The show begins with Theresa (Anna Maxwell Martin) having a flashback of a rowboat. She is interrupted by Fraser (Rhashan Stone) who reminds her the taxi will be there at 6pm. She refuses his offer to pick Ben up from school. She kisses him on the cheek and leaves the room.

Gareth (Jonas Armstrong) is working on wood carvings in a shed when his wife, Jean (Jodie McNee) enters. She asks are you not going to say anything. He hadn’t known Alex (Hughie Hamer) was missing all night. She angrily throws his wood carving on the floor. The night before Alex went missing, he mentioned making a film. He planned to show the film to Jean when she returned from work. The next morning, Gareth overslept. When he finally got up, he realized Alex’s things were gone and the front door was broken and open. He says maybe it is your fault because you weren’t there. She smirks and leaves for her mom’s.

 

Theresa and her son, Ben (Fraser Holmes) are listening to a news segment on the car radio. They pass a memorial for Alex before pulling into their driveway. Ben and Eva (Amelie Bea Smith) are old enough to know people don’t get into trouble for helping someone. Agitated, she grabs his arm and asks what they did with Alex’s phone. He jumps out of the car and runs into the house, with her in tow. She apologizes and tries to understand. He responds, “It was my fault.” He wanted him to stop being horrible to Eva, so he told him to do it. They hid Alex’s phone to keep her from finding the nasty messages from him and Eva. He thinks Alex committed suicide. She wouldn’t believe it if he told her the truth. He wants to talk to the police. She suggests not interfering with the investigation because they have a suspect. He says they don’t if he did it.

Helen (Rachael Stirling) is getting dressed to go out with a friend. She asks her husband, David (Peter McDonald) who he is getting dressed up for. Eva enters and asks if she will help with her homework. She volunteers David who is having a friend over. She questions if he will actually help her, not hang out in the garage all night.

Ben and Georgina (Tia May Watts) are watching TV when Theresa appears all dressed up. Georgina pays her a compliment.

Fraser’s brother, Eddie (Ken Nwosu) arrives at David’s house. He has the cash to pay for the broken flowerpot, but David refuses the offer. Helen believes he is responsible. He doesn’t want to cause Helen and David problems. David says, “Oh, it is nothing new.”

Helen arrives to pick up Gareth. He unhappily suggests they go somewhere quiet. She stares at him in disbelieve before pulling out of the village.

Fraser brings Theresa a glass of wine, which she immediately gulps down. He congratulates her and they tip glasses. Leslie Saunt (Tony Leader) comes over to greet Theresa. She stumbles over her words while introducing Fraser as her partner. He tells them about the police arresting Alfred in connection with Alex’s murder. He worked with Alfred for over 20 years and doesn’t believe the rumors about him lurking out the playground. Fraser says if he is innocent, the police will realize it. Leslie doesn’t have much faith in the local police. Fraser asks Theresa if she is okay.

Helen and Gareth arrive at an isolated parking lot. He gives her a handmade carving of praying hands as a token of his appreciation. Jean has gone to her mum’s. He tells her about the photographer’s arrest. Everyone is looking at him. He checked on Alex before going to bed the night before he died. She suggests they ease their relationship for a while. If someone finds out, it could be bad for Gareth. He gets in her face, demanding to know if she blames him for Alex’s death. He jumps out of the car.

David shows Eddie his model that took about eight months to complete. Eddie is amazed by his work, but Helen thinks it is a waste of time. When Helen moved to be close to Theresa, he gave up a great job. About six years later, he still hasn’t decided what he wants to do. Eddie took up exercising when his life left because she didn’t like him. Helen doesn’t like to be in the same room with David. Eva thinks he is a stranger. Fraser’s house is not paradise.

Theresa’s West Coat Café and Delicatessen wins the “The Best Local Business” award. As she accepts the award, she looks over at the photographer. She momentarily imagines he is Alex’s killer. During her speech, she gives a special thanks to Helen. Fraser is shocked and disappointed.

Immediately upon arriving home, Theresa runs upstairs to check in on Ben. Fraser asks her what is going on and why she didn’t mention him tonight. She says it isn’t you and starts to say what it is but never gets it out. They become intimate.

Helen checks on Eva when she arrives home. Theresa texts to let her know she is outside. She tells Helen what Ben said about Alex bullying Eva. Helen denies the allegations, saying it is another one of Ben’s stories. Theresa would get into trouble, not Ben. They should have gone to the police days ago and should feel awful about it.

Helen speaks at Alex’s vigil. Theresa tries to comfort Ben, but he moves to stand by Georgina. Gareth speaks about the things they do not have. Alex was loved and well cared for. He was their world. The scumbag who is believed to have committed the murder is in jail, where he should stay the rest of his life. He wants just, not pity. The crowd claps.

Fraser invites Helen and David over. Eddie and David go get a pint. He asks Theresa if she is annoyed with him inviting Helen and David over. She thinks it would be a good idea for him to adopt Ben and them to get married. Georgina knocks on Ben’s bedroom door.

Eva doesn’t want to go to Theresa’s home, but Helen insists.

Georgina angrily intrudes on Fraser and Theresa. She calls Theresa a “fu**ing psychopath” and threatens to tell Fraser. Theresa answers the door and informs Helen that they know. Fraser is angry with Helen and Theresa because of the fake criminal sketch that led to the photographer’s arrest. He didn’t know they could cover up a murder. He calls Helen a “manipulative bitch.” Theresa says Helen was trying to help. They covered up to protect their kids and lied to Alex’s family. He says, “And you wonder why Ben’s the way he is.” He threatens to go to the police if they don’t. Helen agrees to go but suggests they think it over first. Theresa has lied to the police, so there will be consequences. He says if this was Georgina, he would have gone to the police straight away. Theresa felt the same way until it was Ben.

Helen has a flashback of a rowboat. She stands at the bow and falls into the water. They are preparing to go to the police. Helen doesn’t want David to know just yet. Eva and Ben have different versions of what happened to Alex. They believe the truth is somewhere in the middle. Fraser calls Theresa’s story about the man at the part “bullsh**”. Theresa agrees to tell the truth and face the consequences. Before Helen can talk to Eva and Ben, Fraser asks what if you didn’t know until this morning, you couldn’t be blamed for making things up. If the police cannot find evidence to charge the photographer, they will have to release him. Theresa calls DS Parks (Jim Howick) while Helen talks to the kids.

Ben and Eva will be interviewed separately, with an appropriate adult. Theresa agrees to take full blame for what happened. Helen is here to protect her. She breaks down and pleads with Theresa to stay for her. DS Parks tells Theresa it is a coincidence how they met in the woods, the same place where Ben and Eva saw Alex. Fraser calls Theresa to alert Helen of David being at the hospital. He tells her, Eddie found David and it is really bad as the episode comes to an end.

 

Hollington Drive Review

The slower pace is even more noticeable when nothing significant happens. The investigation is pretty much stagnant, as the show focuses on unimportant matters, which is extraordinary with only four episodes. If the finale transpires like I believe it will, we can expect the show to end with a whimper.

The writers elude to Hollington Drive being an extraordinary place to live. Instead of landscape footage, the viewers get rooftops. It is possible, they were trying to stay on budget by filming in a studio. While this is understandable, it is a bit disappointing. Even a day shot of the woods would have been nice.

The episode deserves a 5.5.

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