The show begins with an unsuccessful phone call from Sergeant PJ Collins (Conleth Hill) to Brid Riordan (Siobhan McSweeney) to determine how she is doing after the human bone discovery on the Burke farm. Collins arrives at the police station, where he haphazardly meets Lizzie Meany (Brenda Fricker). She questions if he tried to contact Anthony Riordan (Gary Shelford). He informs of the Riordan children spending the night with the Ross sisters. She describes the move as a “disgrace.”

Linus Dunne (Clinton Liberty) emerges from upstairs wearing only a towel. He questions if Brid has surfaced. Shocked by his nude body, Collins acknowledges she hasn’t been seen. Linus assures him it is nothing to be concerned about. Collins explains how it feels a bit strange that Brid and Evelyn Ross (Amy Conroy) were involved with Tommy Burke (Felix Brown). Getting tongue-tied, he says the two women were seen in a physical altercation after Tommy’s bones were a discovery. Now, Brid has disappeared.

Collins goes on a tirade when Linus calls him Peej in a comment about the plot thickening. He points out that he is wearing his “best towel.” Linus asks if he would like the towel back, removing it to expose himself in underwear. Linus informs him of DS Norma Casey’s (Norma Sheahan) recommendation, regarding his remaining there until the exhumation report comes back. Collins tells him the locals are unhappy about the exhumation of Tommy’s parents. Shrugging on his concern, Linus suggests he tell them murders can be upsetting. This time, he calls him PJ, not Peej.

Abigail Ross (Helen Behan) is sitting at the dining table with Cathal Riordan (Calum Rea and Carmel Riordan (Jane Spollen). Evelyn reads Cathal’s plea to find his mum. She assures him it hasn’t been 24 hours yet. When she suggests he can try the “Orphan Annie routine, Abigail scolds her for not being sensitive. She tells her it is crazy the children are with them and not someone else. Abigail says Anthony asked her to care for the children a bit longer. As she heads out the door, Abigail questions if she knows Brid’s whereabouts. Shocked, Evelyn smirks before walking out the door.

Collins returns to the lake, where he witnessed Evelyn and Brid in a physical altercation. After a phone call from Linus, he ends up in a conversation with Eileen O’Driscoll (Pauline McLynn). Eileen tells Linus and Collins about a stag party held for Tommy. She describes the event as “carnage” because everyone in attendance was “annihilated.” Linus asks her to explain the definition of “carnage.” She explains how Evelyn was all over Tommy, Brid was at home.

Cormac Byrne (Lochlann O’Mearain) says Tommy earned himself a pint since it was his stag party. Suddenly, he wants to show them something.

Kitty Harrington (Olwen Fouere) says Brid is constantly making mistakes. Collins asks her to explain what type of mistakes. She is distracted by Linus’ cheekbones that are exactly like hers.

Cormac returns to the table, with a camcorder. Linus asks if he knows anyone who would want Tommy dead. He briefly hesitates before saying no.

Eileen contributes Tommy and Brid’s engagement to his mum’s begging for credit. She tells them Brid owns a large farm.

Collins reminds Susan Hickey (Eleanor Tiernan) of when she suggested Evelyn and Brid could have harmed Tommy. She changes her statement to they both loved Tommy.

Cormac claims Tommy approached him about taping the wedding. During a test run, Tommy was recorded saying something. He agrees to let Collins take the camcorder.

Collins asks Eileen if Brid had been in the store. Aoife (Demi Isaac Oviawe) speaks up, saying she bought wine a few days ago. Eileen isn’t happy with her revelation.

Kitty believes Brid should have done more to get Tommy to like her. After their conversation, he agreed to marry Brid even though he was obsessed with Evelyn. Brid getting the ring is the only thing that mattered.

Driving down the road, Collins tells Linus his plan to speak with Evelyn about Brid. Linus reminds him of their current strategy to interview everyone about Tommy, not get distracted.

Collins asks Evelyn about Brid. Abigail denies knowing her whereabouts. Linus asks Evelyn about the day of Tommy and Brid’s wedding. She claims to have stayed up the night before and was in bed. Abigail tells them they were at Tommy’s stag party. Evelyn reminds Collins of her being 17 when she was having a fling with Tommy. She only remembers drinking and vomiting. She tells them they will not get tears from her. Linus asks if she knows anyone who would want Tommy dead. Abigail says besides Brid who was left alone at the altar. They tell them Brid’s whereabouts are unknown. Abigail tells them to remind Brid of her children when she is found.

