At the beginning of the episode, we see Nelly (Lennie James) in a car and his hands are bloody. He is sitting outside of Stacy’s pub and he has a young girl in the back of his car. Nelly washes his hands before imagining his daughter is standing outside of his car. The young girl asks him what they’re going to do and Nelly tells her to give him a minute. After the intro, we join Goz (Thomas Coombes) and Nelly earlier that day. Goz goes on and on about butterflies not having hearts and other things. He also tells Nelly that his girlfriend made him promise he would be the only one driving the vehicle. Nelly spots their target (Lesley Manville) moments later and they begin following her vehicle.

Nelly looks at a newspaper article that features a picture of the woman and her husband. It explains that the sex trafficking case against them has collapsed. Goz gives Nelly money and the woman stops before getting out of her vehicle. Nelly follows her into the store and confronts her inside a few moments later. We learn that the woman is married to Gideon Charles and involved in the sex trafficking ring. Nelly stops her while she reads a newspaper and apologizes to her. She tries to get away from him but he follows her and speaks to her about his mother and friends. He tells her that it is his birthday and he wants to make sure she is alright. He tells her about his girlfriend taking care of him and he wants to make sure she has help as well.

They sit down and the conversation continues. Nelly wants the woman to tell him where he can find Gideon Charles but she pretends she doesn’t know where he is. Nelly does not believe that. She tries to get up and leave so Nelly tells her that Goz is a paparazzi and will harass her outside. She sits back down and agrees to give him information. Meanwhile, Zita (Camilla Beeput), Stace (Susan Lynch), and the others prepare for Nelly’s surprise birthday party. Stace explains that she loves Nelly but she couldn’t fancy him. Nelly gets a phone call but doesn’t answer it before Goz agrees to take him to the address the woman gave to him. They knock on the door but nobody answers so Nelly calls the phone number and a man answers.

He pretends he has a package to deliver but the man isn’t buying it. He threatens to call the police unless Nelly gets away from his phone and Goz doesn’t understand what is going on. Meanwhile, the woman picks up Gideon Charles and apologizes for giving Nelly his addresses. She agrees to take him somewhere else. Next, Claire (Suranne Jones) attends a counseling session. She listens to a woman speak until she gets upset because the woman says her child is dead. She rushes out of the building and leaves in her vehicle. Nelly and Goz return to the apartment building and chat about his upcoming birthday party. On the way inside, they run into Teens (Kerry Godliman). They chat a bit before Teens leaves. Goz gets them a drink and they head to the school.

Nelly calls Gideon again and tells him about the encounter with his wife. He tells Gideon that he doesn’t have to run from him because he only wants what he didn’t get in court. He wants to know everything Gideon knows about Jody. Zita’s kid runs into him and he gives her instructions he hopes will prevent her from getting kidnapped. After that, Melon (Stephen Graham) and Bernie (Alice May Feetham) check out ultrasounds of their child. Nelly tries to practice being surprised for his birthday party at the pub. He gets a call and Goz listens in. Nelly wants to borrow Goz’s car and he gets an address from the caller. Nelly tells Goz to tell everyone he is running an errand before taking the keys and leaving.

He rushes to the car and drives off a few seconds later. He arrives at the destination and gets out before walking through a dark alley. He enters a house before we jump over to Zita who can’t get in touch with Nelly. Stace is surprised when Zita and Daisy (Remmie Milner) enter without Nelly. Goz promises that Nelly will be there. Then, we jump back to the opening of the episode and Nelly has the girl in Goz’s vehicle. He washes his hands before getting the girl out of the car and taking her to the bedroom belonging to Stace’s mother. Tam (Jason Flemyng) speaks with Teens and the others inside before Stace catches Nelly taking the girl upsides but she doesn’t bring attention to herself.

Then, Nelly returns to the front of the pub and runs into Claire. He admits he is surprised that she came to his party. He is glad that Barry (Barry Ward) isn’t there and they hug. Nelly texts Goz to let him know he is coming in before stepping in and joining the party. He starts unwrapping gifts and gets a mug and another yellow coat. After that, the drinking begins and Stace sneaks upstairs to look in on the young girl. Zita sings while everyone enjoys the night. Nelly tells Stace he loves her for this while Melon and Bernie show off the ultrasound pictures of their baby. Stace asks Nelly why Grace (Olive Gray) is upstairs in her mother’s bedroom and he says he finally caught up to her. Claire asks Nelly to walk her out. He does and she gives him a gift she thinks Jody would’ve given it to him too.

He wants to know what happened with Tam but she won’t tell him. Nelly goes inside and Tam tells Claire they only meet once a week to meet and chat. He says it is a comfort and that he lost his child 5 years ago and Mavis tells him what his son says. He explains he was leaving and she said to tell the mom that the girl in the green hoodie is not here. Teens prepares to leave but Nelly stops her and her new boyfriend. He says it is a nice one that he is looking after Teens. Later, Nelly tells Stace he promised he was going to wear this one until he got her back. She doesn’t care about the jacket and she is worried about what Nelly has done. She says Jody has been gone for a long time so it might be worth thinking about it.

In the morning, DS Shola O’Halloran (Nadine Marshall) enters the pubs and reveals that Gideon was found dead. She wants to know where Nelly was yesterday so Goz gives him an alibi for the entire day. Before she leaves, she says she’ll want to speak with them both again. Nelly follows her outside and asks if she has found his kid yet. When she leaves, Goz wants to know what Nelly has gotten him into this time. He says it would be best to chat about it later. Nelly goes back in and Stace asks him what he has done.

 

Save Me Review

Save Me was great last season and it seems this one is going to follow in suit. The opening episode was very entertaining. Not much has changed since we have the same characters and relationships. The only difference is that Nelly appears to be helping other victims and not necessarily look for his daughter. However, I would suspect that this will change in future episodes. There is a good chance that he’ll get a lead that could potentially lead him to Jody.

Only time will tell but the episode was good anyway. It scores an 8 out of 10. Recaps of last season of Save Me are available on Reel Mockery.