MovieChat Forums > Happy Valley (2014) Discussion > What is Catherine thinking (spoiler)

What is Catherine thinking (spoiler)

posted 9 years ago by beautifulsadlife
15 replies | jump to latest

at the end? I'm assuming she's wondering if Ryan will turn out to be a psychopath like his dad, and inherited his dad's genes--but what has Ryan done to make her think that? He seems like a nice kid. He's not perfect but does he actually display signs of being a Bad Seed?

Or: could it be... Catherine's daughter Becky had Catherine's EX-HUSBAND'S kid? I know, pretty soap opera-ish. But notice the ex had nothing to do with the boy. Anyway, I still don't really buy the explanation why Becky killed herself. I think there's more to it.

[–] shellieeyre 9 years ago

Listen to what Ryan was saying about the dogs, animals whose breeding determines their behaviour. She's wondering about nature v nurture I think.

I'm the clever one; you're the potato one.

[–] lilactime2014 9 years ago

I think like most good, thinking parents there is a tendency to imagine the worst. Most kids go through some phase or other in the first 20 years where, as a worried parent, it is possible to imagine that they will become drug taking killers and sociopaths. I hate you, I hate you I hate you.... and so on. Ryan seems to be permanently in trouble at school, minor stupidity I know but I guess Catherine has seen so much of this in her job it is easy to forget the 12 year olds who do stupid stuff and then go on to get good O levels, A levels and then pop off to University and become quantity surveyors. The ones that would stick in her coppering mind are the ones that turn out like the "Ryan" character from Line of Duty. Strange that their names should be the same. The bicycle riding, sweary, drug mule-ing scrote that Catherine would see every other day. The difference is Catherine isn't a drug taking duvet-rat and HV Ryan will be listened to, tolerated and cared for rather than ignored, shunned and cast out with nowt for his tea. Catherine, Clare and Daniel are the key to Ryan's future and I think Catherine knows it....

'tler

[–] jillian.diamond 9 years ago

He almost got expelled/transferred due to concerns for the safety of other students.

No way it was the ex-husband. The ex feels that if Becky had not had Ryan she would not have ended her life.

[–] holchie 9 years ago

Yes, I got the strong impression that Catherine was having thoughts of Ryan being a troubled adult, and obviously every dog he mentioned seem to be the stereotypical breeds owned by people who want to appear tough and are thought of as violent dogs. And also his growing awareness of his father, and the natural want of a child to be like their parent, the seeds already planted that his father is a victim of some sort. That will not go away, now that it is in his head. Catherine knows his upbringing is not the nuclear family of mom, dad and siblings, and thus makes him a fragile child psychologically.

[–] kevcoe 9 years ago

Wasn't it something to do with the way she saw how Allison killed her only son, who was totally ***** up, a product of incest who turned out to be an evil serial killer? The way Catherine cuddled her after arresting her... surely she was recognising how 'the sins of the parents' could impact on the growth of the child into adulthood and that last scene was her horrible foreboding of that concept...

[–] eddie_willers 9 years ago

Allison said she had a love/hate dilemma with her son/brother.

I think Catherine is in the same boat. She loves Ryan, but also blames him for her daughter's death. (Remember, "Granny says its not my fault")

Throw in the nature/nurture aspect and you have elements that make this such a great, and human, story.

[–] kevcoe 9 years ago

Damn, there's some deep stuff going on in this show...

Seems unlikely there will be a third series. Shame. It's a masterpiece of television. Certainly one of the best shows I've seen in recent years, particuarly in the way it was so horrific in places and so funny in others. Truly excellent TV.

[–] montrossboc-1 9 years ago

I imagined (of course, it's pure supposition) that Catherine was wondering if at some time in the future she'd have to put a bullet in her grandson's head.

Short Cut, Draw Blood

[–] SrEditor 9 years ago

Yes, exactly. She wonders whether it will be the child's upbringing or his genetic tendencies that will win out. I think she's also wondering whether shooting him (the serial killer) or him (her grandson) was/would be the right thing to do.

Psychologists are *still* studying nature versus nurture, and there are no definitive answers.

[–] beautifulsadlife 9 years ago

Shoot her grandson? Really?

[–] SrEditor 9 years ago

Yes. I think she can't help wondering whether her own grandson could become a psychopath like Daryl, or especially...like Tommy.

And once that thought enters her mind, then the following thought is: "was it right/just/warranted that Alison Garrs shot her own son." And *that* thought leads to: "would I shoot my own grandson"?

[–] jillian.diamond 9 years ago

I don't think that would occur to her as a question. More like...

Is he destined to be bad? Will he hurt someone? Will he end up in prison? What can I do help this not happen? Is there anything I can do?

[–] lilactime2014 9 years ago

archetypal nature versus nurture.

Evil biology versus real world love and care....

'tler

[–] jerseyd1 9 years ago

Unfortunately, a definite option. That kid is very scary. Sometimes it is nature.

[–] LeofricsBeloved 8 years ago

I mostly agree with what everyone has said...

I'd like to add that TLR was wearing a burgundy shirt in the scene directly preceding the scene the Cawoods walked away from Becky's tomb. Ryan was also wearing a burgundy shirt.

Catherine is still wondering if Ryan is going to turn out like his father. All these crimes that she solved lately opened all the wounds she was carrying, particularly the farmer case.

The question of whether Ryan will transcend his "nature" will always haunt Catherine. And as a poster said, she wonders if she'll ever have to do what the farmer lady did.