The Numbered Days – As the finale of Ridley begins, someone walks up to a house and pours gasoline through the mail slot. They light a pack of matches before throwing the matches into the house. A picture of Alex Ridley and his daughter Ella hangs on the wall. Michael Flannery (Aidan McArdle) wears a suit as he is allowed out of the prison for his mom’s funeral. Alex (Adrian Dunbar) stands to the side as the police bring Michael to the church for the funeral. Michael says hello to Callahan (Nico Mirallegro) before the funeral begins. Once it is over, Michael asks for a minute with his brother. Michael asks Callahan to stay strong for him. As he walks back to the police car, he tells Alex it was nice for him to come. He accuses him of sending his mom to an early grave by putting her oldest boy in prison before he complains about not being allowed to stay for the wake.

Alex mentions something about Adam Donnelly’s associates showing up. Once Michael leaves, Alex goes to Kate’s grave and notices a note and flowers from Adam. He kicks them away from Kate’s grave. When Patrick Elliot returns, he is harassed by Rochelle Blaine who is with her friend. She pretends to be shooting him as he walks away. Later that night, Patrick hears someone banging on his door. After a brief scuffle, he is thrown from the balcony and killed. In the morning, Darren Lakhan (George Bukhari) tells Carol Farman (Bronagh Waugh) about Patrick who lived on the 10th floor. He doesn’t think anyone at the estate is going to talk to them. Carol checks with Dr. Wendy Newstone (Georgie Glen) who suspects he has been dead for a few hours at least. She doesn’t think he jumped because of the bruising to the neck and upper torso and a tear on his shirt.

Wendy suggests going to the balcony to join Ridley because there might be clues there. They find paint on the door so someone might’ve had a grudge against Patrick. There are no signs of robbery or forced entry. They find a folder that shows Patrick was working at The Juniper Practice as a clinical psychologist. Darren talks to a woman who bumped into Patrick by the lift last night just before seven. He wasn’t short of callers. She works at the community center where she helps out when needed. Diane talks about trying to keep the kids out of trouble. She wonders if he jumped because he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Wendy confirms they found two sets of shoe prints on the balcony. The scuff marks on the floor suggest there was a struggle. They’ve also found a palm print that they’ll have to check. Alex goes through the likely scenario that led to Patrick (JP Conway) falling from the balcony.

Carol rushes into the hospital so she can catch up with Geri (Bhavna Limbachia) who says they’re going to have a little girl. Darren and Alex go to The Juniper Practice where they talk to Dr. Samantha Larsson (Suzanne Packer) about Patrick. He came in yesterday afternoon for some case files and it was the first time they had spoken in a week. Since he had been having some personal issues, she recommended taking home leave so he wasn’t seeing patients. It was borderline depression and anxiety attacks. Patrick had a tendency to get too involved with his patients. As for his private life, she knows he was gay although he never mentioned a partner. Samantha doesn’t want to let them look at the files for the patients. At the police station, Carol tells DCI Paul Goodwin (Terence Maynard) about the case. They discuss the possibility that it could’ve been a suicide.

That day, he ran into Samantha who refused to let him return to work. Diane said she saw Patrick return home around seven and that he had regular visitors. Goodwin wants them to check his phone to see if he was on any dating apps. He agrees to apply for a court order to gain access to the patient files. Goodwin takes Alex into his office to ask him about talking to Michael during the funeral. He doesn’t think Alex should be talking to him because it could look bad. Goodwin goes on to say he is only looking out for him. Later that night, Annie Marling (Julie Graham) tells Alex that Eve had pleaded guilty to manslaughter. They joke about Alex being a poor judge of women before he tells her about the burial of Michael’s mother and his run-in with Adam Donnelly’s associates. They discuss whether the flowers could’ve been a threat since Alex’s evidence sent him down. Alex thinks they’re just winding him up, but Annie believes he should be worried.

In a flashback, Michael comes to the club to tell Alex that they’ve set a date for Adam’s trial. Michael is worried that Adam will know he is the one who flipped on him. Alex tries to calm him by saying their sources are always protected. He tells him to keep his head down and don’t come back here again until they get him banged up. At the morgue, Wendy tells Alex and Carol about Patrick’s injuries. The palm print matched the victim’s hand. A combination of drugs and booze could’ve impacted his balance. While one footprint belonged to the victim, another one was something more formal. The glass tumbler in the kitchen had been wiped clean. There has been a couple of matching prints that haven’t been accounted for. Patrick might’ve known his killer though. As they leave, Alex tells Carol they need to get access to the patient files. He learns about Geri being pregnant.

