where he encounters Eileen O’Driscoll (Pauline McLynn) and Nora Goggins (Anne Kent) staring across the street. She complains about Stephen Chen’s (Sky Yang) color choice for his house. O’Driscoll demands to know if her customers are to endure the brown color every day. He shrugs off her concern. She explains the village’s color agreement, which includes Tuscan yellow and blue like duck eggs. When Nora calls the color “shite brown,” Collins congratulates Stephen on his work. Stephen offers to paint barracks. Angry at their happy gesture, O’Driscoll says Schull and Ballydehob are ahead of them. She boasts her composure, which has not been easy. Collins says her complaint is not a police problem.  Aoife (Demi Isaac Oviawe) offers him some coffee, which he nicely refuses.

O’Driscoll scolds Willy McCarthy (Jim O’Donnell) for staring at her from a window. She dares him to converse with her face-to-face before calling him a “coward.” Collins reminds her a brown house is not a crime.

Florence Ross (Amy Conroy) and Abigail Ross (Helen Behan) repair a cattle fence. As Abigail hits a post with a sledgehammer, Florence voices safety concerns. Abigail demands she holds the post steady. Abigail complains about Evelyn Ross (Charlene McKenna) not offering to help. Florence defends Evelyn, saying she’s busy. Abigail accuses her of being too afraid to spill the news to Evelyn. Florence’s plea falls on death ears as Abigail yells for Evelyn who sits alone looking at photos of a man stored on her cellphone. When she yells again, Evelyn gets annoyed.

Brid Harrington Riordan (Siobhan McSweeney) decorates cakes. Just when she thinks she’s done, she sees the bride and groom topper. Carmel Riordan (Jane Spollen) and Cathal Riordan (Calum Rea) are playing while Kitty Harrington (Olwen Fouere) lights a cigarette. Brid tells Kitty to not smoke in front of the children. Cathal asks Carmel if she would like some of his toast. Brid asks Kitty if she would like to watch TV. She agrees to watch Julia Andrews, skipping the Nazi scenes. She orders Brid to put on makeup if she is going to town.

To explain why she is absent from school, Evelyn claims it was a reward for good behavior. Florence tells Evelyn she planned to take her to Skibb for lunch.  She doesn’t recall Florence ever being taken out for brunch. Abigail blurts out Florence’s plan to relocate to San Francisco. Evelyn demands to know how long she has been planning to move. She assures her there is nothing to stop her from moving. Evelyn asks if she is inviting her to go. When Florence doesn’t respond, she turns to walk away. Abigail informs her about the old Burke house demolition. She doesn’t appear to be happy with the news.

Collins and Cathal greet each other. He opens the car door because his hands are full. Cathal gleefully tells him about the new bucket he bought for Carmel. He describes it as “smashing” before inquiring about Kitty. B rid simply says she is breathing. As he shuts the car door, he turns to see Eileen. Instead of speaking, he hurries away.

The demolition team is taking down the old Burke house.

Evelyn reads a letter to Tommy Burke (Felix Brown). She smiles at photos of her and Tommy.

Collins arrives at the old Burke house, where he plans to eat his breakfast. Before taking a seat, he unzips his pants. Footprints prompt him to zip up his pants just in time for Evelyn to enter. She demands to know if he is wanking. He hurries outside as someone calls his name. He stops to finish zipping up his pants before seeing what all the fuss is about. Martin Flynn (Pat Kinevane) informs Collins he and John Flynn (Karl Quinn) have discovered bones. Collins is shocked when he sees what looks like human bones lying in a hole. Evelyn rushes away while he orders the men to rope off the area. Martin asks if they can proceed tearing down the house. As he tries to explain who must contact about the bones, he can’t seem to find his works. A few seconds later, he blurts out “forensics.”

Lizzie is mopping when Collins enters, with the phone to his ear. He asks for the coroner to be dispatched to the scene. Lizzie isn’t thrilled to hear he will not be having lunch. He informs her about the bones at the old Burke farm. She questions what type of bones. He describes them as belonging to an adult male. She says a short prayer. He asks if the Burkes’ son was the last to live at the farm. Identifying the son as Tommy Burke, she explains how he hasn’t been in Duneen in about 20 years. He searches around for his notebook. Handing him the notebook, she questions if he knows how to handle a murder. She attempts to get more information about the bones, but he isn’t having it. He tells her Evelyn was present when the bones were discovered.

