Happy Valley viewers have spotted a nod back to the very first episode in the closing scenes of the nail-biting finale.
The thrilling showdown between Sgt Catherine Cawood and Tommny Lee Royce resulted in the villain setting himself on fire after realising he’d reached the end of the road when he’d come to the conclusion his son Ryan was happier without him.
And as Catherine (Sarah Lancashire) initially tried to dissuade the murderer (James Norton) from lighting the match after dousing himself in petrol, fans commented on the show coming ‘full circle’ from the opening scenes, as they praised the ‘brilliant writing’.
The BBC crime drama’s first ever episode saw Catherine head to a playground where a local boy called Liam, who was drunk and high on drugs, threatened to set himself on fire.
Taking to Twitter, fans were quick point out the striking similarities, with several noting that this was a fitting end to Catherine’s police career after all these years.
Throwback: Happy Valley viewers have spotted a nod back to the very first episode in the closing scenes of the nail-biting finale
‘#HappyValley comes full circle as Catherine deals with the threat of self-immolation at the beginning, middle and end of her tour’ commented one viewer.
With another adding :’Talk about full circle, Happy Valley started with someone trying to set themselves on fire and then it ends with Tommy Lee Royce setting himself on fire. Phenomenal writing, what a show.’
‘Well that was f**king brilliant. First time we saw Catherine she was telling someone not to set themselves on fire, and her last action as a copper was to do the very same thing’ praised a third.
‘TLR going up in flames was definitely a flashback to the first episode!!’ came the response from a fourth watcher.
A fifth said: ‘first episode man threatening to set himself on fire. Last episode main character does. Now that’s how you write a drama .I have cried tonight and laughed. Thank you to all involved. British drama at its absolute best.’
With another adding: ‘They’ve gone full circle!!! Right back to the first scene with the guy in the park!’
It comes as Happy Valley fans were left in shock as Tommy Lee Royce set himself on fire after an epic showdown with Sgt Catherine Cawood.
After he escaped court and broke into Catherine’s house in a bid to kill her, Tommy (James Norton) lay in wait until the officer returned home.
All over: The thrilling showdown between Sgt Catherine Cawood and Tommny Lee Royce resulted in the villain setting himself on fire after realising he’d reached the end of the road
Flames: As Catherine (Sarah Lancashire) initially tried to dissuade the murderer (James Norton) from lighting the match after dousing himself in petrol, fans commented on the show coming ‘full circle’ from the opening scenes
And fans were left screaming ‘oh my f**king God’ as the villain attempted to end his own life after telling Catherine (Sarah Lancashire) that he forgave her for keeping the news he had a son from him.
The two characters had a tense confrontation as they came face-to-face for the final time, with Tommy realising he’d reached the end of the road when he’d come to the conclusion his son Ryan was happier living with her.
As things came to a head, the escaped convict realised he had nowhere left to turn and set himself alight – before Catherine rushed to put out the flames with a blanket.
Well spotted: Taking to Twitter, fans were quick point out the striking similarities, with several noting that this was a fitting end to Catherine’s police career after all these years
After walking into her home after discovering her nemesis had broken in, Catherine pointed her taser at him, before turning her radio on to alert her colleagues of Tommy’s presence.
However, despite finally being in front of the woman he previously yearned to kill, Tommy – who had been downing painkillers and alcohol after looking at photos of Becky – made no attempt at attacking Catherine, even handing over his knife.
After walking into her home after discovering her nemesis had broken in, Catherine pointed her taser at him, before turning her radio on to alert her colleagues of Tommy’s presence.
Flashback: The BBC crime drama’s first ever episode saw Catherine head to a playground where a local boy called Liam, who was drunk and high on drugs, threatened to set himself on fire
Where it all began: Catherine came full circle after saving a lad from setting himself on fire, before watching villain Tommy burn in the latest series
However, despite finally being in front of the woman he previously yearned to kill, Tommy – who had been downing painkillers and alcohol after looking at photos of Becky – made no attempt at attacking Catherine, even handing over his knife.
Instead, he’d told her that Darius Knežević had murdered Gary Gaggoski, telling her ‘I lied for him put he p***ed on his side of the bargain so f**k him!’
A deflated Tommy then went on to express his regret over the way he treated Catherine’s late daughter Becky while also sharing his regret at not having the opportunity to be a dad to Ryan.
However, Catherine had little sympathy for the man who had raped and attacked Becky leading to her suicide, telling him: ‘There’s a difference between getting someone pregnant and being a dad!’
Target: After he escaped court and broke into Catherine’s house in a bid to kill her, Tommy (James Norton) lay in wait until the officer returned home
Wow: The two characters had a tense confrontation as they came face-to-face for the final time, with Tommy realising he’d reached the end of the road when he’d come to the conclusion his son Ryan was happier living with her
Action: As things came to a head, the escaped convict realised he had nowhere left to turn and set himself alight – before Catherine rushed to put out the flames with a blanket
Seething at his pathetic appearance, she then fumed: ‘You’re braindead psychopath! You’re a f**ked up frightened damaged deluded toddler brain in a grown man’s body!’
The tense stand-off then saw the officer reveal how pleased she was that her teenage grandson had grown to be a decent young man despite having a father like Tommy.
She told him: ‘I’ve seen past few days how much he’s nothing like you.
‘That boy is a prince, for all his upside downs, he’s as unlike you as it’s possible to be. ‘You’re not a dad, don’t know how to be a dad, sorry to be the bearer of bad news!’
Tommy then went on to tell her his feeling about her had changed, stating that ‘I hated you for not telling me I had a boy’ before realising the good life Ryan now has.
Showdown: After walking into her home after discovering her nemesis had broken in, Catherine pointed her taser at him, before turning her radio on to alert her colleagues of Tommy’s presence
The end: Despite finally being in front of the woman he previously yearned to kill, Tommy – who had been downing painkillers and alcohol after looking at photos of Becky – made no attempt at attacking Catherine, even handing over his knife
Confession: Instead, he’d told her that Darius Knežević had murdered Gary Gaggoski, telling her ‘I lied for him put he p***ed on his side of the bargain so f**k him!’
After looking at the family photographs, he said: ‘I got a glimpse of what a nice life he has, I don’t hate you any more, and I forgive you. I’m sorry, sorry for how I treated Becky.’
Catherine went on to slam him for even daring to suggest she’s the one who needed forgiveness, before laying into him for ‘crippling’ Becky and reducing her to ‘nothing’.
The intense showdown ended with a sobbing Tommy dousing himself in petrol before stating that her tasering him would set him alight, which she’ll get ‘done’ for.
But in a complete change of character, Tommy said he didn’t want her to get done and instead set himself alight in shocking scenes.
However, instead of watching him burn, Catherine covered him in a blanket and put out the flames shortly before the police arrived – before it was later revealed that he had died from his injuries.
Rant: Seething at his pathetic appearance, she then fumed: ‘You’re braindead psychopath! You’re a f**ked up frightened damaged deluded toddler brain in a grown man’s body!’
Confrontation: The tense stand-off then saw the officer reveal how pleased she was that her teenage grandson had grown to be a decent young man despite having a father like Tommy
Drastic: The intense showdown ended with a sobbing Tommy dousing himself in petrol before stating that her tasering him would set him alight, which she’ll get ‘done’ for
Drama: But in a complete change of character, Tommy said he didn’t want her to get done and instead set himself alight in shocking scenes
Heroic: However, instead of watching him burn, Catherine covered him in a blanket and put out the flames shortly before the police arrived – before it was later revealed that Tommy had died from his injuries
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