It's been six weeks since Sally Wainwright's masterwork returned to our screens after a seven-year hiatus and the nation is more deeply attached to Happy Valley than ever before. The Bafta award-winning show, brimming with compelling characters, achingly good plot twists and Northern wit, is gloriously captivating - leaving viewers on tenterhooks each week. Last night's electric finale was no different.
The magic of this dark police drama lies in its portrayal of humanity - protagonist and police officer Catherine Cawood, played by the formidable Sarah Lancashire, is both vulnerable and powerful in her fight against injustice across the cobblestones of Hebden Bridge.
But the show's warmth is cut through with unflinching male violence - a sinister undercurrent that feels as familiar to these characters as putting a pot of tea on the stove.
