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.

It makes me very happy that ITV's Scott and Bailey is back on our screens. If it wasn't for my love of writing and fear of institutional racism, in an alternative world I would love to work for the police. I have a freakishly good ability to remember and recall facts and I really like paperwork. But, since I don't foresee myself actually traversing that route, I do tend to get overly excited by good police TV dramas. Scott and Bailey is perhaps the best of the best.

 

Featuring essentially all-female leads in Janet Scott (Lesley Sharp), Gill Murray (Amelia Bullmore) and Rachel Bailey (Suranne Jones), the series has long been receiving outstanding reviews. I'm also going on record right now by saying if I do not have a best friend female friendship like Janet and Rachel's by the time I'm in my thirties, I will have failed terribly in life. Just saying.

 

I think that it was makes me enjoy the show so much (and is something I'm investigating later this week, when I pick apart my top TV female friendships). To be work colleagues in what we can appreciate is a challenging work environment, and be really good - if not best - friends on top of that, is what my dreams are made of. I've never really had that unmistakeable best friend status, not since I was a child and boy, do I long for it. It's also not the type of friendship that feels forced - they argue over the big things and are strong enough to tell each other how they really feel. This is something I am spectacularly bad at. Sharp and Jones (which would make just as good a title for the show, by the way) are absolutely flawless as always. I'm so happy the characters are back on positive terms and I thought the way the episode depicted the two of them going up for the same job was handled excellently.

 

We've all had moments where we've been in direct competition with friends and family. It is not a place I, personally, particular like to be. If you "win", there's always elements of doubt, fear of consequence and genuine disappointment on their behalf, as well as relief and excitement. If you "lose", you have to learn to deal with a confidence knock, jealousy and envy. We had known from the teasers and trailers that Janet and Rachel were both going for the sergeant's job and though I predicted both would pass the board, I was expecting Janet to get it. Purely because I thought she killed the interview. That was A class writing in that scene, not just for the drama itself but for the media and TV industry. Turning 50 is not when women should be gearing down and it was so good to hear that voiced out loud. I may not even had reached half way to 50 yet but once I get my feet firmly planted in my career path, I'm planning on sticking with it way past my 60s.

 

I have to admit, I do tend to favour the rebel though. In terms of temperament, I am Janet through and through but like with every drama I watch, I always lump in favour of feistiness. Something Rachel Bailey has in abundance and I lack almost completely. The wardrobe department are also hitting the nail on the head for this show; again I love the way they dress Rachel and I wish to death I could pull off work clothes that well. I think both Lesley Sharp and Suranne Jones are some of Britain's best actresses and I can't wait for the rest of the series to unfurl. This Mandy Sweeting storyline is already setting up to be a good one and I'm intrigued once more to see how such career-strong women balance a life at home too.