Give us strength. Hit BBC1 thriller Line of Duty once again attracted millions of viewers tonight, all hoping for more clues in the quest for the truth.
After a two-year wait, the fifth series of Jed Mercurio’s drama about corrupt coppers had started last week with a scary hijack, several murders, a couple of misguided officers and one broken toilet.
Tonight's action-packed second episode threw up more twists and turns as we learnt Maneet was dead, John Corbett might not be all he seems to be and Hastings could be gang boss “H”.
Jed teases: “This series enters new territory, it’s criminal activity on a large scale.”
5 Line Of Duty questions that need solving as Balaclava Man returns
Here we turn detective to trawl the evidence on the main suspects.
Who’s a secret baddie, who’s a bluffer and who’s just a red herring? Let's take a look....
Janus-faced John
Line of Duty star Adrian Dunbar lets slip massive villain twist in new series
Gang leader John Corbett, played by Stephen Graham, is a detective sergeant sent undercover into an Organised Crime Group by Operation Peartree.
We know that he was given a new identity as a forger with a criminal record, and was sent in to infiltrate the gang.
But he stopped all communications three months ago and has since been responsible for the murders of four cops including Maneet.
We assumed he had gone rogue, but now we’ve seen him crying on the phone to his wife before making sure there were no casualties during the attack on the police convoy.
When he fake kidnapped DS Steve Arnott (Martin Compston), he explained his actions
and believes he’s close to finding “H”.
But back in the gang, he seems steely-eyed and remorseless. So is he telling the truth or tricking Steve?
Writer Jed says: “John’s probably our most dangerous and villainous character.”
Verdict: John is definitely living a double life and caught in a web of lies. A double-bluffer with a conscience.
Shifty Sindwahni
Line of Duty actress Vicky McClure has tried weed and been 'blottoed' on booze
When someone’s opening line is: “I was elected to shake things up,” they are definitely one to keep an eye on.
Central Police’s new Police and Crime Commissioner Rohan Sindwhani, played by Ace Bhatti, is the very top level.
When Hastings outlines the recent deaths linked to the OCG, Sindwhani looks shaken.
He seems genuinely keen to uncover police corruption, but we’ve been fooled before.
Verdict: Sometimes it’s the quiet ones. We’ll be watching him closely.
Ted 'Mother of God!' Hastings
If AC-12 boss Superintendent Hastings, played by Adrian Dunbar, turns out to be a bent copper – the ringleader of the whole corrupt operation – then our whole belief system is shot to shreds.
He’s been the strong, stable leader, the giver of worthy monologues about weeding out rats.
But has the whole thing been one brilliant act?
We know the crime boss is called “H”, but is that too obvious a link? “H” is in contact with the Organised Crime Group via a laptop instant messaging service.
Hastings has a laptop with the same messaging service on it. Clue or red herring?
And what’s the deal with this Kettle Bell complex investment?
Adrian teases: “There is something going on and it’s not just a red herring. This series does explore Ted’s background – the situation with his wife, and something we know – he’s not very good with money.”
Verdict: Our hearts say he’s a good guy, but our heads are concerned as the evidence stacks up. If he’s a baddie, it will be the biggest blow since writer Jed killed off Julia Montague in Bodyguard.
Law-breaking Lisa
Gang member Lisa McQueen, played by Rochenda Sandall, plays a pivotal role in the gang network.
We thought she had a conscience when she refused to kill cop Jane Cafferty on the first hijack, but was she just keeping her alive to use for information?
Lisa worms her way into Jane’s home and blackmails her without wavering.
We also know Lisa has done her time, and is first on call to “H” via the messaging service.
She’s also highly suspicious of John, who she doesn’t like.
She warns him: “The boys have fallen for this because you’ve got brains, but you’re less than a year in. I’ve earned my place.”
Actress Rochenda says: “She’s a lone wolf. Massively determined, ambitious, power-hungry and always wants more.”
Verdict: Cold-hearted ruthless baddie.
Shady Gill
Senior Legal Counsel Gill Biggeloe, played by Polly Walker, always looks like she knows something we don’t.
Gill was disappointed when Hastings refused her advances and has always played a key role in previous cases.
When Hastings mentions Operation Peartree, Gill raises her eyebrow and at first tries to put a stop to him gaining access.
She said: “That’s the problem with corruption enquiries, there’s always the danger you’ll find some.”
Does she know something we don’t?
Verdict: She keeps her cards close to her chest, but is hopefully on the right side of the law.
The gang
From bike boy Ryan (Gregory Piper, right), the longest-serving member of the balaclava gang that we know of, to Lee (Alastair Natkiel) who has now been arrested, and the scary Miroslav (Tomi May, left) there are plenty of bad guys here.
Lee was suspicious of John, while the others seem happy as his henchmen.
Verdict: Baddies through and through, not a morsel of conscience between them.
Not-so-innocent Jane
In one of Sunday night's biggest twists, it turns out that police officer Jane Cafferty, played by Sian Reese-Williams, was duping us all along.
She knew all about the hijack, making sure her team were the ones on call and deciding to stop to help a woman with her (fake) baby.
Married Jane had been blackmailed into helping the OCG with CCTV images of her having an affair. She claims she didn’t realise anyone would be killed and now wants to help AC-12.
But in a whopping cliffhanger, as she pointed to the image of the person she says recruited her, how will we know if she’s telling the truth?
Verdict: A bluffer who can’t be trusted. She’s pointing the finger at someone, but who’s pulling the strings?
Peartree boss Alison
Leader of Operation Peartree, Detective Superintendent Powell, played by Susan Vidler, has been the queen of dodgy sidelong glances.
Determined from the off not to help AC-12 in their investigations, we finally discovered that Peartree was looking into links between corrupt officers and the OCG.
She lost comms with Corbett, but he says that’s because she didn’t run the operation properly and didn’t want him to infiltrate the top.
Was Powell scared that Corbett would find “H”?
Why was she full of rage when AC-12 were granted access to her operation? Is she involved?
Verdict: She’s bluffing. Pretending to be on the hunt for corruption, but part of the plot herself. Either that or she’s just plain useless.
