Part 2 The Memory Jar – As the episode opens, DC Carol Farman (Bronagh Waugh) tells Rob Dunning (Tachia Newall) that Mary Jane Bulmore, Tara Dunning’s (Emily Stoff) mother, was charged with the murder of her husband. Tara visits Mary Jane at Reunion Psychiatric Hospital in Renton. Alex Ridley (Adrian Dunbar) asks if he is aware of Tara’s pregnancy. Rob refutes his claim. Carol says she is 16 weeks into her pregnancy. Rob denies having sex with Tara for some time. Carol reminds him that Tara has a history of postpartum psychosis. He says she got really bad and he feared she would harm Leo. Ridley suggests Tara was unfaithful. Hitting the table, Rob insists she wasn’t and scolds them for not looking for her. At the police station, DC Darren Lakhan (George Bukhari) informs Carol and Ridley that a man at Jensen Mills claims Jason Dover (Micky McGregor) and his rangers were working when Tara disappeared. He shows them a blackmail letter found on Celia Machin’s (Maggie Steed) laptop. She threatened to expose a man’s affair if he didn’t end it.

Reunion Psychiatric Hospital – Ridley questions Dr. Vikram Assi (Ash Tandon) about a call that Tara made to him before she disappeared. Assi says Tara called to inform him of her pregnancy and he offered to make her an abortion appointment. Ridley tells him that Rob is not the father before telling him about Celia’s murder. Assi asks if he thinks Tara is dead. Ridley vows to find her with or without his help before leaving. Later, he returns home to find Annie Marling (Julie Graham) waiting for him. He asks who is working at Marling’s. She says Harry Bentham (John Michie) is planning a renovation. He asks if she is regretting her decision to make Harry a partner. She complains about how he threatens her like a glorified barmaid. He says Marling’s doesn’t feel like home which is why he hasn’t visited in a while. She admits to making a mistake and hurriedly leaves.

At the Dog Rose Canal, two fishermen hear a woman’s screams. They look up to see Tara running toward them. They rush over to help and call 911. At the police station, Carol tells Ridley that Tara claims to have been abducted and sedated. DCI Paul Goodwin (Terence Maynard) says she is in no state to be questioned. Carol and Ridley stress the need to find out what she has to say. Goodwin reluctantly authorizes Tara’s interrogation. Tara identifies her abductor. Darren arrives at Reunion Psychiatric Hospital to arrest Assi. Tara tells Carol and Ridley about her affair with Assi who she believes saw her as a case study. She admits to being terrified after what happened with her last pregnancy but hoped the right care would help. In a flashback, Tara and Assi are at Colden Crags. He insists she terminates her pregnancy because she is unstable. He reminds her of his wife and children. She threatens to expose their affair. Back in the present, Tara claims Assi grabbed her by the throat and she managed to fight him off. He pursued her in his vehicle. She veered off the road and the next thing she remembers is waking up on Assi’s boat. She tells them about Celia threatening to expose their affair. Ridley asks if she called Celia on the morning she went missing. She claims to have called Celia to make sure she wasn’t snowed in. He says Celia never mentioned the call. Carol informs her of Celia’s murder. Tara breaks down sobbing and blames herself.

Darren asks Janet Clinton (Emma Bispham) for a copy of Assi’s log books. She tells him that a female patient filed a complaint against Assi, claiming he abused his position. Assi denied the accusation, the witness was deemed unreliable, and the complaint was dropped. At the canal, Doctor Wendy Newstone (Georgie Glen) is in the process of processing Assi’s boat. She tells Ridley that lipstick was detected on a glass and several articles of were found under the bed. She suggests Assi utilized zip ties to restrain Tara. He points out that there was no bruising on her arms or throat. She admits to having trouble bonding with her newborns and understands what Tara must have been going through. At the police station, Carol shows Assi Celia’s blackmail letter. He confesses to having an affair with Tara. Ridley accuses him of abusing Tara’s trust. Assi calmly attributes it to a lapse of judgment. He says the woman who filed the complaint was a convicted offender with a dubious history. Carol tells him that Tara alleges he restrained her for four days and her sweater was found on his boat. Assi describes her as a delusional fantasist. When Carol confronts him about Tara’s sedation claims, he assures them that he wouldn’t harm his own child. Ridley reminds him that he insisted Tara terminate her pregnancy. Assi says Tara is trying to pin Celia’s murder on him. A short time later, Ridley and Carol drop Tara off at her home. Tara scoops Leo up in her arms.

While searching Celia’s house, Ridley discovers zip ties similar to those found in Assi’s boat. He finds a stash of prescription medicine, including Ropinirole, a Parkinson’s drug. He later asks Wendy if Ropinirole induces drowsiness. She says yes when taken in large doses. He urges her to compare the threads found on Celia’s body to Tara’s sweater. A short time later, Rob tells Ridley that he is going to try to work things out with Tara. After Tara’s mother killed her husband, Celia stepped up to help Tara. Ridley says she called Celia at 4:18pm after her meeting with Assi. In a flashback, Assi ends things with Tara and leaves her at Colden Cags. Distraught, she speeds down the road. An incoming call from Rob pops up on her phone. She veers off the road and crashes. When she comes to, she calls Celia. Later, Celia arrives and takes Tara back to her house. Back in the present, Carol tells Tara that fibers from her sweater were found on Celia’s body. Tara claims Celia agreed to let her stay overnight to think about her future. She says Celia smothered her and meddled in her life. Celia put Ropinirole in Tara’s tea. Tara woke up to find Jason asking Celia about her. Celia threatens to call the police if he doesn’t leave. Tara is getting dressed when Celia arrives with the spiked tea. Celia tries to stop her from leaving. Tara shoves her, she loses her balance and tumbles down the stairs. Back in the present, Tara says she knew Celia was dead. Ridley says Celia didn’t die for some time after the fall. In a flashback, Tara watches Celia gasp for breath. She frantically cleans up, grabs a handful of zip ties, stages a break-in, and flees.

Carol emerges from the police station to find Jack Farman (Tareq Al-Jeddal) waiting for a ride home. Ridley tells Darren that Tara was charged with murder and gives him money to pay a debt. Darren thanks him. At Marling’s, Harry offers to step away from the pub to give Annie some space. She says it has been fun but it’s over. He reminds her that he owns a stake in Marling’s. Ridley enters and says they will repay him. Harry accuses them of plotting against him. Ridley denies the allegation and asks him to leave. Harry asks what if he doesn’t want to sell his share. Ridley threatens to call Fraud Squad. Annie returns his bracelet. He gives them six months before leaving. She pours them a drink and they toast to Marlings. Ridley performs life. Annie reminisces about happy times with Ridley. The episode ends.

 

Ridley Review

Annie’s breakup with Harry was rash and Darren’s gambling debt felt disingenuous. The two-part finale did nothing to make me want to continue watching if season three is commissioned.

I feel Ridley is one of the better police procedural series but it is hardly different from all the others. A recent article about crime dramas being in high demand forgot to mention there are few alternatives. Some networks and streaming services make nothing else which explains why the genre is so popular. These low-budget productions are beneficial for everyone except for consumers who are forced to pay high subscription fees and TV licenses, regardless.

The finale deserves a 4.5 out of 10. Get more Ridley recaps here. Join our newly established forum to see what others are saying. Support our site by donating. Learn about our advertising packages here.