Ragdoll Season 1 Episode 1 Recap

The story begins with DS Nathan Rose (Henry Lloyd-Hughes) is getting out of a vehicle, where he is mobbed by media.  He is having flashbacks of a traumatic event. As he walks through the building, he encounters a female who says, “It wasn’t me.” His flashbacks of a burning body continue. A newspaper article “Police ‘Vendetta’ Rules Out Fair Trial” appears on the screen. He is approached by DCI Chambers (Tim McDonnell) who admits to being responsible for reporting Simmons. DS Finlay (Michael Smiley) interrupts, “Don’t embarrass yourself, Chambers.”

Male suspect, Mark Hooper (Sammy Hayman), handcuffed is brought into the courtroom. Everyone rises as Judge Wingate (Angus Wright) enters the court. Judge Wingate says witness statements and electronic messages were obtained illegally without a warrant, making it admissible in court. He says the police have left the victims down. Hooper is free to leave the courtroom. Before making his exit, he turns to smirk at DS Rose.

DS Rose continues to have flashbacks of the first and Mr. Hooper smirking. He jumps out of his seat and attacks Mark Hooper. He continues to punch Hooper, as DCI Chambers has a failed attempt to stop him. Eric Turner (Douggie McKeekin) finally knocks him out with his baton.

The story jumps forward two years, with DS Rose laying on a sofa. He receives a phone call, providing him with the address 153 Halcross. As he hops on his bike, he encounters DI Emily Baxter (Thalissa Teixeira). She tells him the address is a psychiatric facility.

They arrive at the Halcross House, where they are met by DC Lake Edmunds (Lucy Hale). They share an out milk before entering the Halcross House. They are at the facility to investigate a homicide in the Panic Room. The evidence is two legs, one of which belongs to a black male and the other, a white female. The right arm belongs to an East Asian female, the left arm to a white male. The torso and head belong to a white male.

DS Rose and DCI Chambers toss a few jokes around while investigating the body parts that are stitched together. The detectives joke about the suspect’s nickname. DC Edmunds holds up a mint leaf, she got from the café. She is utilizing the mint to combat the odor of the deceased. She goes on a tirade about shopping for mentholated palm oil in a drug store.

They continue to assess the body whom they believe is Mark Hooper “The Cremation Killer.” The victim’s nickname is described as “lazy” because cremation occurs after death. DCI Baxter says Mark Hooper questions if Mark Hooper is imprisoned.

DS Rose moves back the curtain to expose the body, dangling from ropes from the ceiling. He stares out the window.

DI Baxter and DC Edmunds arrive at the morgue, discussing lemon juice. DC Lake Edmunds talks about her college experience, politics, and other irrelevant topics. They discuss DS Rose who DI Emily Baxter says has PTSD. She receives a phone call from DCI Simmons and tells DI Lake Edmunds to go into the morgue without her.

DC Edmunds discusses a high-carb prison menu. The Mortician (Peter Bottley) says someone died in the prison canteen Thursday. He removes the sheet to expose a headless body. DC Edmunds gets a closer look. DC Baxter enters the morgue, saying a few choice words.

DS Rose is examining images of the deceased that are pieced together on a whiteboard. A gentleman enters the room, carrying a bouquet of roses for DI Baxter. The flat was rented out online. The tenant paid cash via the letterbox. DS rose says, “Well, I’ve got some juicy clues.” The left victim’s arm bears a surgery scar and right arm, a Pomeranian tattoo.

DC Edmunds and DI Emily Baxter visit the prison. The prison Governor (Russell Anthony) says the cause of death is a naturally occurring neurotoxin, tetrodotoxin. DI Edmunds asks to interview other prisoners and staff in the canteen the day Hooper died. The Governor hesitates to comply with the requests. Hooper had recently become a vegan. DC Edmunds responds, “Oh, was that part of a rehabilitation program.” DI Baxter refers to Hooper as a “sociopath”. Hooper’s food was prepared offsite, an additional expense for the prison. The warden says, “Makes you want to bring back hanging.”

They talk about a Simpsons episode, where Homer gets poisoned by a blowfish while leaving the prison. DI Baxter tells DC Edmunds to contact the caterers.

Back at the police barracks, DS Rose meets with DI Emily Baxter. They discuss Hooper being poisoned. DS Rose asks if his death was painful, she says it was “painless” and almost instant. He stresses out about the investigation. She offers to get him reassigned, but he refuses.

DS Rose attends a light therapy session with a female therapist (Ginny Holder). He has a flashback of being locked up and injected with tetrahedra or another similar drug. He sits down at a table with Joel Shepton (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith) who is flipping through the pages of a Bible. During a flashback, the media is talking about the Cremation Killer who was set free after DS Rose obtained evidence without a warrant. He jumps up from his seat, grabs a pool cue, and smashes out the TV screen. Joel tears a page out of the Bible, the overhead lights flicker, as the therapy session continues.

