After seven long years, Happy Valley is back by popular demand for a third and final season.

The Final Showdown

When we catch up with Sarah Lancashire’s Sergeant Catherine Cawood, it’s several years later. Season 3 jumpstarts with her discovery of a gangland murder victim, leading her to her arch nemesis, Tommy Lee Royce. Cawood is about to retire, but can’t yet because she’s been locked in a final showdown with this murderer and rapist.

Underpinnings of A Family Drama

Cawood is desperate to solve the murder puzzle but is also haunted by her own home life. Ryan, her grandson, is navigating whether he wants to pursue a relationship with his father. This is the same father that Cawood won’t even acknowledge, further complicating things.

A Different Kind of Hero

Moreover, this inside look into Cawood’s personal struggles is what sets apart this crime drama series from the rest. Another unique aspect is how an older female lead carries the show. In turn, the critical acclaim this series has garnered is a testament to how viewers will watch female protagonists — well past their stereotypical, cultural prime. We need more visibility of stories like this one.