Abigail is speaking to someone on the phone as Collins approaches. She orders the unknown person to stop calling her. As he walks outside, Evelyn can be seen scolding Carmel for getting into the barn. He asks her what happened to Brid after their altercation on the beach. She denies knowing anything.

Linus describes the information provided by the people as “gossip.” The video didn’t provide any significant detail of what happened to Tommy. Linus asks for Collins’ steak. After agreeing to give it to him, he angrily walks away from the table. Linus appears shocked by his behavior.

Collins speaks with Anthony about Brid.  He informs him no one knows anything about Brid. He assures him she will return home when she is ready. Collins tries to provide support, but he just walks away.

A big smile appears on Cathal’s face when he sees the Spanish ham from Collins. Abigail asks the purpose of his visit. He admits to having trouble getting Brid off his mind. Cathal says he is probably on an adventure before cramming ham into his mouth. Collins tells him about his close relationship with his father. Cathal says he and Brid are very close too. His favorite thing is when they go dancing and get sandwiches. Collins asks where’s the best place to get sandwiches. He responds, “In a sticky red room with karaoke.”

Brid is driving and drinking. She barely misses hitting a car head-on. Collins passes her crashed car on the road. The driver’s side car door is open. Collins switches off the engine and takes the keys. No Brid can be seen anywhere.

Anthony is left dealing with a weepy Kitty who is upset over her tablets. When she asks about Brid, he utilizes the excuse of going out to avoid answering. She anxiously takes her medicine.

Susan describes her experience as “a nightmare” when Stephen Chen (Sky Yang) approaches. He informs her of an offer to play for the Cork team. Thrilled, Susan gives him a bear hug. She reminds him of their moving to San Francisco. He explains how playing for Cork has always been his dream. She agrees to stay with him. He assures her he will be okay while she is gone.

Linus is out for a swim.

Brid complains about the song in a karaoke performance before attempting her own song. Collins enters the establishment to find her passed out on a table.

Stephen hangs up the phone when Florence Ross (Charlene McKenna). She asks if he has been talking to Evelyn. He refuses to go with her and Susan to San Francisco. She explains how Evelyn is confused at the moment.

Massaging her breast, Kitty says she had a fabulous time. She says, “I did.”

Brid apologizes to Collins before asking for some chips and cheese. He hands her a bag of chips. She tells him everyone thinks she is Tommy’s killer because they dated. She assures him that is not a reason to kill someone.

Tipsy, Brid acts silly while Collins finds her amusing. When she flashes her breast, he hurriedly prepares to leave while she must check on the kids. He reminds her of the need to be interviewed about Tommy. She pleads with him to return tomorrow, running into his arms. He holds her until they immediately separate to go in different directions.

Linus is on his phone when Collins knocks on the door. He hurriedly switches his phone for a dumbbell before he walks in. Collins informs him of Brid. He accuses him of working solo.

Brid opens the door to get some fresh air to find a bottle of wine and note on the doorstep. The note reads, “Confess you selfish bit**, confess or we’ll make you.”

Lizzie asks Linus how long he has been married. He says no one said anything about being married. Laughing, Collins says they wondered if he was married because of his ring and constant texting. He ignores his phone when it beeps. Collins asks if that is his wife. Raising his voice, he demands to know about Collins’ wife. He asks Lizzy where Mr. Meany is at. After an angry tirade, he stomps away.

Brid is awakened by Kitty banging on the door. After a nasty greeting, Kitty threatens to file charges on her for neglect. When Brid apologizes, Kitty grabs her face, calls her bloated, and slaps her face.

Florence tries to talk to Evelyn about Stephen. She reminds her of Stephen being a child. Evelyn remembers something the police need to know. They go into the house, where Evelyn gives her a letter to herself. The letter is a confession of how much Tommy loves Evelyn. It appears as if Tommy sent her a letter after he left Duneen. She pulls up her shirt to expose a tattoo of the words in the letter. Florence asks if she really thinks Tommy is in London because she doesn’t. She apologizes for keeping her relocation plans a secret. They give each other a bear hug.

