As the episode begins, Polly Bevan (Sarah Lancashire) works on Angela’s hair. Leona (Jade Croot) screams causing Polly to rush upstairs to check on her. Moments later, Polly walks Angela (Joanna Scanlan) outside. They discuss Leona’s decision to testify at Harriet’s trial and this worries Polly. Angela reminds Polly that she is the best friend she ever had but she selected the wrong side. Angela is adamant that her side is going to win. Next, Polly argues with Iwan (Mark Lewis Jones) for drinking straight from the carton. They chat about Leona before we jump forward and see Harriet Paulsen (Sidse Babett Knudsen) gets out of bed and goes for a swim.

Then, she heads to work where she is introduced to her attorney Gareth. He explains that he wants the court to hear about the other people who could’ve saved those kids. Moments later, Leona gets prepared for the trial too. Her mother tells her that she can still pull out but Leona is convinced she needs to do this. During the trial, Leona is the first witness to take the stand. She tells the jury about the day of the accident. When Gareth takes over, he grills her while trying to place the blame on her. Leona breaks down on the stand before all is said and done.

Leona cries as she climbs into the vehicle and her mother drives them away from the courthouse. We see that Martin Harris (Shaun Parkes) is still staying with the family while Iwan does his best to cheer up Leona. Meanwhile, Tim Das (Nabhaan Rizwan) runs into Harriet at the motel’s pool. He tells her that they booked him a room there too and we learn he is going to testify against Harriet. The following day, everyone floods the courtroom and Tim takes the stand. Tim flips the script and ends up taking up for Harriet. Angela and the others realize that their chance of winning is quickly slipping away.

Angela tells Polly about Philip’s decision to go to Tim in the bathroom. After that, Polly pushes her daughter up the road toward the construction site. They speak about Iwan along the way. Leona tells her mother that she knows who her dad is and what he has done. Polly says she is guilty because she couldn’t leave Iwan. That night, Polly confronts her husband. She wants him to tell what he knows about the accident. Iwan wonders how Polly is going to survive if he ends up getting locked away. She also tells Iwan that she loves him but will never be able to forgive him. Later, Polly goes to Angela and lets her know that she did the best.

However, she doesn’t know if Iwan will do the right thing. Angela and the other women speak to the media about their children. Finally, Iwan takes the stand. He tells the truth. We learn that Harriet knew about the steel and they were trying to save the project. After the testimony ends, Philip Walters (Adrian Scarborough) finds Polly in her vehicle. Philip tells her that Iwan will be formally arrested after his testimony ends. Debbie Kethin (Genevieve Barr) goes to her husband’s grave. Harriet goes to work and speaks with Frank (Peter Sullivan). She learns that she is going to be fired and the Japanese want out of their contract.

She says she built the company and Frank says he’ll have to rebuild it now. It doesn’t matter that Frank has and would’ve done the same thing. After that, the jury finds Harriet guilty and she is sentenced to 7 years in prison but will only have to serve half of that. The women celebrate outside with cigars. That night, Polly walks toward the accident site. Then, we jump head to two years after the accident. Leona has plans but she decides to stay around and watch a movie with her mother. She had a few flashbacks before the episode ends.

 

The Accident Review

Well, I am glad that The Accident wasn’t a total waste of time. The ending was decent but I feel it could’ve been much better. I think the writers took the easy way out. It would’ve been better if more of the blame was placed on the kids, Iwan had more responsibility, and Harriet went free. Still, I’ll say that the season got better as it went on. I am not sure I would recommend it to anyone but it wasn’t the worst show I watched in a while.

The finale was a bit rushed since it left many doors open. I’d give the finale a 6.5 out of 10. Previous recaps of The Accident can be found on Reel Mockery.