Darren says he followed up on the anti-social incidents on the estate. Patrick called them out on three incidents when he claimed he was a victim of homophobic abuse by a gang of girls. He also reported a break-in six months ago. Some personal items and documents were stolen. The ringleader was Rochelle Blaine. They bring her down to the station for an interview. When she admits to harassing Patrick sometimes, she is warned that it is a hate crime now. Rochelle says people like him are asking for it sometimes. Diane (Kellie Shirley) insists her daughter had nothing to do with the burglary. Alex reminds Diane that she didn’t mention anything about her daughter having history with Patrick. They have proof that Rochelle was out with her mates just before Patrick was killed.

They were harassing him and drinking so both would’ve breached the terms of her criminal behavior order. Rochelle says they never went near Patrick’s flat and they only need to ask her girls because they’ll tell them. Darren tells Carol that one of the girls said Rochelle left the group around 8:30. He spoke to her boyfriend Jared Boakes and he was questioned in the burglary. Jared (Conor Deane) is picked up. Rochelle is confronted with the new information. She admits they spent some time at his lockup where they were likely doing sexual things. Jared keeps all kinds of things in the lockup. When they search it, they find all kinds of electronics that they bag and tag. They also find a watch in a plastic container. There is a possibility that it belonged to Patrick. Next, Jared is asked about Rochelle’s whereabouts after 8:30. Once he admits they were together for about an hour, he is warned that breaks the behavior order and could lead to a custodial sentence.

Rochelle was mouthing off about Patrick as usual so Jared told her he didn’t need the aggravation. He denies being involved in Patrick’s murder before he is asked about Patrick’s watch being found in his lockup. Jared says it was like Patrick could see that she was broken and Rochelle couldn’t tolerate that. He still denies having anything to do with the murder. Later, Darren admits there is nothing linking him to the crime scene. They can charge him for the stolen phones though. Alex picks up the confidential information from Goodwin who reminds him to keep that information private. As Alex flips through the folders, he is surprised to see paperwork regarding Callahan Flannery. It mentions anger management and his current condition is of concern because he is erratic. Alex tells Carol and explains that his last appointment was just over two weeks ago. Patrick has been called from Gloria Flannery’s house multiple times too.

They visit Callahan who isn’t happy to see Alex around. They go inside so they can talk about Patrick. Alex tells him that he looked at his file and his well-being was questioned. Callahan doesn’t think he should be looking at that since it is private stuff. He admits to contacting Patrick every now and then because he always said it was fine if he needed to talk. When asked if he has ever been to his house, Callahan insists he didn’t even know where he lived. Carol questions where he was on Monday evening. Cal says he was at his mom’s wake. He is still grieving his mom and they’re coming around asking questions that he can’t answer. Cal doesn’t know what they want him to say. He tells Alex how a couple of Adam’s friends approached her and said her son was on borrowed time. Carol says he should’ve called the police. Cal isn’t sure what good that would’ve done since he saw what they did to Michael.

As they walk outside, Alex claims he is lying through his teeth. Carol doesn’t think he should’ve mentioned the medical records, but Alex says they had to get a rise out of him. He says fine and he’ll step away from it so it’ll be her case. At the station, Carol releases Rochelle into her mom’s care as a person under investigation. Rochelle and Jared won’t be facing any charges, but they’re still under suspicion. Once Rochelle storms out, Diane admits to seeing someone by the entrance that night. She describes him to Carol while arguing that he wasn’t local because she knows all the lads on the estate. He stood out because he had a suit and tie. Carol goes to Goodwin’s office to tell him about Cal. She mentions his medical reports and the description that Diane just gave. Goodwin wants to bring him in for a lineup to see if she can make an ID. Carol believes Alex’s behavior with Cal is concerning because it seems like he is trying to settle some scores.

When she says she doesn’t want to make that decision, Goodwin offers to make it for her. In a flashback, Goodwin catches up with Alex to tell him that CPS has concerns that their source was never registered. Ridley is going to have to give them a name. Goodwin admits he broke every rule in the book so Ridley reminds him that he didn’t have any problem with it at the time. Goodwin just wants to make sure Donnelly goes down. Alex meets with Michael to tell him they didn’t have any choice but to give them his name. He promises they’re going to put Adam away so he can’t touch him. Michael isn’t sure because Adam called him from his prison cell to threaten to kill him. Alex offers to get him a safe house, but Michael would prefer to be in witness protection. Ridley promises he’ll fix it. Michael is sick of his promises because they don’t mean much. In the present, Alex meets with Samantha who insists they didn’t need a court order.

