Part 2 Fool For Love – The episode opens amid a therapy session. Alex Ridley (Adrian Dunbar) tells Doctor Samantha Larsson (Suzanne Packer) that Harry Bentham (John Michie) appears to genuinely love Annie Marling (Julie Graham). He worries about betraying Kit because it was her club too. Larsson assures him that it is part of the healing process. He admits to having trouble warming to Harry but knows he must do it for Annie. She urges him to tell Annie how he feels. Later at the police station, DC Darren Lakhan (George Bukhari) informs Ridley that Oliver Grant (Rishi Rian) purchased a ring the day before he was killed. He shows him a CCTV photo of Sarita Grant’s (Sudha Bhuchar) vehicle at the go-kart track. A short time later, Ridley and Darren confront Sarita about utilizing company funds to cover Oliver’s losses and visiting the go-kart track. She admits to clearing Oliver’s debt with Matt Brandon (Alexander Cobb). Ridley suggests Lewis Grant (Danyal Ismail) found out and reported the losses. She claims Lewis took his cheating father’s side and she doesn’t trust him. She tells them about an apartment that Oliver’s acquired in Cheshire.

Ridley asks Amelia Mellor (Ellise Chappell) if Lewis and Oliver were fighting over her. She claims Oliver mistreated her and Lewis cared about her and wanted her to leave Oliver. She says the marriage was Sarita’s idea because she wanted her family to invest in her company. Amelia tells him that Sarita gave her a family heirloom ring but Oliver didn’t buy it. She denies any knowledge of an apartment and alleges Oliver was having an affair. Upon leaving the church, Ridley receives a call from DI Carol Farman (Bronagh Waugh) alerting him that Jack Farman (Tareq Al-Jeddal) hasn’t been seen in nearly two days. A short time later, they meet up to discuss Jack’s disappearance. He assures her that it was not his intention to have DCI Paul Goodwin (Terence Maynard) remove her from the Grant case. She insists on being involved without Goodwin knowing. He suggests Oliver purchased Ava Tunstall (Lauren McQueen) an engagement ring. A short time later, they arrive at Ava’s apartment to find Jack with her. Carol scolds him for not contacting them and warns him against hanging out with Ava. He vows to stay away from her. Ava claims her relationship with Oliver was a mere fling and she didn’t want Matt to find out. Ridley says she didn’t have any issues accepting his ring and apartment. She claims Matt bullied and threatened to kill Oliver. He suggests Oliver went to the rave to confront Matt.

Ridley compliments Harry for turning around Annie’s pub. Harry claims to have done it because the pub makes Annie happy. Ridley claims to be happy for them. Elsewhere, Lewis offers to help Sarita run the business. She insists he cannot replace Oliver. He goes to Amelia’s place. She sees him outside but doesn’t let him in. Matt is attacked. While cleaning his boat, Ridley finds a gun hidden in the motor compartment. He notifies Carol about the gun that he believes was utilized to kill Oliver. He says only himself and Jack had access to the boat. A short time later, she escorts Jack into the police station. Goodwin asks what he knows about the gun. Jack denies any knowledge of a gun. Goodwin arrests him for Oliver’s murder. Carol watches the interrogation from a camera feed. Ridley asks Jack if he saw Oliver at the rave. Jack claims Matt gave him the gun because he trusted him. Ridley asks if he knows where Matt’s gear is stored. An armed squad raids a warehouse where Matt’s gear was stored to find drug paraphernalia, not drugs. A beaten and battered Matt is found lying on the floor. Matt says Lewis is responsible. A short time later, Lewis explains what happened that led up to him attacking Matt with a wrench. He claims Matt was trying to flee and threatened to kill him and Oliver’s girlfriends. Darren arrests Lewis on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm. Sarita says something to Lewis before he is escorted out of the house.

Doctor Wendy Newstone (Georgie Glen) informs Goodwin and Ridley that Matt’s prints weren’t found on the gun. Ridley informs Jack of Matt being attacked and his prints not being on the gun. Weeping, Jack claims to have only wanted to have fun with his mates and didn’t want to hurt anyone. Goodwin calls for a break. Carol breaks down sobbing. Ridley assures her that they will never give up on Jack. She blames herself for not being there for Jack. Ridley recalls Lewis saying Matt got angry when Oliver’s girlfriend betrayed him. Darren searches social media and finds a photo of Ava with the bag that the gun was found in. Ridley tells Jack that Ava was using him. Jack believed she cared about him. He claims a terrified Ava called him as he was leaving the rave. He took the bag to protect her and later found out it was a gun. He apologizes.

Holding Oliver’s ring, Ava says he promised they would always be together. She admits Matt was paying her to bring him customers through her raves. She knew Oliver had money, so she introduced him to Matt. She tried to break up with him but he insisted on them staying together. She professes to have loved him. In a flashback, an irate Oliver arrives at the rave and meets with Ava. He wants nothing else to do with her. When she grabs him, his handgun falls to the floor. Matt tells Oliver how Ava set him up as his client. She picks up the gun. He says she is nothing to him. She cocks the gun and shoots him. Back in the present, Ridley asks how she convinced Jack to hide the gun for her. She admits to knowing Jack liked her. He accuses her of making Jack an accessory to a murder. Darren arrests her for Oliver’s murder.

Ridley tells Jack that Ava killed Oliver. Goodwin suggests he will be charged with assisting an offender by trying to dispose of the murder weapon. Jack is released on bail. Geri Farman (Bhavna Limbachia) and Carol are waiting when Jack approaches. Carol races over and embraces him. He apologizes. She thanks Ridley. Later, Ridley arrives at the pub. He speaks to Annie before taking the stage. Carol watches Jack playing a video game. Annie enjoys Ridley’s performance. Harry shows her some affection. While reading over Harry’s Share Purchase Agreement, Ridley smiles. The episode ends.

 

Ridley Review

Jack learns his friends are really not his friends. Ava utilized him to conceal the murder weapon. She had been utilizing Oliver as well and when he tried to leave her, she killed him. Jack is facing charges for trying to dispose of the murder weapon. Carol blames herself for not spending quality time with him.

Ridley tries to come to terms with Harry and Annie’s relationship. He refuses to open up about his feelings and it seems, she is doing the same.

Ridley is one of the better British police procedurals but it lacks originality. A little oomph would go a long way in making the stories not so cut-and-dry. It would be nice to see Alex do something besides pine for Annie. He lives a terribly lonely life which seems to be the norm in this genre.  The episode deserves a 5.7 out of 10.

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