‘No guns, no knives, no punches, but a great battle of words’: Happy Valley viewers hailed the finale as ‘a masterpiece’ and challenged Sarah Lancashire to ‘win all the prizes’.
Happy Valley ended Sunday night after three seasons, 18 episodes and nine years.
And the latest episode of the BBC drama lived up to the incredible hype, with many viewers hailing the episode as “a masterpiece” and “one of the greatest television finals ever”.
Sarah Lancashire’s leading lady as Sgt. Catherine Cawood has garnered plaudits from critics and fans alike, as her latest showdown with James Norton’s Tommy Lee Royce (or, as she put it, “a bit of a fight”) was seen as the perfect way to do it end series.
While many fans were anticipating a high-octane conclusion and perhaps even Catherine’s death, author Sally Wainwright’s decision to base her finale around a 15-minute war of words between Tommy and Catherine left viewers in awe.
‘A stalemate worth waiting for – no guns, no knives, no punches, but an exchange of words that Catherine had to say. Outstanding stuff from Sally Wainwright, a tour de fore turn from Sarah Lancashire and a whirlwind of emotions from James Norton. What a final,” said one viewer.
Applause: Happy Valley ended on Sunday night after three seasons and the final episode lived up to the incredible hype, with many viewers calling the episode “a masterpiece”.
Others praised Sarah’s performance, with one fan ruling that “she deserved all the BAFTAs, Golden Globes and Oscars and it still won’t be enough.”
“I already feel sorry for any drama or actress when it faces Happy Valley and Sarah Lancashire in next year’s BAFTAs. Forget it, it’s over, you don’t stand a chance,” agreed author Emma Kennedy.
The Sunday Times’ Rosamund Urwin said: “I hope the success of Happy Valley means there will be a lot of commissioned dramas starring women in their 50s, especially if the characters aren’t always entirely likable. Sarah Lancashire is just outstanding.”
“Many finals are a disappointment, but Happy Valley ended brilliantly.
She faced another master class from Sarah Lancashire and James Norton. Sally Wainwright’s screenplay, a master class in storytelling.’
Happy Valley fans were shocked when Tommy Lee Royce set himself on fire after an epic showdown with Sgt. Catherine Cawood during the very final episode.
After escaping court and breaking into Catherine’s home, Tommy (James Norton) lay in wait until the officer returned home.
And fans screamed “Oh my goddamn it” as the villain tried to end his own life after telling Catherine (Sarah Lancashire) he had forgiven her for hiding the news from him that he had a son had.
Showdown: Sarah Lancashire’s leading lady was showered with praise as her final showdown with James Norton’s Tommy was seen as the perfect conclusion to the series
Master Class: “A standoff worth waiting for – no guns, no knives, no punches, just a battle of words,” explained one viewer
Drama: While fans expected a high-octane ending, writer Sally Wainwright’s decision to base her finale around a 15-minute kitchen-table war of words left viewers in awe
The two characters had a tense confrontation as they faced each other for the last time, and Tommy realized he had reached the end of the road when he concluded that his son Ryan was happier living with her.
As things came to a head, the escaped convict realized he had nowhere left to turn and light the fire – before Catherine rushed to douse the flames with a blanket.
Taking to Twitter, fans were quick to share their reaction to the nail-biting climax of Catherine and Tommy’s feud.
Awards: Others applauded Sarah’s performance, with one fan ruling that “she deserves all the BAFTAs, Golden Globes and Oscars and it still won’t be enough”.
“OH MY FUCKING GOD,” one viewer exclaimed, while another remarked, “Well I bet NOBODY expected that!”
“I’m devastated,” commented a third, while a fourth noted, “Funking he’ll, he set yourself in fire.”
‘Jesus, that was intense!’ commented a fifth observer.
“Don’t think anyone had THIS on their #HappyValleyFinale bingo card Good Jaysus,” shared another.
Celebrity fans: Actors Sanjeev Bhaskar and Robert Lindsay were among those who tweeted their praise for the show on Sunday night