They begin talking about Cal who really never had anyone there for him. Alex says Patrick was there for him until she intervened. She says Cal had become too close to Patrick and their sessions were too intense. Samantha doesn’t think it was sexual because Patrick would’ve never crossed that line. She won’t say whether she thinks Cal was capable of murder. Alex returns to Carol to tell her about Samantha calling that relationship inappropriate. Carol isn’t happy that he talked to her even though she told him to back away from this. Goodwin calls for Ridley to come to his office. They discuss Carol’s concerns. Alex tells him about the possibility that this was a crime of passion. Darren interrupts to let them know that Diane has arrived. Diane looks through the pictures and picks out number seven which happens to be Cal.

Samantha arrives at the police station to tell Carol that Cal has been identified as a vulnerable adult. He’ll need an evaluation to determine if he is suitable for questioning. In private, Alex tells the other detectives that she is playing for time. Goodwin believes it would’ve been different if he hadn’t riled her up. He wants to get him signed off by a doctor. When they do interview him, Alex won’t be anywhere near him. During the interview, Carol says some of the people at the club said he left around 8:30 PM. Cal suggests he just got it wrong. He admits to drinking since he had just buried his mother. Alex listens from another room as Callahan is questioned about his prints being all over Patrick’s flat. He says he went around to return a book he borrowed a couple of weeks ago. He lied because he wasn’t supposed to be in contact with him and didn’t want to get into trouble.

When Carol asks what the book’s title was, he says it was just one of his therapy books. Carol tells him that they have a witness who can place him on the estate the night Patrick was murdered. Callahan begins saying Ridley is trying to set him up before saying he has nothing on him. Carol warns him that a CSI team is at his mother’s house looking for evidence, but Cal says they won’t find anything. She suggests the clothes he was wearing were bagged up and ready to be disposed of. Cal says they were his mother’s clothes. Carol asks if his relationship with Patrick ever turned sexual. Cal admits they were close and made a connection so Patrick might’ve misread the signs. He goes on to confess that Patrick came on to him, but he didn’t see it coming because he thought he could trust him. When Carol accuses him of killing Patrick, Cal yells that he wasn’t there.

They agree to take a break. Outside, Samantha explains to Alex why she is protecting Cal. Ridley tells her about all the evidence they have against him and insists they’re not in the business of stitching people up. Samantha says Cal has the classic traits of narcissism so his lack of empathy could easily be misconstrued. She wonders if Alex’s judgment should be called into question since the Donnelly conviction was all based on evidence provided by Cal’s brother. Samantha knows about the fire and what happened to his family. She offers to listen to him if he wants to talk to someone. Alex asks if she ever records her sessions. Patrick might’ve although he had taken most of his work home with him. When he goes back to Patrick’s flat, Ridley runs into Wendy who says they’ve packed most of his stuff already. Another officer enters as Ridley finds the bag with the SD card and sticks it in his pocket.

Alex goes to his vehicle to check out the contents of the SD card. Cal tells Patrick about everyone leaving him. His mom gave up after that. Callahan doesn’t want to talk about his brother going to prison. He reveals Michael didn’t think anyone was home that night since there wasn’t a light on and there was no car in the driveway. He says the clothes smelled like petrol for weeks even though his mom tried to wash them. Patrick asks if there is something he is trying to tell him before Cal asks him to turn the recorder off. Alex goes back to his old home as we see a flashback of the moment Ridley arrived with Goodwin who had to hold him back. Once he goes inside, he remembers telling Kate (Jacquetta May) that he could stay home. They talk to Ella (Kitty Watson) about her relationship woes. Alex is always the last to know because he is never around.

He believes it’ll be a lot calmer around here once Adam is locked away. He claims he is going to show his face at the club and be back in no time. At the pub, Goodwin tells everyone that they’ve been able to shut down Adam’s operation. He tells Alex that he was sentenced to 14 years, but Alex says he’ll get 10 with good behavior. Alex argues they need to protect Michael so Goodwin promises to bring it up with the ACC. Once the fire is started at Alex’s home, we see that it was Callahan instead of Michael. Alex visits Michael at the prison to tell him about Cal’s arrest. He shows him the SD card and mentions what they talked about. Alex believes he took the blame for two murders he didn’t commit, but Michael insists he killed them. Michael says his brother wouldn’t survive a week in here. Alex says he played Michael like he played everyone else.

Alex pleads with him to tell the truth since Callahan has never done anything for him. Michael refuses to cooperate so he goes back to his cell. Alex goes to Carol to show her what Cal was looking for in that flat. He suggests Cal might’ve wanted to kill Patrick to prevent him from telling anyone about the previous murders. They get into an argument after Carol admits they already let him go. He argues he is the guy they come to when they have to catch a break. Carol says this is serious misconduct and she is going to have to report it. Alex yells for her to get out there and find Cal before throwing the SD card to her. Michael calls Cal who admits Patrick had those recordings and wanted to go to the police. When Cal learns that Ridley had already listened to them, he hangs up. In a flashback, Ridley learns about Michael taking full responsibility for the fire. In the present, Goodwin tells Alex that they’re searching for Cal and he is being removed from the investigation.

