Happy Valley Series 2

She does seem to be on the edge of some sort of nervous breakdown, I agree, but is coping in the only way she knows how. The pressure is only going to get worse when she finds out more about how Creepy Woman has been questioning her grandson.

I do find the Molesworth sub-plot a bit unbelievable. What sort of man behaves like that to cover his tracks?

Jane you are right, this series she is speaking so fast and in a monotone and looks grumpy the whole time.Her face is now so white and set that it resembles a plate of cold porridge.
She was not portayed quite this way in the first series, so it's all about direction, is it a new director?
Why is she now so ratty and tatty? She does her job, but her sister keeps house, cooks, and takes the boy to school.Her attitude to all and sundry is ridiculous [apart from the prostitutes, who she is very caring with.]
As a seasoned police officer she knows she has to have alibis, so all this attitude with senior officers is unbelievable.In fact, am wondering if I will bother watching any more, although the detective, John [footman from Downton] is a very good actor, as is the woman who plays Catherines sister.

She isn't a smart policewoman though. Could do with a hair brush and some clips. IMO.

To add to the reasons she's always tired and red eyed it's worth remembering that Catherine is also a woman of a certain age. I remember working full time when I was about her age, with grandchildren and their mum to look after, along with elderly parents and my own younger children still living at home. My working life also brought me into contact with many of the tragic themes covered in Happy Valley - all the women of a certain age I worked with looked and felt tired all the time. Our roots and fringes probably needed attention as well

I'm not so sure she is good in this. As far as I saw she just spoke fast in a monotone while looking grumpy all the time. I might start another thread on the apparent enjoyment of viewing such cruelty and misery as entertainment.

Sarah Lancashire is very good .

I think you should be able to subtitles for most dramas these days, so if there's lot of mumbling or strong accents they help a lot.

Not that the fringe combined with the woolly hat enables her to see much at all, especially at night, let alone a neighbour inside her house iyswim

She's sleeping in the conservatory with a woolly hat on her head to keep an eye on the Croatian neighbour and the girl she has staying there, and she gets woken up in the night to go out to cases which are not hers

Typo... valley!

Recording Grantchester to watch later on, but as the vicar is Tommy, it will be hard to forget the Happy Vallet character.
Why is Catherine always tired and ratty and red eyed?She must get a good night's sleep now and then.Will somebody please trim her fringe and do her roots as well.

They made the point after 'Mosely's' girlfriend was found dead that it was the exact same brand of beer bottle that the serial killer had used to mutilate his victims which is why they tied her murder to the serial killer. Of course Mosely would know what the brand of beer bottle was used so presumably he deliberated got one , smashed it and used it on her..

I couldn't put on subtitles last night as we only had terrestrial tv and I found it very difficult to follow.

I suppose if the bottle is smashed that either end would do horrific damage!! Doesn't bear thinking about !!!

We put on the subtitles which helped with the speed of the speech. We were going to give up watching but couldn't resist in the end. I do think the boy is amazing, very believable.

Agree with your second paragraph, Iam!

About the bottle, I wasn't crediting the rapist with any sensitivity - it's just that the wider bit wouldn't actually 'fit in', would it? Although we haven't been told explicitly what injuries were caused, I'd assumed they were internal rather than external.

Ana, I hadn't thought about which end of the bottle till you mentioned it. Having thought about it, I'm not convinced a rapist would be well, frankly, using the narrow pouring end out of sensitivity so maybe the wider bit more accurately reflects the psychopathy. Hope that makes a bit of sense.

I agree with you that it's the best thing on tv at the moment. I'm finding it gripping if gruesome. Sarah Lancashire's character is believable and her acting is just so good. The boy who plays her grandson is excellent, in fact the whole cast is superb, as is the writing.

I can't help thinking that the flashback they keep showing of the broken bottle dripping with blood is just wrong.

It would surely be the narrow pouring end of the bottle that was used...(sorry to those of a sensitive disposition).

Lona and * Iam* are right about the bunny boiler. Doesn't look like Molesly will get away with it though!
Saw an interview with Katherine Kelly who said that the police advisors on the series said it was very true to life.

Well, I do have to have the sound turned up much higher than usual (but not boomingly loud!) but I didn't have a problem with the dialogue.

Sarah Lancashire's character does speak very rapidly but for me it's a case of adapting my listening style to her speaking pattern, and that of her sister.

I agree Ana

I hate subtitles but I had them on all the way through too. I'm a Manchester girl so I know the lingo as well!

Right from the beginning, on last night's episode, I struggled to make out what Sarah Lancashire was saying. Maybe it's the fact that she's a bit glum in almost everything she says, and tends to mutter. We had to subtitles on for the whole programme. number, I'm a Midland/Northerner, too - so I don't have any problem with those accents, either!

I managed to hear more on Happy Valley this week, but still struggled a bit of the time. Apparently, the BBC thinks there isn`t a problem, it`s just people`s inability to understand the Northern accents, rubbish! Many viewers, like me, are Northerners!

Yes...shame about the rugby last week!

I'm enjoying " Shetland" though Atqui. I like the subtle way its done and Perez's quiet, calm manner. Wrong thread! Sorry.

Jane10 As I said I in the OP, I wanted to watch it but found it too disturbing. I noticed from the papers TV guide that there was to be another rape, and that confirmed my feelings. I too recorded it thinking I might change my mind , but I shall delete it. I also started watching the Night Manager ( or similar title) but found the violent scenes ( even with eyes covered) too much to stomach . I must be a real wimp!!