Every so often a show comes along that grabs the attention of the nation, has everyone talking about it in the coffee shops, over the water cooler in work. Hours are spent coming up with theories, trying to work out what the next big twist will be, praising the acting, celebrating the writing.
I don't make the statement that Happy Valley is the best crime drama ever lightly. There are lots of contenders for the title from Line of Duty to Peaky Blinders, Sherlock to Prime Suspect, someone argued that it doesn't beat the Sopranos. But are they wrong?
The first two series of the BBC drama each won the Bafta TV awards for Best Drama Series and Writing, and series three must already be an award contender. If Sarah Lancashire doesn't win Best Actress, and Sally Wainwright doesn't take home the Writing award again then it will be all wrong.
After a seven-year wait fans are half-way through the final chapter, with Sergeant Catherine Cawood (played by the brilliant Sarah Lancashire) on the verge of retiring, and her nemesis, Tommy Lee Royce (played by the equally brilliant James Norton) squandering in prison for his horrific crimes.
All the main cast who have been with the show since the start have returned, their lives have moved on but their core characters have remained the same. James Norton described the day they first sat down to read through some of scenes for series three when a "huge, gangly brute" walked in. That was Rhys Connah, who has returned to play our Ryan, Catherine's grandson and Tommy Lee's son. He was was just a very cute eight-year-old in 2014, 10 years old in 2016, and is now a more world aware 16-year-old.
Sally Wainwright wanted to wait for Ryan - and therefore Rhys - to grow up so more of the plot could centre around his relationship with his dad in series three as she starts to make decision for himself. The main reason why there has been such a big gap between two and three. A time lapse that has worked.
But why is it so good? Here are some of the reasons why:
1. That scene, the acting
The acting is sublime, not just from Sarah Lancashire as a lead character who sways from victim to victor, high drama to comedy in the flip of a scene. There has not been such a strong female lead in a crime drama since Helen Mirren as DCI Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect. Happy Valley fans hail Sarah Lancashire as GOAT after 'best TV scene in years'
At the start of series three she immediately knows the murder victim as she wearily gives his name to the “twat” senior policemen who turn up and sneer at how she does her job. Cue another scene stealing line: “I’d recognise those teeth anywhere. I once nicked him for a public order offence and he bit me."
And she is not alone. Siobhan Finneran as her sister Clare Cartwright is the perfect foil to tough talking Catherine.
One scene that stands out between the sisters is when Catherine follows Clare to the cafe in 'Leeds' as it becomes clear she has committed the ultimate betrayal. How can you create so much tension, with two actors, two telephones, and a sandwich in a plastic wrapper in a northern greasy spoon cafe? It is a testament to not only to Sally Wainwright's brilliant writing, but the talents of Sarah and Siobhan. Now fans are flocking to the cafe which was used to film the iconic scene.
The show also launched the career of James Norton as he went on to star in Grantchester and McMafia. When you watch interviews, it is hard to imagine that the softly spoken, very British sounding actor could play someone as evil as Tommy Lee Royce with such menace.
As a Q&A for the new series he said: "For me it was the first time I had been part of that conversation where lots of people were talking about the same show. Very few of those shows happen, so it is massive for me and I love it."
2. Brilliant writing
Sally Wainwright's attention to detail, her rich characterisation and her obvious love for the place where it is filmed all spill out of the screen.
James Norton has described how Sally, who also wrote Last Tango in Halifax and Gentleman Jack, builds the viewer into a false sense of security where she plays on the villain or the hero and then at some random point "she pulls the rug from under you and the character is not who you thought they were."
He calls it the 'Sally signature' all the stuff you build up and the judgement you make is finite.
The cast and crew have also talked about the "detailed and intense" scripts that Sally writes down on the scripts, from what someone is wearing, to how they would make the tea what they would do.
She is also meticulous about getting the police side of the story correct and has two police advisors working with her, including Lisa Farrand - the police officer Catherine Cawood is based on.
After three decades in the West Yorkshire force, the 60-year-old was the ideal candidate to help make the series as realistic as possible. It also helped that she was friends with Sally from primary school, and the two have a strong connection.
Her work on the show covered everything from teaching Sarah how to slap on handcuffs or knock on a door with authority, to telling the art department what police computer screensavers should look like. Early draft scripts were shared with her to make sure it is how police would operate.
After Catherine slapped down the two rude detectives at the start of series three, Lisa told The Time: “Everybody said, ‘That’s you’, and I said ‘I know’. Then I sat down and wondered if I am that rude to people.”
She added: “Sally has this ability to defrag your brain and take all the bits out that she thinks are going to be important. She always has a notebook, even if you go out for dinner.”
3. The landscape
The subject matter might be violence, murder and grimness, but the background setting to the programme remains stunning and the show has boosted tourism to the area. Delighted café owners, shop keepers and small business in the town of Hebden Bridge say the show has spurred tourism and boosted profits.
Featuring the lives of people in the Calder Valley, Sally Wainwright's writing and directions mean that the landscape has become as much part of the whole series as the characters.
Producer Jessica Taylor says: "It's a whole character and Sally is really passionate that we get the ‘hillage’, as she calls it, in the back of the shot.
