Happy Valley 2014

     This series takes place in a rural Yorkshire valley.  Catherine Cawood is a police sergeant, 47 years old, she is divorced, lives with her former heroin addict sister, has two daughters but one died and the other doesn’t speak to her.  She has a young grandson that lives with her and his mother was the daughter who died.  There is a lot going on in this valley and they have a real problem with drugs.   A young local woman is kidnapped and that spirals into a series of crimes.  Catherine often wonders why she doesn’t receive any information about what is going on locally from those above her rank?

     Happy Valley and it’s not very happy!!  Catherine doesn’t let things go and she gets involved in everything.  There is a lot of emotion between Catherine and her extended family too.  I wondered many times if she was going to be shot?  The police are not allowed to carry guns in Britain unless there are special circumstances.  The government believes that arming the police with guns engenders more gun violence than it prevents.  4* (I really liked this series)

6 episodes, 300 min total, TV Series, Crime directed by Sally Wainwright with Sarah Lancashire, Siobhan Finneran, Steve Pemberton, James Norton, Adam Long, Joe Armstrong, George Costigan, Charllie Murphy, Katherine Kelly, Julie Hessmondhalgh.

Note:  Imdb 8.5 out of 10, 100% critic 91% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 90 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Calder Valley, Yorkshire, North Light Film Studios, Brookes Mill, Berry Brow, Huddersfield, England, UK.  There are two seasons, one from 2015 on DVD and the other 2016 available now on Netfix.  Sally Wainwright is also in The Paradise and Last Tango in Halifax.  Siobhan Finneran was O’Brien, Lady Grantham’s personal maid on Downton Abbey for 25 episodes from 2010-2012.