O’Driscoll informs Aoife of the Flynn request for four espressos. They discuss the bones, which Aoife calls a “murder.” Brid shakes her head as they continue to discuss the case. O’Driscoll says it is obvious who did the killing. Nora describes him as a “heartbreaker.” Aoife asks who she is talking about. When O’Driscoll says Tommy Burke, Brid sends her wine bottle smashing to the floor. Her attempt to speak is futile. O’Driscoll tells Brid her anxiety is to be expected, with the news and all. Brid assures her she is fine. She asks if they have spoken in a while. Brid says no. O’Driscoll charges her for the broken bottle of wine.

Collins stops by to speak with Evelyn who isn’t home. Abigail questions his reasoning for speaking with Evelyn. He explains how Evelyn was at the Burke farm when the bones were discovered. Abigail exclaims. He asks if Tommy and Evelyn were close. She asks if he thinks Evelyn is responsible for the killing. He repeats what he said previously about her being at the farm when Martin and John found the bones. She tells him about Tommy helping them around the house after their parents died. She denies knowing if they slept together while he was engaged to Brid. On their wedding day, Brid was at the church waiting in her gown, but no Tommy. He receives a call from a hysterical boy. She asks how he is handling the case. He admits to feeling like a “blow-in” after four years in Duneen.

A distraught Brid tries to wake Kitty who is passed out drunk. She gulps down a glass of wine before pouring another one.

Florence talks to Susan Hickey (Eleanor Tiernan) about Evelyn’s response to her San Francisco news. She assures her nothing else matters except them being together. Susan questions why anyone can concentrate, with the Burke investigation ongoing.

Evelyn meets Stephen who reminds her of their first sexual encounter. She assures him things are different now. They go inside an abandoned ambulance.

Brid is lying in the bed beside Kitty when Anthony Riordan (Gary Shelford) appears in the doorway. He says they found him. She covers her head when he informs her the wedding cake wasn’t delivered.

Reporter Alan Doddy (Michael Fry) speaks with Collins about the investigation. While Collins explains how the body has not been identified, O’Driscoll asks if the village people should lock their doors. He suggests she always lock her door. DS Norma Sheahan (Norma Sheahan) introduces herself to Collins. He tries to update her on the investigation. Refusing to remain in Duneen, she delegates the investigation to Linus Dunne (Clinton Liberty). Collins informs her he will not babysit for Linus. Calling Linus “Boy Wonder,” she hopes he is better at solving murders than satellite navigation. When he inquires about a car, she says Collins has one.

Linus asks Collins to show him the crime scene. O’Driscoll says, “How humiliating” as she witnessed how Sheahan treated Linus.

Collins enjoys the view from the beach.

Nora and O’Driscoll have a drink at the Cormac Byrne. Evelyn is pouring a drink when O’Driscoll asks if she has heard from Tommy. O’Driscoll accuses Evelyn of causing Tommy to leave Brid at the altar. Evelyn reminds everyone of how Tommy called the wedding a “wake.”  She is outside having a cigarette when Collins approaches to talk about the case. She says it was just bones. He says she and Tommy were close. She tells him he can calm down now that the real cops are there. He says all right before walking away. Cormac Byrne (Lochlann O’Mearain) tosses an underage Stephen out of the bar. He reminds her about their sexual interlude yesterday. She says it was nothing.

Lizzie isn’t happy Linus is utilizing Collins’ office. He claims to be okay with it. Collins asks about the Flynn brothers. Linus says they are unhappy. Lizzie says everyone is unhappy. The Flynn brothers are refusing to give details about the seller of the Burke farm. Collins to sit in with him, but he refuses. Linus says forensics believes the bones belong to a man. Collins takes a plate of sandwiches into his office, where Linus is interviewing Martin and John Flynn. Linus stares at him strangely. Martin offers Colins a bribe to let them continue working. He reminds them of how he works. Linus reminds them of the Burke farm being a crime scene.

Martin is concerned any delay will cost them extra. Collins suggests the seller wasn’t Tommy Burke or his parents who were already dead. Lizzie listens at the door. Martin describes the guy as “cute.” Linus is confused when John calls him “foxy.” They tell Collins a cousin sold them the property. Linus questions how the cousin got a death certificate for Tommy without a body. Collins goes over the investigation before asking Linus if he would like to see Tommy’s place.

Brid tells the kids a story about Reynard the Fox. She pretends to eat the children. Carmel runs away when Anthony arrives, with animal blood on his clothes. Brid explains how he is sensitive. Cathal tells Anthony about Tommy’s bones. Kitty jokes about Brid being too fat for her wedding dress. Looking at Anthony, Kitty describes Tommy as being a “real man.” She reminds Brid if she had married Tommy, they could have joined their lands. Anthony isn’t happy when she calls him a “wet blanket.”

