Happy Valley fans spot ‘unrealistic’ plot details in explosive finale

As Happy Valley fans tuned in on Sunday evening to watch the last ever episode of the gripping show, some viewers pointed out ‘unrealistic’ plot details that went amiss.

As the BBC crime drama aired for the final time after nine years and three seasons, viewers across the nation were so gripped to the edge of their sofas when 9pm came around on February 5th, many failed to realise a few ‘convenient errors’ along the way.

They watched on as convicted criminal Tommy Lee Royce, played by James Norton, broke into Sergeant Catherine Cawood’s home, played by Sarah Lancashire, while she was sleeping on her sofa. But she woke up and left only to return later, while he was still there.

As fans prepared to bid farewell to tough, witty, no-nonsense copper Sergeant Cawood, and her evil nemesis Royce, the pair had one final stand-off in her kitchen. In a gripping scene, millions of viewers had been waiting for, the two traded insults and emotional home truths in an incredibly tense final meeting.

Royce, bleeding out, was left weak and unable to attack his arch-enemy as he had done in the past, eventually setting himself on fire.

In the end, Cawood came out of her house alive saying ‘We had another bit of a tussle. I won’, on her last shift before her retirement. She left Tommy after she put him out with Claire’s blanket saying: “I think I may have singed one of your crochet blankets.”

But Royce’s journey from being on the run and ending up at Cawood’s, was not as plain sailing as it had started when he broke free from custody while on trial in court, to cycling past racing police cars, and smiling to himself as he planned to take his biological son Ryan away to Benidorm.

He ended up having to kill his former allies thanks to a well-placed rock during a showdown in a field – something that didn’t go unnoticed by viewers.

Taking to the keyboard, one viewer wrote: “Watch out for the convenient rock!! #HappyValley.” Another typed: “Ahh yes, the convenient rock in that empty grass field. Ultimate murder weapon #HappyValley.” And, a third tweeted: “Funny how there always seems to be a handy rock.#HappyValley.”

“How lucky it was for Tommy that there happened to be a convenience rock nearby, followed by an even bigger convenience rock to finish the job! #HappyValley,” was another of the many tweets about the handy rock read on Sunday night.

But the well-placed murder weapon wasn’t the only ‘convenient’ detail Happy Valley fans spotted – with many questioning why police weren’t watching Catherine’s house.

Strictly Come Dancing’s Dan Walker shouted: “WHY ARE THE POLICE NOT WATCHING THE HOUSE? (I know it’s only a TV show & sorry for shouting) #HappyValley.”

Another typed: “Maybe the police should watch Catherine’s house? Just a thought. #HappyValley.” Another declared: “Ignoring the fact her house would have been under police guard #DramaticLicence #HappyValley.”

The final scenes of the gripping finale was filled with humourous exchanges and heartwarming moments, with viewers praising the show’s creator Sally Wainwright for the realistic elements.

“This argument between catherine and tommy is so f***ing funny #HappyValley,” one fan posted online as Catherine and Tommy traded insults.

“I’m obsessed with Tommy and his sassy responses #HappyValley,” another added, with one more delighted viewer gushing: “Sally Wainwright is a master storyteller. This finale is more set in reality than some over the top finales that are total fantasy #HappyValley.”