DS Rose speaks to the therapist about Joel and his sister, Teresa’s death. He says Joel had no faith in law enforcement. The therapy session ends.

DS Rose is back in the investigation room when he is approached by DC Edmunds. She clears her throat and hands him an image of a possible intruder at the caterers. He says, “Yessss, take the rest of the day off.” She scolds him for his behavior. DC Lake Edmunds walks in on the conversation. DC Edmunds disappointedly walks away. He tells DC Lake Edmunds he would not apologize for a weak joke.

DC Edmunds and DS Rose are at karaoke.

At the Greater London Police headquarters, DI Emily Baxter meets with DCI Chambers. They discuss DS Rose and budget cuts. She receives the bouquet of flowers from the family of 14-year-old Rafael Orfao.

DI Baxter holds a press conference about the homicide, involving six people. Andrea Wyld (Natasha Little) takes a seat behind DS Rose. She asks him, “Is this a grudge.” He shakes his head no. She denies making chambers write the letter, reporting him for collecting evidence without a warrant. She wrote the story in the newspaper. She asks about the murders. He candidly responds, “They died of boredom.” They laugh at a poem about sex while the press conference is in progress. DC Edmunds is not happy with what she sees transpiring between DS Rose and Angela. A ruckus outside interrupts the press conference.

DS Rose and DC Edmunds entjer an elevator. He explains his relationship with Andrea. She questions if DCI Chambers regrets writing the letter. After exiting the elevator, she speculates he may be a “freemason.” He laughs it off. A letter has arrived at DS Rose’s desk. He calls for gloves and DCI Simmons. The letter is addressed to DS Rose at the Greater London Police in London. The letter contains a list of names: Ray Turnbull, Nick Hooper, Eric Turner, Andrew Daly, Matthew Wingate, and Nathan Rose. Another flashback begins.

DI Baxter discusses the investigation. They deem the body “Ragdoll.” DS Rose demands to know who an unknown man is at the meeting. He claims to be an IT technician.

DI Baxter orders armed officers to be stationed at every entrance of the police department. DC Rose waits as a black car pulls up with Ray Turnbull (Phil Davis). He is not happy about the police escort. He is shown an image of the body with six body parts. He speaks of his children in France and another with the mother. He is escorted up to the 11^th floor of the police department.

DC Edmunds says the Pomeranian tattoo was done by Hau who is doing a residency at the Halloween Parade studio at Stockwell Road. The studio is 100 meters from the area where Rafael Orfao was murdered.

They visit the studio. DC Edmunds talks about dating a woman who broke up with her. DI Baxter orders DC Edmunds to wait in the car while she checks around the building.

DC Rose brings Ray Turnbull a cheese sandwich. He asks about the Ragdoll victim. He makes a joke about Brexit while talking about Hooper.

DI Baxter visits a café, where she sees a picture of Rafael Orfao. She rambles about her not being treated any differently than her colleagues. She asks Rafael’s dad why he didn’t send DC Chambers flowers. He denies sending the flowers.

She runs back to the car and orders DC Edmunds to call DC Rose. As DC Rose’s phone rings, Turnbull explodes after lighting a cigarette. DC Rose has a flashback of a burning body while watching Turnbull burn. After a delayed response, he grabs a coat to put the first out. The sprinkler system is activated.

DC Rose revisits the psychiatric hospital he stayed in after beating Hopper.  He meets with a doctor who tells him Joel hanged him about a year ago. He sobs as he exits the facility.

DI Baxter drops DC Rose off at his apartment. She offers to go up with him, but he refuses. He makes a joke about schizophrenia. He continues to have flashbacks of Joel. He asks Joel to give him the number. He jots down some numbers on a page of his Bible. He folds the page into a triangle before handing it to DC Rose.

A female asks him if he believes the Faust is real. He calls the number from a payphone. He says the Faust is not real, Joel says, “Are you sure.” As the call is answered, DC Rose says, “This is Nathan Rose, I want you to kill Mark Hooper.”

 

Ragdoll Review

It was really difficult to watch the entirety of the episode. I really enjoyed Henry Lloyd-Hughes in Indian Summers, but not so much this role. The dialogue was enough to make you question why this series was ever created. The part that stuck out the most was Rose’s flashbacks with Joel in the last few minutes of the episode. Ultimately, it was let down by cheesy, vomit-worthy dialogue and unrealistic action, such as the beating Rose gave Hooper in the courtroom. I was really looking forward to seeing Douggie McKeekin in another role besides Harlots. Unfortunately, he got about 2 seconds of air time. I hope it gets better, it still has time to improve, but my expectations are very low. The episode gets a 5.

All recaps on Ragdoll will be available here eventually.