Five million viewers were left on the edge of their seats when Happy Valley ended on a tense cliffhanger last Sunday.
The second installment saw Sergeant Catherine Cawood follow her 16-year-old grandson Ryan as he made his visit to see his father Tommy Lee Royce in prison, accompanied by her sister Claire Cartwright and her partner Neil Ackroyd.
But questions were raised when Claire doesn’t go to the prison but instead heads to a coffee shop in Sheffield and lies to Catherine about her whereabouts- only to be ambushed by her sister.
Gripping: Five million viewers were left on the edge of their seats when Happy Valley ended on a tense cliffhanger last Sunday
Sunday’s episode will pick up where it left off and viewers are all wondering the same thing – why is Neil bringing Ryan to see Tommy alone?
From predictions the shop worker is being blackmailed by the Halifax gangsters The Knezevics to a ‘huge clue’ Ryan is actually planning to kill Tommy, we take a look at five theories ahead of episode three.
1. Neil’s ‘worrying link’ to Tommy
The second installment saw Sergeant Catherine Cawood follow her grandson Ryan as he made his visit to see his father Tommy Lee Royce in prison
Twitter has been going wild with speculation recovering alcoholic Neil is up to no good.
Eagle-eyed fans believe they have spotted clues which trace back to the previous two series – and the shop worker might not be who he seems.
In episode two, we see Tommy gain access to a smuggled phone and receive the message: ‘Ricos Newsagents GR8 presents 4 Ryan’.
In episode two, we see Tommy gain access to a smuggled phone and receive the message: ‘Ricos Newsagents GR8 presents 4 Ryan’ – could it be from Neil?
Throwback: Viewers also think another clue could be from series two when Neil tells Claire of how he was blackmailed by his mistress Vicky Fleming: ‘I used to work at a building society’
Clues: DS John Wadsworth said was working on a fraud investigation for the same building society – could it Halifax gangsters The Knezevics be behind it and are they blackmailing Neil?
Neil works in a shop and is close to Ryan, with fans wondering if the message was sent from him.
Viewers also think another clue could be from series two when Neil tells Claire of how he was blackmailed by his mistress Vicky Fleming: ‘I used to work at a building society’.
DS John Wadsworth, who went on to accidentally kill Vicky over his own blackmail plot, also said he met Vicky when he was working on a fraud investigation for the very same building society.
Now viewers have put two and two together and believe The Knezevics could be behind the building society and have links to Tommy, with some thinking Neil is being blackmailed by them.
2. Could Frances Drummond return?
Return? Ryan’s old school teacher Frances Drummond was a big influence on his life
Ryan’s old school teacher Frances Drummond was a big influence on his life.
The devout Christian managed to persuade the then nine-year-old to write to his father in Gravesend prison, before her false identity was rumbled by Sergeant Cawood.
And now fans think Frances could still be in touch with Ryan as prison records show a man and a woman have accompanied him to the visits.
Kept in touch? Fans think Frances could still be in touch with Ryan as prison records show a man and a woman have accompanied him to the visits
With viewers knowing Claire didn’t attend the latest appointment and visited a coffee shop instead, questions are still raised over if Neil and Ryan are going into the prison with a woman who is using Claire’s identity.
And fans think it might be Frances – knowing she pretended to be her sister in series two.
One wrote: ‘Are we sure it’s not that creepy lady teacher (Frances) from Series 2 using Clare’s name that’s bringing Ryan to visit’
‘Shirley Henderson’s character is missing so far’, another wrote.
‘Catherine has followed the wrong person! Off pop Neil and Ryan to meet Frances. Now what’s the connection between Neil and Frances?’ a third chimed.
3. Tommy is planning an escape to Spain with Ryan
Tommy has been learning Spanish is prison with a poignant scene showing his practicing from his book in his cell before looking up at a photo of his son
Tommy has been learning Spanish is prison with a poignant scene showing his practicing from his book in his cell before looking up at a photo of his son.
And viewers think this could be a foreboding clue as to what the serial rapists’ plans are for his future.
One wrote on Twitter: ‘Omg theory. Tommy and Ryan planning to escape to Spain and that’s why Tommy is learning Spanish?????? Am I onto something here?!??’
Another said: ‘I feel like the fact he is learning Spanish is significant. I wondered if he’s somehow plotting to escape and take Ryan to Spain?’
With Tommy set to appear in court over a gangland murder – could it be his perfect chance of an escape?
4. Richard’s in trouble
Dangerous: Catherine’s ex-husband Richard revealed he asked to investigate The Knezevics – a family who keep the police busy in the valley with their various dodgy dealings
Catherine’s ex-husband Richard revealed he asked to investigate The Knezevics – a family who keep the police busy in the valley with their various dodgy dealings.
But fans think the journalist could be in trouble after the exes met with Catherine giving him a stern warning: ‘You do know this could be dangerous, don’t you?’
One wrote: ‘Catherine also said to Richard “be careful who you talk to”. Foreboding?’
Foreboding? But fans think the journalist could be in trouble after the exes met with Catherine giving him a stern warning: ‘You do know this could be dangerous, don’t you?’
Another added: ‘I have VERY BAD FEELINGS about Richard. Catherine warned him… If he keeps going another heartbreak will come sooner than we expect’.
But another thought there may be more sinister reasons behind Richard’s meeting with Catherine.
‘I think Rico the newsagent is Catherine’s ex, Richard the journalist. He’s being paid by someone to get information off Catherine, to what end not sure, probably something to do with the court case. Connected to Clare and Neil? Possibly,’ one wrote.
And Richard isn’t the only one fans think could be in trouble after Catherine gave ex-convict Alison a job at Nevison Gallagher’s, where she mention it would be forklifting industrial refrigerator units.
Speaking on Shrine Podcasts, one fan said: ‘Why do we need to know Nevison owns a refrigerator company? Why do we need to know all of that?’
5. Ryan is secretly plotting to kill Tommy
Seeking revenge? Facebook users have speculated Ryan may be visiting Tommy in a plan to avenge after his mother’s tragic suicide, which happened just weeks after his birth
Facebook users have speculated Ryan may be visiting Tommy in a plan to avenge after his mother’s tragic suicide, which happened just weeks after his birth.
Catherine’s daughter Becky was raped by Tommy and went on to have Ryan but took her own life.
The heartbroken officer believes Tommy’s callous assault is the reason she no longer has her daughter.
Terrible: Catherine’s daughter Becky was raped by Tommy and went on to have Ryan but took her own life
Awful: Over the years Ryan has witnessed his father douse him in petrol and learn of a brutal assault on his grandmother when she saved Ann Gallagher
Over the years Ryan has witnessed his father douse him in petrol and learn of a brutal assault on his grandmother when she saved Ann Gallagher.
One put: ‘Maybe Ryan’s plotting his revenge on his Dad for all the hurt he’s seen Royce has caused over the years and Claire and Neil are in on it’.
Another said: ‘I think Catherine’s grandson will kill his father… A dish served cold! ‘
While a third wrote: ‘‘Ryan has grown up seeing the pain Tommy has caused over the years and has confided in Clare and Neil he’s going to serve him some sort of revenge for it. They can’t tell Catherine because as her role she would have to report what he’s going to do.’
With so many questions still in the air, viewers will have to tune in to see how the family drama will unfold.
Watch Happy Valley this Sunday on BBC One at 9pm.
One to watch: With so many questions still in the air, viewers will have to tune in to see how the family drama will unfold
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