MovieChat Forums > Happy Valley (2014) Discussion > Ryan's parentage? (spoiler)

Ryan's parentage? (spoiler)

posted 8 years ago by puirt-a-beul
11 replies | jump to latest

I admit I was very tired when I watched the last episode of the new series, but the final scene at the cemetery, where Catherine was telling her sister what Alison had told her in the hospital -- about Daryl being both her son and her half-brother -- Catherine seemed to suggest that she and Alison had something in common. Or at least, that she had some personal experience that made her understand. And then she was watching Ryan, as if in a new light.

As I said, I was tired, but it went right over my head what she was actually saying.

Can anyone please clarify it for me? What did I not understand?

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

[–] revrvl 8 years ago

The father would have to be Daniel then. That would explain the suicide, the hateful words spoken by Catherine to Daniel, their estrangement. That would explain why Catherine insists Tommy is not the father and why she struggles with loving Ryan because it is a reminder of what her children did - and she is always clear it is not Ryan's fault.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (2212087) 8 years ago

If that was the case, wouldn't it be Richard who was the father? (Not saying that he is, but if there was the suggestion of incest - which I'm still musing about, don't know. I must admit I like things to be reasonably explicit).

If she knew it was Daniel, and he actually raped her, the character of Catherine, as shown, would never have been accepted back into her life at all. Actually, as I wrote that, she would never have had anything to do with Richard, had it been him.

[–] Ithilfaen 8 years ago

The father would have to be Daniel then. That would explain the suicide, the hateful words spoken by Catherine to Daniel, their estrangement. That would explain why Catherine insists Tommy is not the father and why she struggles with loving Ryan because it is a reminder of what her children did - and she is always clear it is not Ryan's fault.

lol your post is even more dumb than the OP, dude. Stop smoking weed, it's killing your brain cells, and stop trying to force *beep* twists where there is none. It's not *beep* HBO

For every lie I unlearn I learn something new - Ani Difranco

[–] htavel 8 years ago

What Catherine was realizing is that while Ryan is a moderately happy, carefree child NOW, as he grows up he is going to become increasingly aware of and disturbed by the hideous circumstances surrounding his conception and birth. Daryl's fate made Catherine realize that, though Becky and Alison's circumstances are different (Alison giving birth to a child conceived through rape/incest; Becky through rape), Ryan has the deck stacked against him. He may very well end up becoming psychotic like Daryl and committing heinous crimes. The fact that he has a psychotic father just makes that even more likely. Ryan at the very minimum is sure to have depression and anxiety problems as he gets old enough to really understand what happened. His future is dark no matter what (and sure isn't helped by Catherine's hot/cold behavior towards him, not to mention that the kid doesn't appear to be having regular therapy as he undoubtedly should be). The end scene is Catherine realizing that Ryan could easily turn into a murderous psychotic like Daryl (and Tommy Lee). It has nothing to do w/ Daniel or Richard. The connection's not literal; it's analogous.

[–] barkbarkwoof 8 years ago

I thought that was obvious but we'll said. I was also thinking about the comment that he had figured it out made Catherine wonder when or if to tell Ryan the truth and not let him be blinded to it and then figure it out.

Is a really sticky situation to have to guide him through where he came from. He knows grand says his dad us bad but he's an evil monster.

[–] Ltay328 8 years ago

Bingo!!

[–] jillian.diamond 8 years ago

Something in common being evil bio-dad. Pregnancy not wanted. So worrying about how the kid will turn out.

[–] begy 8 years ago

The conversation went along the lines of:

Claire: Did he (Daryl) know?
Catherine: Allison thought, she might have figured it out. She never told him though. She says, she never had the language.... Don't I know... (looks at Ryan)

What she means is that circumstances of Ryan's conception were as grim as Daryl's, but she, like Allison, can't find the right words to explain it to him, because it is to difficult to talk about that horrific experience. And even if you got to the point of telling, HOW do you explain something like that to the person who is the result of that horror?

At no point is it implied that Tommy Lee is not the biological father. And I didn't realize that Catherine's refusal to acknowledge him as a parent required an explanation?

[–] rdavies-50208 8 years ago

Yes, I think it was setting up the "big reveal" to Ryan in a future series when he's a bit older, and the storyline it could generate (Ryan seeking to prove his father's innocence?)

[–] anglofyl89 8 years ago

She keeps saying he's not his "dad", as in 'someone who is there for you, helps you' etc. She never says he's not his "biological father"

[–] curemad_jelly_tot 8 years ago

She recounted the story and then as she was reciting it (or poss before) she realised there were similarities between Alison's son and Ryan:

1. Product of rape.
2. This was not talked about because Alison didn't have the language. Catherine is probably wondering how she will broach this with Ryan in the future.
3. On some level the son already knew, so Catherine is probably wondering whether Ryan will figure it out at some point.
4. The difficult childhood that Alison's son had because he was the product of rape and how he both loved and hated because of this.
5. This has just occurred to me... Alison's son had turned out to be a psychopath and murdered 4 women and she was concerned about Ryan's behaviour in the first series as being indicative that he was like his dad...