They discuss how things could’ve been different. Cal goes to the club searching for Ridley who isn’t there. He trashes the place anyway. Later, Ridley calls the police and tells Annie that a patrol car is on the way. Alex is convinced he knows who is responsible. Cal manages to get a gun. He sneaks around Ridley’s house. Ridley talks to Annie about Michael being innocent before the police arrive outside. Cal goes inside and calls for Ridley. Jack arrives at Alex’s place on his bike and heads inside. Cal greets him when he enters the home. Annie thinks Alex has been hiding behind other people’s cases. Jack tells Cal he is there to work on the boat, but Alex must’ve forgotten. He wants to call him. Cal pulls out the gun and says he can’t let him do that. Carol meets with Michael to tell him about his brother missing. He told his brother to turn himself in.

Michael believes his brother would go after Ridley and he could be armed. Alex returns home so Cal grabs Jack. Carol calls for backup as she rushes to find Cal. Alex learns that Cal is holding Jack at gunpoint. He tries to convince Callahan to let the boy go. Cal isn’t going to trust him after what he did to Michael. He goes on to call Michael a weak man. Geri calls Carol to tell her about Jack going to Ridley’s place. Alex is allowed to come inside even though Cal continues holding Jack hostage. Jack is released so he runs outside and embraces Carol who has arrived. She learns what is going on from him. Cal talks to Ridley about his house and how peaceful it is out there. Ridley admits it gives him a chance to think about his wife and daughter. Alex reveals he listened to the recording and he knows Cal killed them, but Cal quickly denies that. In a flashback, Patrick answers the door to tell Cal he can’t come around here anymore.

He agrees to let Cal in once he learns that his mother died. Cal says he told Patrick things he had never told anyone. He trusted him and he set him up. Patrick encouraged him to turn himself in. He offers to go with him saying he doesn’t have to do this on own his own. Cal tells Alex that he went back on his promise like he did with Michael. Alex agrees to take his share of the blame for everything that happened. He warns Cal that backup will be there to deal with him shortly. They arrive outside and prepare to enter the property. Goodwin doesn’t think they should leave this to Alex. Cal wonders who Alex hates more. He asks if it is the man who killed his family or the copper who left them. Cal just wanted Alex to feel the way he did. Outside, the cops are unable to get in touch with them. Alex admits it wouldn’t help if Cal said sorry.

Callahan says he did it for Michael to show them that his family couldn’t be messed with. Cal allows Alex to answer his phone before Goodwin introduces himself. Cal wants to speak to his brother. He wants him to know that he has evened the score. Goodwin wants this to end as soon as possible, but Carol says Ridley needs more time. Goodwin believes it is out of his hands now. Cal tries to give Alex the gun because he knows he wants him dead. He can say there was a struggle and the gun went off since no one would ever know. Alex takes it and holds it to his head while Cal screams for him to kill him. Alex removes the gun and says they’re going to walk out of here together. Cal goes after him and a struggle ensues. A shot is fired. Cal stands up and gets shot in the head by the sniper outside. Alex is rushed to the hospital for treatment.

While Alex recovers in the hospital, he talks to Kate about how he always thought they were good for each other. She encourages him to fix the boat so they can sail it out to the island. His hospital bed is empty. Carol is happy to see that they’re discharging him. She thanks him for getting Jack out of there safely. They smooth over things after their prior argument. Alex goes to Michael to tell him about his brother. Michael believes he could’ve stopped him if he wasn’t locked up in prison. Alex confirms arrangements have been made for his release and they’re going to put him in witness protection. Later, Alex goes to his pub and talks to Annie who wants to make sure he is okay to sing. While Alex sings, we see that he has visited Dr. Samantha Larsson. He takes Annie out on the boat later.

 

Ridley Review

The finale of Ridley was somewhat of a mess in the beginning, but the end of the episode managed to mostly pull everything together. The performances were decent as usual with Nico Mirallegro doing a great job as the crazed killer. While the episode had a few twists and turns, none of them were exceptional. They were good enough to keep viewers interested throughout though.

The case of Patrick’s murder had a lot of red herrings that probably could’ve been eliminated. Many aspects of this episode and previous episodes were difficult to believe so a lot of viewers will likely complain about that. A lot of things weren’t covered by the finale meaning there is possibly space for another reason.

While I am not desperate for more of Ridley, I’d probably watch it out of curiosity. It was just good enough without doing anything particularly well to distinguish itself from other shows in this genre. The finale scores a 6 out of 10. Recaps of Ridley can be found on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support us at this link.