"Sally is really specific about the locations, she knows it all so well, she's grown up here. If she has a street in mind or writes a scene with the location in mind she is really specific about it. She'll say I know that street that's where my grandad lived.
"So when you try and fob her off and say I don't think you mean that street Sally, no, no, no, it is that street I know where it is."
And that portrayal of the area is having an “outstanding impact” on tourism in Hebden Bridge and West Yorkshire – with viewers from around the world flocking to visit.
Councillor Tim Swift, Calderdale council’s leader, said: “Calderdale is known for its distinctive landscape, architecture and heritage, and when these are showcased on screen they become stars of the show, just like the characters.”
He also said how the success of the show, starring Sarah Lancashire, had seen several other major TV production companies contact the council wanting to film there too.
“We’ve seen a huge increase in requests from production companies and location managers, and we’re working hard to harness the borough’s growing profile as a filming destination,” Mr Swift said.
4. The ultimate villain?
The viewing public does seem to have an obsession with psychopaths and Tommy Lee Royce could be the ultimate villain, terrifying with just a quiet word in the ear of the prison chaplain, sneering at Neil Ackroyd (Con O'Neill) and making him jump when he brings Ryan to visit. Sometimes it is just a look.
Actor James Norton has created a character that exudes menace and he admits the process was "exciting" and "rewarding" as he took what he described as a journey into the mind of someone people mostly only read about.
He also talks about the empathy required to try and find some compassion in the killer. How you can find yourself finding some sympathy for him even after he had badly beaten up Catherine in the street because next you see him crying in the tower block with a can of beer as he tries to work out why his life went so badly wrong.
He won't give away if there will be any redemption for the prisoner in the third and final series, but how will it end for Tommy Lee and Catherine?
The actor has also talked about Tommy Lee's appearance and the long hair. He jokingly said it was all about - "the hair", explaining that for a long time Sally Wainwright wanted him to look like a Christ figure with the long hair and a scar on his forehead.
"It nods to him changing, seven years have passed and he has been meditating on two things. The love he has for his son, and the hate he has for Catherine," he says.
5. Ryan is the same actor
The cast has remained the same even after a seven year break. During a Q&A with some of the actors and producers they said there was "a lot riding on" Rhys still being able to act
Writer Sally said that she really hoped that when he grew up he would still be able to act, and co-star Siobhan confirmed "he really can". Adding: "He has a lot less energy than he had when he was nine, but he is great."
Speaking about the gap, James Norton says: "It makes the whole thing richer and gives you this wonderful period where you are trying to fill in the gaps. Because Sally has written such an extraordinarily rich textured characters they kind of lived in those seven years on their own. They fermented and grew on their own, so when we came back to them they were old friends."
Rhys and James are said to have formed a close bond off screen, and the now 16-year-old has been full of praise for his mentor, saying: "He brings so much to the character, like the energy. You see him on set between takes and he’s such a nice person, and then we’ll start filming and he’ll just instantly switch and there’s this psychopath."
James believe part of the love for the show is because it is about "family", adding: "It is the blood, all our characters are linked, it is all linked, those cups of tea over the kitchen table that make it universal."
6. Armchair detectives
We all love to try and guess the twist, identify whodunnit and speculate on what will happen next. Series three has not disappointed with theories abound about who could be Tommy Lee's dad, and viewers scratching their heads about how the various sub-plots will eventually link up.
Fans of the show have a theory that Tommy Lee's dad could be Clare Cartwright's boyfriend Neil Ackroyd (Con O'Neill) who has been taking Ryan Cawood to see his dad in prison. For 18 months, Neil has been taking the teen, behind Catherine's back, to visit the convicted killer in prison in Sheffield. Fans think that Neil has taken pity on the killer and his son because he is actually Tommy Lee's dad, and point out how they have similar haircuts.
Tommy Lee is set to head to court in episode four, is he planning an escape? Some believe the convict has hatched a plan to escape the prison walls so he can be reunited with his son.
Who is the drug lord who has been blackmailing dodgy pharmacist Faisal Bhatti for money? And how is the pharmacist going to cover up his murder of teacher's wife Joanna?
7. You can't binge watch it
In an era when you can watch whole series in one go, the tension is built further by having to wait a week before the next episode. A week of discussing theories, a week of trying to work out what will happen next mean Sundays have quickly become 'Happy Valley Day' .
In reply to Sarah Lancashire's tweet, on said: "As if we could forget (it is Happy Valley Day)! I'm already counting the hours to it. I just don't want this series to end, it's really raised the bar on all counts for any other dramas."
Matthew Lane said: "I can’t wait it one of the best tv series ever, wonderful storylines and amazing acting. Well done to all involved."
8. Ending on a high
The show will definitely be ending on a high, there will definitely not be a fourth seires.
James Norton, who said the love for the show is 'deep' around the world, explained: "It was always designed to be a trilogy and definitely isn't coming back. You can have too much of a good thing".
It looks like the final three episodes are going to be "insane".
And their lips are sealed about how it will end. He added: "We really don't anticipate there will be any more but I really hope you feel content that it is a 'big way to go out'." We really hope so too.
Happy Valley continues on BBC One on Sunday at 9pm.
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