The episode opens in London with Kristy Bell (Natasha Cottriall) helping Ellen Quinn (Maisie Norma Seaton) prepare for an event. Ellen has reservations while Kristy reassures her. At a pub, Kristy warns there is little time to get him home before spiking a glass of wine. Ellen approaches Philip Remis (Joseph Thompson) who complains about her delay. Suggesting they go to his flat, she urges him to drink the wine which he complies.

London – DI Ruth Calder (Ashley Jensen) heads an investigation in Remis’s murder. DC Jack Hurley (Joe Bolland) tells her that the cleaner alleges the front door was unlocked and the TV on. Remis’s wallet, phone, and watch are missing. In a flashback, Ellen takes Remis’s wallet and laptop before whipping her mouth with a tissue that is tossed in the wastebasket. Back to the present, Calder holds up the tissue covered in red lipstick. In the flashback, Ellen discovers the code to Philip’s safe. Back to the present, Calder informs DCI Thomas Coombes (Karl Collins) that Remis suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head. He suggests Remis, a member of Kyle Cassidy’s gang, is dead because he was a police informant but she disagrees. In a flashback, Ellen empties the money out of the safe when John Howell (Don Gilet) and Lukas Nowak (Arnas Fedaravicius) arrive. Lukas turns up the volume on the TV before shooting Remis in the head. Ellen rushes out of the flat when Lukas alerts Howell of her presence. Disposing of her shoes, she races outside and is nearly hit by a van.

At a local store, Calder, Coombes, and Hurley review CCTV footage of Ellen fleeing the apartment building. Howell and Lukas emerge looking for her. Calder says track the cab’s route. Later, Calder and Hurley enter a flat to find a beaten and battered Kristy. While an EMT treats Kristy’s injuries, Calder says Kristy alleges two men busted into her flat at 4am looking for Ellen. Coombes questions why Ellen was with Remis. She tells him about Ellen and Kristy’s “honey-trap” scheme. The detectives rule out a connection with Cassidy. Ellen can be seen getting into a blue vehicle.

Shetland – Agnes Moffat (Annie Louise Ross) drives DS Alison “Tosh” McIntosh (Allison O’Donnell) on a 4-wheeler to an area where a dead sheep is lying on the ground. Tosh snaps a photo of a unique marking on the sheep’s abdomen. Agnes claims Ewan Dickie believes it is a cult symbol. Tosh receives a call from Sergeant Billy McCabe (Lewis Howden) alerting her of Calder’s arrival in Sumburgh.

The taxi driver (Ian Bustard) tries to make small talk with Calder but she refuses to engage him. At the police station, PC Lorna Burns (Eubha Akilade) and PC Alex Grant (Conor McCarry) hold up intoxicated John Joe. Tosh orders them to contact his wife. Harry Lamont (Tibu Forbes) questions if kids are responsible for Agnes’ dead sheep. Tosh says doubtful. He puts her in charge of Ellen Quinn’s case since Calder is out of her jurisdiction. DC Sandy Wilson (Steven Robertson) tells Tosh about two students in Aberdeen with drugs in their possession. He says they claimed to have gotten the pills at a party in Lerwick. He suggests there is a new supplier in the area. Calder fills Tosh and Sandy in on the Remis murder investigation. She tells them that Remis was a police informant working to take down Cassidy. Calder suggests the money Ellen stole belonged to Cassidy. Tosh says after Ellen arrived in Aberdeen yesterday, they lost her.

En route to Bigton, Calder tells Tosh that she was born near East Roe in Shetland. She describes East Roe as “bleak” which is why she left at 18. Rory Quinn (Jakub Bednarczyk) watches the detectives as they arrive. Heather Bain (Lorraine McIntosh) escorts them to meet Ellen’s mum, Stella Quinn (Dawn Steele) who denies speaking to Ellen in weeks. Kieran Quinn (Barry O’Connor) tries Ellen’s phone without success when Grace Bain (Phyllis Logan) enters the room. He suggests she may be with Rosemary Strachan (Gemma Laurie) who stays with her boyfriend, Liam Kenmuir (Ian Dunnett Jr.) in Lerwick. Grace recognizes Calder as Reverend Alan Calder’s (Steven Miller) brother. After the detectives leave, Grace orders Bobby Bain (Russ Bain) to send their guests home.

During a phone call, Howell promises Tina that he will walk away when his final task is done. Hearing a dispute inside Souvenirs of Scalloway, he enters to intervene. Lukas tells him that Magnus McCall (Ross Allan) called him a “thief”. Magnus alleges Lukas tried to steal a bird book. Howell gives the man 50 bucks forcing Lukas out of the store. He stresses the important of keeping a low-profile. Lukas expresses his interest in puffins. Magnus watches the men from inside his shop.

Lerwick Two Kennedy Court – Rosemary denies speaking to Ellen since she left for London. Tosh points out that they were best friends. Rosemary claims Ellen did not always answer her calls when Liam enters the room. Seeing the logo on Rosemary’s shirt, Tosh asks if she works at Shetland Lettings. Rosemary tells her that she handles the turnovers. Outside, Tosh and Calder suggest Ellen is staying at a Shetland Lettings’ cottage. Calder encounter an old chum, Cal Innes (Jamie Silves).

