In the gritty streets of Belfast, where rival gangs led by Jim Dixon and Davy Hamill have filled the void left by their cross-city rivals, the Blackthorn team finds itself operating with fewer resources than ever, thanks to government cuts, despite a surge in crime statistics. The new recruits, though no longer greenhorns, are still finding their footing on the troubled streets.
The first episode unfolded as follows: Constable Grace Ellis and Constable Stevie Neil, along with their Blue Lights team, were on patrol in an armored vehicle when they stumbled upon a road barricade. It soon became apparent that they had walked into a trap as an angry mob descended upon them, pelting their Range Rover with bricks and bottles. The control room instructed them to "sit tight," which was fortunate since a petrol bomb set their vehicle ablaze, rendering it immobile. Fortunately, it was all just an exercise, but the PSNI's friends would need to do much better if they ever encountered such a situation in real life. "If this was real life, you'd be dead," their instructor warned.
The next day, Grace and Stevie stumbled upon a homeless man named 'Soupy' dead in the street from a suspected heroin overdose. The shop owner who found him exclaimed, "What in the name of god are you doing all day?" before venting his frustration about the state of the area.
Meanwhile, at Moylan's Pharmacy, Constable Tommy Foster and Constable Annie Conlon were called to a disturbance. A man was shouting at the pharmacist because his methadone prescription hadn't arrived. "The last six months have been nothing but desperate people screaming at me!" the shopkeeper complained. After moving the man along, Annie encouraged her downbeat colleague to take a 'ride' and suggested he message Aislyn, a girl he had met on a training course. He offered to text her, but she dismissed it as weak and urged him to call her. "Texting is weak, calling is strong – everybody knows that!" she said with a smile.
Returning to the station, Sergeant Helen McNally, the team commander, encountered Detective Sergeant Murray Canning, now a member of the paramilitary crime task force with a keen interest in mitigating the escalating crime rates in the district. McNally mentioned that the spike in numbers could be linked to the loss of three response officers in the past year, but fortunately, she would be receiving a new recruit – Constable Shane Bradley, recommended by DS Canning himself.
Helen wanted to know why the PTCF was so interested in crime statistics, and Canning explained his goal was to reduce drug-related crimes in the area, with the hope of decreasing those statistics. "From this moment on, DS Canning will work with your section in whatever way he sees fit," Chief Robinson, Helen's boss, announced.
Later that day, Annie had her first glimpse of Constable Shane Bradley as she walked into the locker room and caught a glimpse of the new recruit's toned physique. Oooosh! But there was no time for distractions, as Canning was giving a presentation, reminiscing about how the McIntyre crime group was brought down in a previous operation. Their fall had resulted in a drop in drug-related crime figures, but now it seemed someone had taken over the supply and increased the volume. He introduced us to rival loyalist gang leaders, Jim Dixon and Davy Hamill, from the Mount Eden Estate.
After the presentation, Canning wanted to see Tommy upstairs, so Annie was partnered with the buff newcomer, Shane Bradley. They were soon called to a disturbance at a house where a man named Brendan was having a mental health crisis. Shane calmed the situation by offering him a cigarette, much to Annie's impressed watch. It turned out Brendan had been waiting over seven months for a mental health assessment. "Is everything just f*****?" Annie exclaimed.
Following the briefing, Sandra Cliff confides in Helen about the agony she has endured since her partner Gerry's tragic shooting. She laments that Belfast holds no meaning for her without him and has decided to return to London. Helen, like the rest of us, is deeply saddened by the news.
Upstairs, Canning commends Tommy for his meticulous analysis of crime statistics, suggesting that his talents are being wasted on the beat. He urges Tommy to shed his uniform, as he intends to show him "how this city really operates." On their journey, Canning discloses that Hamill and Dixie are rivals yet both control much of the illicit activities in the area. "It's all about intelligence policing," Canning explains. "The more I know about them, the better I can contain them."