Collins and Brid go to retrieve her children. Abigail informs her of Anthony picking them up last night. Evelyn scolds her for leaving her children like recyclables. She continues nagging until Collins tells her to stop. She is concerned that Anthony will keep the children from her. Collins questions her relationship with Evelyn. Brid explains how Evelyn’s father committed suicide when she was young, which she believes is contributed to her anger. She apologizes for dragging him into her problems.

Linus receives a message from Norma who requests he remains in Duneen. When he tries to ask Lizzie a question, she refuses. She suggests he leave their house. He apologizes for being a pain before leaving.

Stephen suggests they be together after Florence and Susan leave for San Francisco. He tells her he may love her. She isn’t impressed. He is disappointed by her reaction. She kicks him in the private parts when he apologizes for saying something.

Collins listens to Cormac’s recording of Tommy’s stag party. Tommy gives a speech about “poor Brid.”

Brid is tempted to drink Kitty’s leftover alcohol. Kitty tries to encourage her to do it. She carries the glass into the kitchen, where she puts it up to her lips. Instead of drinking, she lets the glass smash on the floor when Anthony arrives to pick up some things for the children. She pleads with him to bring her children home. He tells her mums don’t leave when things get tough, they stay. She complains about feeling alone. He tells her it is all on her before walking out the door.

Collins arrives at the beach to speak with Evelyn. He gives her a photo of her and Tommy. He tells her about his father dying when he was young. She asks who told him. He refuses to tell her.

Collins drops Brid off at her car. She asks why he opted to help her. When breaks down crying, he does a Benny Hill dance. She cracks up laughing when he mocks a red squirrel. She kisses him on the cheek. She shows him the letter from her doorstep. He questions who sent it. She denies having anything to hide.

Linus asks for avocados when Aoife asks him out on a date. He tells her they can’t go out. She says it is okay if you aren’t interested. He admits to being gay. He asks her out for a drink. She asks if he is truly gay. Lizzy stops Byrne’s pub to alert Linus of Norma’s calls. He asks where Collins is at.

Collins asks Brid about Anthony. She tells him about Anthony’s promise to bring the children for visits if she stops drinking. After congratulating her for trying to stop, he says that was inappropriate. She and Anthony are not before saying there are dead. He stares at her in disbelief. She questions if their relationship was ever alive.

Kitty is passed out in bed while they discuss her and Tommy’s relationship. He shows her a photo of the ring found with the bones at the Burke farm. She says it was Tommy’s ring. He asks what she was doing the night before their wedding. She claims to have been with Kitty preparing for the wedding reception. He asks if she loved Tommy. She thinks so but he probably didn’t love her. She denies being responsible for Tommy’s death. He asks about her ring. She admits to throwing it in the sewer. He comforts her and they kiss.

He removes his shirt and looks down at his body. She orders him to look at her. Holding up her arm, she shows him a hairy armpit. He holds up his arm, showing her a hairy armpit. They both agree they are tired of having shame. He tells her she is magnificently beautiful. She says you are too. They make love.

She asks if he is okay. He says what he did was wrong. She thinks her performance was not good. He assures her she was great. Apologizing, he hurriedly gets dressed. She tells him he is wearing Anthony’s pants. He says Anthony could walk in any minute. She tells him to not worry. He walks into the bathroom to find Kitty rinsing the blood out of a wedding gown. She orders him to get out.

Collins returns home to find a note in the refrigerator. The note reads, “No dinner.” He picks up a notebook to find indentions of the letter Brid showed him earlier. Distraught, he removes his glasses and lays them on the table.

He eats chips when Linus rushes through the door. Linus tells him they need to talk. He informs him the bones do not belong to Tommy as the episode comes to an end.

 

Holding Review

A slight improvement was noted in the dialogue, directing, and acting. On-screen relationships are slowly maturing. I don’t yet know how I feel about Collins and Brid’s brief fling. It was definitely a surprise. Collins’ fragile state and soft-heartedness put him in a vulnerable position. If Brid continues to get drunk, the relationship will not work. She also has a history of verbally abusing Anthony who doesn’t seem like a bad guy. There is also Kitty’s abusive nature that is concerning.

There is some improvement in Linus’ arrogant attitude. He seems to have his own struggling personal relationship to contend with. His revelation of being gay was a shocker.

The show is progressing a bit too quickly, which is to be expected since the series is only four episodes. I honestly don’t think extending the show would have been a positive impact. The episode deserves a 5. Get more Holding recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link to learn more.