When the episode starts, Debbie Kethin (Genevieve Barr) goes to the accident site and watches as workers sift through the rubble. She imagines her husband standing across the gate but he isn’t there. Angela Griffiths (Joanna Scanlan) asks her if she wants a seat. Debbie notices that the woman is taking notes. Both say that their house has been searched. The police wanted to know what Angela’s daughter was doing in the building. Angela suspects they’re going to set it up to place the blame on the children. They’ve tried to convince her to take 15 grand. She wants to make sure that someone takes responsibility for the accident.

Polly (Sarah Lancashire) meets with Iwan (Mark Lewis Jones) and they talk about going to the hospital to see Leona (Jade Croot). Iwan is convinced that his daughter will not want to see him but Polly suggests otherwise. At the hospital, Polly is approached by a lawyer. The man wants to know more about the accident. Polly believes he is a journalist and she doesn’t want to speak with him at the hospital. After that, Iwan and Polly speak with Leona’s doctor. He tells them that the police want to speak with their daughter about the accident. Iwan checks on his daughter moments later and holds her hand.

Moments later, Tim Das (Nabhaan Rizwan) tells Harriet (Sidse Babett Knudsen) that they have visitors. Frank (Peter Sullivan) is there and he introduces Harriet to their lawyers, George and Laura. The group begins talking about Harriet’s responsibilities at Kallbridge. Then, the lawyers show Harriet CCTV footage of the kids breaking into the facility. The cameras do not have full coverage so they do not know exactly what caused ignition. However, it is believed a cigarette caused the problem but the company has three problems. They include security arrangements, the canisters being a clear breach of health and safety, and the rate of collapse of the building.

The lawyers admit their level of culpability could be a concern. Moments later, Polly catches up with Debbie to let her know there is a meeting going on. Angela tells the group that several charities have agreed to pay for the funerals. Angela wants the funerals to be held together and she wants the others to agree with that. Polly is concerned though because there are so many religions involved. Angela says they’ve killed our children so they need to be loud. Meanwhile, Harriet watches the CCTV footage again. Tim arrives and tells her that he found an official complaint from the company’s health and safety leader to the foreman Alan Kethin.

Tim wants to leak the complaint to the media to change the narrative but Harriet isn’t willing to do it. Polly speaks with her daughter before detective Anne Hendricks (Kimberley Nixon) enters and begins questioning Leona. During their conversation, Leona admits they climbed the fence but Polly puts an end to the interview very quickly. The story about Alan is released to the press so Angela begins harassing Debbie. Frank tells Harriet that the story being released was very helpful. He tells Harriet that she should have never gone down there. That evening, Debbie visits Polly and tries to explain things about her husband.

Debbie says that Alan wouldn’t have put them in danger but Polly isn’t willing to listen. Polly spends the night alone and things spiral out of control for her. Meanwhile, Harriet contacts Tim and invites him over. Debbie tries to slit her wrist while Iwan comes home and harasses his wife. Iwan ends up passing out on the floor briefly. Then, they talk about Alan. Iwan admits he didn’t like him because he wouldn’t drink with him. They go on and on about their relationship. In the morning, Polly goes to Debbie’s house and helps her clean up. Debbie survives the suicide attempt but she has a wound on her arm. Polly sings and dances while cleaning.

They also chat about their husbands and Polly says everyone knows what she married. She wants Debbie to come to grips with what Alan was. Tim wakes up with Harriet and their flirting continues. Bertie arrives so Harriet tells Tim to stay put and quiet. They speak about Harriet’s problem and whether or not it is her fault. Bertie says she doesn’t know what is going on. Polly finds Martin Harris (Shaun Parkes) leaving the hospital. She takes him home since he lost his stuff at the site. He was squatting there at the time. The detective visits Harriet and begins asking her questions. She wants to know why the steel was heavily discounted. She wonders if the company was willing to accept lower quality steel for a discount.

Harriet denies it but admits the build was not going well. She asked the suppliers for a discount. Later, Polly gets a visit from the lawyer Philip (Adrian Scarborough) at home. He knows that she was given a bad lawyer so he wants to help. He tells her that there are usually no convictions in cases like this. So, he wants to investigate and find out the truth. She wants to know why she should trust him. Philip says she shouldn’t but she should take his free advice. After all, she is fighting people with deep pockets and they’re going to line up everything against her. Before Philip leaves, he tells her to make sure she looks in the right places for legal advice since the kids were alive after the explosion.

He explains that buildings shouldn’t collapse like that so there is a story there. At the end of the episode, the funerals for the victims take place.

 

The Accident Review

I am not impressed with The Accident at all. The only character I find likable at this point is Debbie and she was treated cruelly this episode. I am starting to wonder if Iwan knows more because he seems awfully guilt. It seems everyone is hiding something at this point. While the company might’ve done some shady things, the kids took the risk when they climbed the fence. Then again, the story isn’t far fetched. I will say that the story is unique.

I haven’t seen any other show attempt something like this. Unfortunately, the execution is poor. I’ll need therapy before I can watch Sarah Lancashire in anything else after this. The episode was boring, uneventful, and unnecessary. It scores a 5.5 out of 10. Previous recaps of The Accident are available on Reel Mockery.