It's clear that Canning has high hopes for Tommy and Shane, seeing them as a cut above their peers. He then pulls Dixie over for a chat, allowing Tommy to get a closer look at him. Despite this, Dixie seems unimpressed by Canning's tactics.
Later that day, Dixon meets Tina McInytre, a former member of the old McIntyre gang. He wants her to pass on a message to the Dubliners that he can "do twice as much next time." However, it's clear that Tina holds the power in this relationship as she agrees to convey his message. "Some day that bitch is going to get what's coming to her!" Dixie exclaims to the cabbie driving him around. When Dixie refuses to pay his fare, the cabbie realizes that Dixie has forgotten his keys. This small detail could prove crucial later on.
As the news of her impending full-time employment at the local solicitors firm resonated with joy in Jen Robinson's heart, the former Constable couldn't help but harbor a secret thrill. However, her celebration was to be tempered by other, more altruistic plans. She had elected to share her good fortune with Happy Kelly at the soup kitchen, where they both worked. Kelly, visibly elated, reflected on how Gerry, their late friend, would be proud of Jen's current endeavors. Yet, the euphoria was tinged with a sense of impending doom; the soup kitchen's imminent closure loomed large due to impending government budget cuts.
As they shared poignant memories of Gerry's passing, their conversation turned philosophical. "It would drive you mad," Jen mused, referring to the endless quest for truth in the face of adversity. Kelly revealed a personal struggle from 1978, when he had the audacious idea of visiting a chip shop during a time of turmoil. His father and brother lost their lives when the shop was bombed, yet no one was ever held accountable due to a lack of eyewitness testimonies. "That's the nature of this place," he said, "where even after all these years, people still perceive the truth as a dangerous commodity."
Back at the office, Jen delved deeper into the 1978 bombing incident, her mother's congratulatory call serving as a sweet distraction. The combination of her professional pursuits and personal triumphs painted a vivid picture of Jen's multifaceted character and unwavering dedication to justice and empathy.
Grace and Stevie embark on a journey to Soupy's, a bar that is under the stewardship of Lee and Mags Thompson. It transpires that Lee and Soupy shared a past in the army, with Lee residing in the flat above the bar. One day, Lee catches Soupy using drugs in the toilet and promptly ejects him from the premises.
That afternoon, Grace showcases her latest baking efforts to Stevie, a delightful moment that has been missed. While he is impressed, his constructive criticism doesn't go down well with Grace. Yet, the joy is short-lived when they are summoned to Moylan's Pharmacy, where Annie and Tommy were previously.
Grace and Stevie arrive at the pharmacy first, with Stevie tasking Grace to secure the back entrance while he tackles the front. When he discovers the shop open, the shutters come crashing down, trapping him inside. Meanwhile, Grace finds the back door smashed open and enters to find the pharmacist lying on the ground, badly wounded. Stevie urges her not to go in, but she does and is soon attacked by Eamonn Cunningham, who tries to stab her with a screwdriver. Grace pulls out her gun, but when Shane arrives and hits the assailant on the back of his head, the danger is averted.
At the station, Annie blames herself for letting Cunningham walk earlier that day, while Grace tells Stevie that he needs to stop trying to protect her while they're on duty. "Remember when we talked about us and I said we couldn't do this job properly and do that," she says. "Well, this is what I meant!" He promises it won't happen again.
That night, Tommy musters the courage to call Aislyn from Derry, and she seems pleased to hear from him. "He just rang you? Strong!" says Aislyn's colleague after their conversation. Great advice from Annie!
At The Loyal Pub, Dixie pays a visit to Lee and Mag Thompson to collect the protection money he clearly takes from them. £500, plus money from his "wee sideline". "Sooner or later you're going to have to join us officially," says Dixie, but Lee doesn't seem too keen.
Apparently, Dixie is eager to buy the bar, yet Lee has other ideas. After the crime boss leaves, he goes into the back room to meet his pal Craig McQuarrie who says.. "If we do this, there’s no going back!" However, Lee is ready to go and throws Dixie's keys on the table. But what's their plan?