Evelyn is getting dressed after having sex with Stephen. When he mentions the dead body, she slaps him across the face. As she runs away, Florence approaches.

Brid and Anthony discuss Tommy. She snarky asks if he was okay with taking Tommy’s leftovers. He reminds her of the promise to only drink alcohol on weekends. She admits to being in full control before she falls to the ground. He calls her a “joke that isn’t funny anymore.”

Collins tries to mentally map out the location when Linus orders him to follow him. They look through the house. Linus picks up Collins’ sandwich, calling it gross. Collins finds a photo of Tommy. Linus asks about his parents. He says they are buried at St. Bridget’s Graveyard. He suggests they speak with Evelyn and Brid because Tommy was involved with them both. Linus says they will need to exhume Tommy’s parents’ bodies. Collins explains how the village people won’t like it. Linus reminds Collins he is a police officer, not a therapist. While Linus takes a call, Collins takes a seat on a bed when he finds a photo of Tommy and Evelyn.

Tommy’s parents’ bodies are being exhumed. Collins scolds Linus for proceeding while mass is going on. O’Driscoll demands to know what they are doing. Linus tells them Tommy’s parents are being exhumed. She says they should have known in advance. Kitty asks if they are searching for Tommy. Collins asks her if Brid is okay. Anthony explains how she isn’t feeling well. Kitty says she is reliving her wedding day. Linus shows Collins a photo of a wedding band found with the body. The initials, TB BH, are engraved inside the band. Collins says the initials stand for Tommy Burke and Brid Harrington.

Florence enters Evelyn’s room. They argue about her plans to leave Dureen. Evelyn demands to know what she is running from. Getting in her face, Florence admits to being bored of watching the Evelyn show. They get into a physical altercation when Evelyn hits her with something. Abigail breaks up the fight.

Collins stares at the wedding ring and Evelyn and Tommy’s photos. People are filing into Cormac Byrne, where O’Driscoll speaks about the exhumation. Pointing at Collins, she tells him the bodies shouldn’t have been exhumed. He asks for their cooperation in the investigation. Everyone ignores him. Florence gives Stephen an ultimate to walk away from Evelyn. He asks if she will tell his mum if he refuses to obey. He threatens to mess things up for her. O’Driscoll calls Evelyn, Stephen, Abigail, Florence, and Susan a “little gay family.” Nora reminds her they will be losing two wonderful teachers. Abigail and Stephen leave, saying they’ve had enough.

Byrne invites Abigail over to his place for a drink later. She doesn’t have the energy for sex. Florence suggests they wait a few months before leaving for San Francisco. Susan reminds her of the condominium they rented and her resignation. She says let Evelyn stand on her own two feet. Before she leaves, she stops to have a work with Collins. She says Evelyn and Brid were thick as thieves. Now, they refuse to look at each other. He asks if she believes one of them killed Tommy.

Aoife asks if she is okay. She describes her mood as “peachy” before stuffing the bottles of wine in her bag.

Collins sits in his car while listening to the pathology report, which shows an object went through one side of the skull and out the other side. The pathologist describes the killing as “violent.” He believes the killer was irate. He pulls a slice of bread out of the bed and takes a huge bite. He continues to stuff the bread into his mouth.

Abigail has a smoke while Collins continues to chow down. When he hears Florence yelling at Brid, he gets out of his squad car. Brid and Evelyn get into a physical altercation. Evelyn swims away as Brid warns her, she won’t be able to run forever. Anxious Collins returns to his car. He repeats I can’t until the episode comes to an end.

 

Holding Review

Only two words are needed to describe Holding, a hot mess. Most of the content and dialogue are repetitive. Instead of evolving, the show seems to revert back to the previous content. I feel some information about the crime was presented too soon, leaving the audience with nothing to look forward to. The only thing that could possibly save the investigation would be a major plot twist.

The characters are right down cruel to each other. It is not unusual for a TV series to have at least one malevolent character, not a dozen of them. It is like none of the characters have respect for each other. Kitty is cruel to Brid, Brid is cruel to Anthony, Evelyn is cruel to Florence, and the list goes on. It is like a place you would never want to visit, let alone live in.

The dialogue is cringeworthy. The Nazi comment was uncalled for, as it served no purpose in the show. Too much drinking and sex don’t seem to have any real significance. The only one who is remotely sane is Collins who has his own set of problems.

The acting is not too bad. However, I do feel some of the characters are miscast.  Fictional Duneen is a remote village in Ireland, it just seems some of the characters are out of place.

I haven’t read Graham Norton’s “Holding,” so I can’t make any assumptions about the integrity of the book.

The episode deserves a 5.5. Get more Holding recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link to learn more.