As the episode begins, Alison Wilson (Ruth Wilson) visits the prison. Alison is searched by a prison officer (Conor Grimes). He gets a little too frisky with her. Before too long, she is allowed to see Alexander (Iain Glen). He apologizes to her for making her come Alexander explains that he is getting close to fascists in the prison to gather intel from them. He promises that the charge of theft is not true. He claims that there will not be a trial. He’ll stay until he gets what he needs and then he’ll come home. Alison tells him that she cannot do this anymore. She is going to leave him. Alexander learns all about the troubles at home. He swears that he’ll sort everything out when he is released.

Alison intends to sell her ring to get money. He claims that there is proof of his work in his wallet. In the present, Alison looks at the licensed pawnbroker card she found hidden in his wallet. She calls the number on the card several times, but doesn’t get an answer. She heads to church and listens to Father Timothy (Ian McElhinney). Alison remembers returning to her mother (Barbara Marten) for help. Mrs. McKelvie immediately rubs it in Alison’s face that she was right. Alison visits Dartmouth Naval College. She admits to Gordon (Calam Lynch) that she wrote the letter. She admits she couldn’t believe that Alexander didn’t own Blakefield. Gordon is convinced that his father made everything up.

Gordon tells Alison that he saw Alec at the hospital once pushing a trolley. Alec claimed to be volunteering as a porter for the day. Alison intends to find out Alec’s connection to Blakefield. Alison manages to find a hidden number on the back of the business card. She calls the number and it rings continuously. In a flashback, Alec gets out of prison and visits the boys at Mrs. McKelvie’s house. They all speak in the living room. Alison’s mom invites her to stay as long as she wants. Alec explains that he has gotten a raise and has found a flat. Alison continues her regular work. She studies the business card. She recalls Alec having panic attacks of sorts. She calls the number once again.

Alison continues trying to get ahold of the person who owns the phone number on the card. Alison’s mother tells her that Alec is a crook and a liar. In a flashback, Alec manages to get Alison’s ring back from the pawnbrokers. Alec tells Alison that they’ve found him a local cover job. That will allow him to stay closer to home. He reminds her that he has been convicted of nothing. Alison speaks with Timothy about his belief in God. Alison flags down a taxi and heads for the Central Middlesex Hospital. She speaks with Bret (Joseph Mydell) about her husband working at the hospital. Bert admits that Alec worked there. He was always in and out. Bert explains that he covered for Alec when he used to meet up with a lady.

Alec would see her every week. Bert describes Coleman (Fiona Shaw). Alison remembers the time she followed Alec and watched him meet with Coleman. Alison visits Coleman. Coleman tells her that there are things she doesn’t know. Coleman encourages Alison to walk away and live her life in peace. She doesn’t. Coleman explains that Alec’s criminal record made him employable only in the lowest positions. Alec was fired from the service in 1942. Coleman explains that Alec embellished the facts about the Egyptians. Alec’s lies caused the MI5 to waste months trying to tack down the so-called Egyptian spy ring. Alec was watched for the rest of his life because his skills of deception were so good. Coleman explains that she watched him.

Alison leaves in a hurry. She goes to the church and losses it. Father Timothy patches her up. Timothy tries to give her new hope in God. Alison calls the number on the back of the card once again. This time, a man answers. She explains herself. He tells her that they need to have another talk. Shahbaz Karim (Anupam Kher) is on the other end. Alison meets with him a short time later. Karim tells Alison that Alec was sacked for telling the truth and not lying. A group of agents in MI5 wanted control of Alec’s phone line to the Egyptian embassy. Not everyone in the service was on the same side. Karim believes Alec was set up by a double agent. He thinks that they put someone in line to send intelligence straight to Moscow. Karim tells her that it is all true.

Alison admits she doesn’t have the strength to believe it all again. Later, she gets a call from Nigel (Otto Farrant). They speak about Oxford. Nigel gives her encouragement to keep going. She returns to Karim and is shown the letters Alec wrote pleading his case. Karim explains that he didn’t tell Alison the truth because he wasn’t to protect her. Alison asks if there is someone else she can talk to. Karim encourages her not to give up on Alec. She remembers Alec telling her to go to the courts. She does just that. Then, she speaks with Coleman. There are no records or trials. Coleman sticks with her story. Coleman admits she couldn’t find out why Alec would hurt his country. Alison admits Alec lied to her a lot, but not about his career.

Alison calls Gordon and requests to talk to him about Alec. She wants to tell him who he was. Alison regains a pep in her step. She even invites Olive (Joy Richardson) and her husband in for a drink. Alison runs into a young boy named Douglas (Oliver Zetterstrom) outside. Douglas is meeting his mother after work. They’re looking for his father. Douglas thought he father lived there. He explains that he needs to see him because his father stopped sending money. He father is supposedly a doctor. The boy’s mother arrives soon. The boy speaks about his father and it sounds just like Alec. Alison goes inside and breaks down. The woman yells through the door. She explains that she is Elisabeth Wilson (Gemma McElhinney). Alison burns all of Alec’s belongings and anything that reminds her of him.

Alison sells the house and moves out three years later. Gordon and Nigel look through the property. Nigel has a picture of Alison. It must be the only one she kept. Alison takes up refuge at a religious institution. Alison gets a visit from the boys and the new baby. Alison intends to split the house money between the two boys. She explains that she has decided to stay for good. Nigel gives her the picture he found. Gordon contemplates what to tell Deborah about dad when she grows up. Alison doesn’t have an answer. Later, Alison meets with Dennis Wilson (Patrick Kennedy). Dennis tells Alison that he would rather know the truth about his dad and who he was. He tells Alison that she is a good mother and the boys will understand.

Alison contemplates how she can give herself to God when she is being dishonest with her children. Timothy tells her that understanding comes first and then forgiveness. Alison visits Blakefield. Alison learns that the house was used as a military hospital during both wars. Alec was a teenager when he arrived back from the war. The woman tells Alison about Alec’s troubles after the war. He started writing at Blakefield. The woman explains that writing helped Alec overcome his troubles. Alison begins writing to her sons. It is her way of telling her sons about Alec and his life. Alison has managed to forgive Alec. She gives her life to God.

 

Mrs. Wilson Review

Mrs Wilson has been intriguing and well acted from start to finish. The finale was very sad. Alison managed to find some truth only for it to be stripped away from her. In the end, she was forced to give up her hunt for the truth and forgive Alec. Ultimately, she turned to Alec’s own skills and wrote to her sons to explain the truth as she knew it. The finale was excellent. It was likely the best episode of all. It was also nice that we got to see the real life families of Alec and Alison.

The finale was good. It scores an 8.5 out of 10. Catch up with previous recaps of Mrs Wilson now!