Howell assesses the Biam farm through a spyglass. Grace demands her sons and grandsons to find Ellen. When Kieran suggests letting the police do their job, she reminds him of Ellen being in trouble. Bobby agrees with Grace who calls Calder a “tramp”. Stella says bring Ellen home. Lukas spots activity outside the Biam house. Stella declines Kieran’s offer to go with her. Bobby vows to find Ellen.

Nibon Shetland Lettings – Tosh and Calder find Ellen in one of the cottages. Ellen flees on foot. Calder promises to help her.

Rory questions why Ellen hasn’t visited him when Howell and Lukas pull up outside claiming to be lost. Kieran reluctantly agrees to let Lukas use the toilet while he shows him the directions to Sumburgh Head on a map. Inside the house, Lukas aims a gun a Rory demanding to know Ellen’s whereabouts. Grace approaches demanding Lukas and Howell leave. Lukas starts to pull his gun but Howell stops him. Grace calls Kieran an “idiot” for believing they wanted directions.

Calder finds an ashtray of cigarette butts. Tosh finds Ellen’s back. Sandy shows them CCTV footage of Lukas and Howell inside Souvenirs of Scalloway. Tosh orders Rosemary brought into the police station. Elsewhere, Ellen catches a commuter bus to Lerwick. Gerry Bryce (Francesco Piacentini-Smith) tries to talk to her but she ignores him.

At the police station, Tosh questions Rosemary about Ellen. When she refuses to talk, Calder wars that Ellen is going to end up dead. Tosh pulls Calder into the hallway and demands she stay there. Inside the interrogation room, Rosemary tells Tosh that she received a call from Ellen asking for a ride from the ferry to Shetland Lettings.

Ellen wakes up on the commuter bus in Usta to find her bag missing. The bus driver tells her that Gerry got off before Brae. She orders him to turn around but he refuses. When she curses him, he puts her off the bus.

During a phone call, Coombes tells Cardel that Howell is associated with Cassidy. Looking at Ellen’s social media, Cardel sees a photo of Ellen with Reverend Alan Calder. Elsewhere, Ellen arrives at a store before Howell and Lukas pull up. They follow her into the store. Ellen tells Maura Watt (Jo Cameron Brown) that they have been following her. Maura dials the police when Lukas shoots her. Ellen is forced into their car.

At the church, Reverend Alan denies speaking to Ellen in a long time. Calder admits to not liking their father. He tells her that he would have liked it if he came to his wedding. Elsewhere, Ellen tells Lukas and Howell that Gerry took her bag while she was asleep. When Howell gets out of the car, she blames Kristy for robbing Remis. She hits him. A physical dispute ensues and ends with Lukas accidentally shooting himself. She flees with Howell in tow. She leaps off a cliff into the sea below. He watches as she resurfaces and swims away. Later, she walks down the road when a car approaches. Elsewhere, Cardel visits Cal. The next morning, a man finds Maura dead inside a freezer. Elsewhere, Calder encounters James Innes (Kevan MacKenzie) while leaving Cal’s house. He tells her about his and Cal’s candles and essential oils when Tosh calls to tell her about the Usta murder.

At the crime scene, Pathologist Cora McLean (Anne Kidd) tells Tosh and Calder that Maura was shot in the back of her head sometime yesterday. Sandy informs them of another body being found nearby. Elsewhere, Agnes finds another sheep slaughtered with a unique symbol. Upon arrival at the crime scene, Tosh and Calder find Ellen deceased. The episode ends.

 

Shetland Season 8 Cast

• DI Ruth Calder (Ashley Jenson)
• DC Jack Hurley (Joe Bolland)
• DCI Thomas Coombes (Karl Collins)
• Sergeant Billy McCabe (Lewis Howden)
• DS Alison “Tosh” McIntosh (Allison O’Donnell)
• PC Lorna Burns (Eubha Akilade)
• PC Alex Grant (Conor McCarry)
• Harry Lamont (Tibu Forbes)
• Reverend Alan Calder (Steven Miller)

Shetland Review

The episode started out weak and a bit messy. The flashback and present scenes meshed together. Switching between flashback and present-day scenes was done too quickly. The pace slowed about 15 or 20 minutes in to the episode.

Douglas Henshall’s (DI Jimmy Perez) replacement, Ashley Jenson looked uptight and out of place. She finally started settling into her role. I wonder what kind of reception she will receive from long-time viewers.

The oversaturated cast leaves the majority of the actors with little screen time. Why they felt it necessary to bloat the cast is questionable. Difficult to keep up with everyone.

The cinematography is hit-and-miss. The scene in which Calder chases Ellen is the worst. The camera work is shoddy and nauseating. Hopefully, there aren’t many fast-paced action scenes.

Shetland is hardly different than any other British, Scottish, and Irish detective show. The investigation is nothing spectacular. Once you seen one, you have seen them all.

The episode deserves a 6. Get more Shetland recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Our onsite advertising builds brand awareness, click the link to learn more. Join our newly launched forum to discuss Shetland and other hot topics in the film industry and Hollywood.