TV and Film | Scott and Bailey, Episode 2 | Review

Scott and Bailey are back with their second episode of series 4 and as expected, things are already kicking off. Launching straight into where episode 1 left off, it is quickly confirmed that the body found was that of Mandy Sweeting, who was murdered some 20-odd years earlier. Alongside the need to find the "killer", the "freezer" and the "dumper" who, as the team quickly suggest, could be one and the same, there is also the challenge of dealing with the initial investigation conducted at the original time of death.

 

Which was handled (or maybe headed) by Rob's dad, who claims his team did nothing wrong in pegging Mandy Sweeting's husband, Gary. I thought it was a really interesting way to handle the episode actually, having the relationship between Rob and his dad dealt with in such a way. We know, from earlier series, that Rachel's relationship with her own mother leaves something to be desired. Having Rob so stringently defend his father at the start of the episode is potentially an alien activity for Rachel and it's clear from Rachel's attitude that Rob's initial inability to see past his bias and recognise his father's mistakes, is something she doesn't have any time. Although it's also kind of clear Rachel has a bit of attitude towards a few other colleagues too (which Suranne Jones employs brilliantly. Always adding a tough of humour to a very heavy drama). The interchange between Gill and Rachel in the bathroom was perhaps the pinnacle, which Rachel shoving two fingers up to Gill's back and retracting them just in time.

 

To me, this parent-sibling relationship can be seen to be underlying the entire episode. We had the obvious examples of Rob and his Dad and the mother of Gary and Anthony Sweeting (whose name I have embarrassingly forgotten). Then there's the growing distance between Janet and her eldest daughter and of course the teaser to next week, where Rachel's mother pops back into the picture. But there is also - and I may be jumping the gun a bit here - a slightl mother-daughter tinge between Rachel and Gill. And Janet too, of sorts. The job hierarchy almost situates Scott and Bailey as two of Gill's children, who have distinctly different personalities. We know from the interactions between Janet and Rachel, often conducted in the privacy of the bathroom, that Rachel is after Gill's approval. She doesn't necessarily need it as such, but we get the sense that she would appreciate it. Not in a motherly love kind of way, let me just clarify, but in the way of wanting recognition. It's a commonality for Rachel to turn to Janet for reassurance, which she does again in this episode despite technically now being above her in the police food chain, and I hope that element of their friendship never disappears. The way that the relationship between Rachel and Gill differs massively from a mother-daughter relationship is that, as Rachel states, Gill chose her (albeit after choosing Janet first) to become sergeant. Rachel wants Gill's respect but in a professional, not personal, manner. Everyone else - Janet excluded - Rachel just wants to get one up on, prove her mettle. Which is what makes the dynamic between Scott and Bailey so fun to watch.  

 

I love how it's always in the loos or when Rachel's smoking that they talk about the real stuff. As in, their real lives - outside of work. Like Janet casually stating she now wants a boyfriend, before listing off her attempts at online dating. I like the way Amelia Bullmore - who impresses me no end as both an actor and writer - didn't make this a laughing point. Too often online dating has been viewed with a certain stigma, especially when women take to it. It was spoken about so matter of fact , that no comedic value could possibly be gleamed from it. I did have a giggle at Janet's slight dig towards Rachel earlier on though, saying that becoming sergeant had really mellowed her. As if.

 

Getting back to the actual plot, Anthony Sweeting was odd. Rachel had him pegged early on as the guilty party and though she was right, she was reluctant to take on Rob's advice towards the close of the ep. I love getting to watch Lesley Sharp act as Janet in the interview room; much of her previous work has proven her ability to generate high levels of intensity with small amounts of dialogue (see Afterlife and Doctor Who) and it's always fun to see a suspect freak out. As Anthony Sweeting did. His outburst actually made me jump out my skin, so congrats Amelia Bullmore for fitting in the shock factor! Which brings me to the end of this review and the sad news that Bullmore has written her own character's retirement. Four months and counting is how the episode ends and though the focus of the show has always been Scott and Bailey, Gill has been an integral part of that. I hope these four months she mentions last as long as the series and she doesn't die off before then, or anything equally dramatic. And of course I'm looking forward to the return of Rachel's mum next week too.