Unforgotten series two, episode four recap – what a handbrake turn!

Bombshells detonate all over the place as David Walker goes from victim to predator, Cassie gets assaulted and Sara goes viral

The plot takes a jarring handbrake turn this week as David Walker is revealed as a serial abuser. It’s a shock big enough to cause a bust-up between the usually harmonious Cassie and Sunny. Things are no less tense for the suspects as the past bleeds into the present, threatening everything they hold dear.

The victim

Oh boy. This week the question changed from “who killed David Walker?” to “did he have it coming?” Walker’s prolific voluntary work at hospitals, reform schools and children’s charities is revealed as a front for child abuse. Every other lead is temporarily thrown on the backburner as Cassie considers the possibility that Walker was killed in revenge for abuse he perpetrated himself.

Former reform school girl Ellen Price is a forthcoming source. She tells of the parties held at a house in Brentford between 1981 and1983 where youths from local care homes and borstals were plied with drink and drugs and sexually assaulted. David Walker was a regular guest.

DI Tessa Nixon

Tessa has always been the most difficult suspect. You can’t kid a kidder, something she’s very happy to tell you. When Cassie confronts Tessa about David’s sex offences, she denies any knowledge while flashing back to a fierce argument between her and a man that got physical.

Right on cue, Jason walks in and whacks Cassie in the face. Cassie rolls with the punch but Jason’s violent outburst is the last straw for Paul, who moves out, saying he needs to protect his daughter Becca. There’s being a supportive partner and there’s being a chump.

Colin Osborne

“I think it’s all going to be absolutely fine,” says Simon to Colin, as their life burns down around them. Further blackmail demands come from Tyler and Flora’s mother after Colin is careless enough to let his password-unprotected phone slip into their hands. This time they want £20,000 and they won’t be stopping there.

Much more shocking is the allegation of rape made by Maria Gonzales, a Klein Egerton temp in 1990. Just how deep does the Colin Osborne rabbit hole go?

Marion Kelsey

“Your judgement’s gone,” says Marion’s boss Nicola – and she’s not kidding. When Zoe doesn’t show up for her chemo appointment, her drinking with Marion in the pub comes out and Marion is sent home before she can do any more damage.

With Tony urging her to open up, she finally tells him about the murder investigation for the first time. A wayward youth is one thing, but sharing a house and a bed with an Irish Republican he finds very tough to take.

It may be little consolation to him that Marion was never paramilitary material. Sinead Quinn assures Fran that her ex was just “a messed up middle-class kid wanting to piss off mummy and daddy”. Which is not to say that she did not have murderous intent. When Fran shows Sinead a photo of David Walker, she recognises him as the man Marion put forward as a potential assassination target.

Sara Mahmoud

“You’ve broken my heart, my love.” At first, Hassan is angry and bewildered at Sara’s revelation. How could she possibly think sex work was her only choice? “I’d lost my way” is all she can offer.

When their youngest son Yousef overhears them arguing, he makes a schoolboy error and shares the details with a schoolboy. Very soon, everyone at the mosque knows about Sara’s past. By the evening, there’s a crude animated meme on the scandal doing the rounds among the schoolkids. Sara’s gone viral and there’s no containing it.

The very last thing she wants is a visit from Cassie and Sunny, but they show up asking about a dislocated jaw she was treated for at University College Hospital A&E in March 1990. She remembers it well but denies any recollection of course.

There is still no proof of her Rome alibi but, given time to reflect, Hassan comes round and comforts her, even fighting her corner when they have to tell the kids the story. Omar from the mosque sounds conciliatory too. It’s not much, but it’s something to hold on to.

Notes and observations

We begin with Marion, Colin and Sara returning from their pub meeting yet we see nothing of what occurred there. This show is an awful tease sometimes.

The Winchestergate subplot moves to Egham, where Martin plans to confront a stranger on his historical sexual infidelity. Of course Unforgotten is about how some pasts just won’t stay buried, but Cassie is right here. It’s best to let this one lie.

“And then what, Shoestring?” Those of us who remember Eddie Shoestring will note that he was played by Trevor Eve (Sir Philip Cross in Unforgotten series one). Good shout-out.

I was disappointed not to hear any update on Sunny’s Tinder date in Brighton. We did get a nice scene with his daughters though, as they took time out from tormenting him to see how he was faring.

Cassie and Sunny argue over the cycle of abuse in David Walker’s tragic life. Cassie is sympathetic to Walker but Sunny thinks an abuser who was abused himself makes the offence even worse.

It is probably safe to say that Cassie’s offer to Jason of a pint with her kids to discuss bereavement is now closed.

Maggie O’Neill is a pretty big name for a small role. There may be more to come from Ellen Price.

I think the rape allegation against Colin will turn out to be false. Perhaps it’s a set-up from David Walker or some enemies he made in banking. I’m also curious to know what kind of company handles an allegation of rape “internally”.

What’s your take on the twist of David Walker being a serial abuser? How has it altered your theories on who the killer is? Is Colin a rapist or was he being set up? Please let me know your thoughts below.

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