The past of TV's most dysfunctional family was key to the ending as Sergeant Catherine Cawood's final mission before her retirement turned out to be a break-in at her own home. She found escaped killer and rapist Tommy sitting in her kitchen, attempting to kill himself with a load of painkillers with her treasured photo albums in front of him.
There was an emotional showdown between the pair as Tommy told Catherine he could see what she had done for his son Ryan, in raising him following the suicide of her Becky as opposed to his delinquent childhood. After breaking in and viewing Ryan's bedroom laden with his favourite things and Catherine's photos charting his happy upbringing, he forgave her, he told her, for interfering in his and Becky's relationship.
But for Catherine this was a step too far. "You forgive me?" asked Catherine incredulously, leading Tommy to decide to take his own life with a can of petrol..
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@daniele_n91 tweeted: "Me: Omg why am I crying for Tommy Lee Royce rn. TLR: I forgive you Me:….. ok nope back to normal." @fislater observed: "Wow, none of us were expecting that! I was crying my eyes out, & like Ryan, actually feeling sorry for Tommy! What a scene! "
@muIderitsme explained: "Listen the absolute conflict I have seeing Tommy Lee Royce sitting there crying over those photo albums exciting some kind of sympathetic response from me when he’s done the most hideous things is testament to Sally Wainwrights writing and James Norton’s performance."
@Sparklyyy1 asked: "Is it wrong watching Tommy crying like that makes me want to give him a hug? If he had a better mum and a better childhood, maybe he would have not turned out to be a wrong 'n."
@Joanna_Thornton wrote: "Christ when you’re genuinely crying because Tommy Lee Royce, narcissist and psychopath is crying." And @rockjame applauded: "Thought the route they took with Catherine & Tommy was superb. Much better than violence & fighting. Norton’s portrayal of TLR in those final moments was superb & very real rather than panto villan, which it easily could have been. Awards beckon for both." And @oostapoosta wrote: "Crying my b*****d eyes out... mostly for TLR. (That'll be my pmt)."
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