II.
Catherine Cawood (Lancashire) is a police sergeant in a Yorkshire valley town, in Northern England. Her recent past and present has been plagued with troubles. Eight years earlier, her daughter Becky was raped, and then committed suicide. The rape also resulted in the birth of a child, Ryan. Cawood's decision to raise Ryan has estranged her from her own son, and wrecked her marriage. Now divorced, Cawood lives too with her sister Clare (Siobhan Finneran), a recovering drug addict.
Weatherill is a frustrated and bitter man. He often feels unappreciated and undervalued as an accountant with the firm of Nevison Gallagher (George Costigan). When Nevison refuses a raise that Kevin feels he deserves, something snaps in Weatherill. He seeks out the corrupt Cowgill, and arranges to have Gallagher's daughter kidnapped for ransom. Cowgill has Tommy Royce and an associate put the kidnapping into effect.
Thus far, writer Sally Wainwright's plot exposition has settled us nicely into the narrative, as in a soap opera. And then, the story temperature rises, considerably.
III.
Kevin Weatherill, whose pathetic teeth-grinding we may have been watching with impolite amusement, proves himself capable of initiating a serious crime. Catherine Cawood, the police sergeant who projects wry, good-humoured courage, is shown privately battling a mental anguish that might overwhelm her. Pemberton and Lancashire are superb in their respective roles; and fine indeed is the entire Valley cast.
Cawood is going to need her courage, projected or otherwise, as the kidnapping storyline now bloodies with violence. The first violent encounter between Cawood and the kidnapper Royce is especially powerful, its progress and outcome suggesting figurative discourse.
IV.
This excellent first series of Happy Valley draws you into its story with the soapy comforts of a Coronation Street. But don't get too comfortable, as noir is just around the corner in this valley.
