Happy Valley (2014–2023) User Reviews (246)

None better

[kalle_ankare · 10/10 · 16 March 2016]

The fact that Sgt Catherine Cawood is not a real person but a character played by an actress is completely 100% inconceivable. The portrayal is SO real in every aspect. It's real in every mannerism, in the shift between her persona as a private person and police officer, in the way she dresses, the way she wears her hair, her make up, the choices she makes and how she behaves. I've never seen a performance like it in my life. So extremely vulnerable, yet so extremely strong and when push comes to shove so extremely brave and tough. I for one would not want to cross her, for she would surely kick my behind severely, at the same time I sure would want her to talk to if ever I was victimized.

As for the series, both one and two, the plot squeezes the characters so hard that it's sometimes unwatchable because you relate so intensely to the psychological pressures their under, both the good guys and the bad.

An absolute must to watch!

By far the best series I've seen on TV this year

[josephsoap21 · 10/10 · 26 June 2014]

I cannot praise this series enough. It has an air of realism about it from its location to the main actors. The lead sergeant Catherine Cawood and her sister are so ordinary, preoccupied with ordinary things, (no trendy,smarmy,clever middle class media interpretations of what ordinary people speak like dialog). Without exception every character is believable. With master classes in acting from the lead, her sister, her grandson and Tommy the maniac. The criminals are believably cruel and stupid in measure. The damaged and unfortunate are portrayed realistically but with compassion. No left wing idealism or right wing coldness that usually invades these type of program. The setting is the bleakest place I've ever seen, a beautiful English valley shrouded in mist, dampness and high rises. The streets and buildings are claustrophobic. Most of all the story is credible, consistent and finely paced. raw emotions are not avoided and dysfunction is everywhere. And yet there's something noble in sergeant Catherine Cawood.

Absolutely riveting

[juanita-langley · 9/10 · 15 May 2014]

This drama series is indescribably good. What takes place in the first 10 min of episode 3 has left me, a very brave and unflinching movie/TV watcher, shocked to the core. I was so upset that I had to pause the show to regain my composure. Sarah Lancashire's portrayal of Catherine Cawood is leaving me in awe and I find myself counting the days to the next episode. It is impossible not to feel her passion for policing, her incredible pain at the lost of her daughter and the disappointment she has in her failed marriage and ex husband. The fury I feel towards Kevin Weatherill for his stupid and selfish act that culminates in the horror that is this show, is testament to Steve Pemberton's brilliant acting. If you do not watch this series you are seriously missing out on maybe the best ever detective show made in the UK.

Top Notch

[nowego · 9/10 · 24 May 2014]

This was not a show that I expected to be blown away with, although I am a long term fan of Sarah Lancashire, and with Sally Wainwright involved I should have expected it to be good.

This is beyond good, if you don't get hooked and wanting more after the first episode you probably should not be watching.

There are so many good things to say about this show that I run out of words, but one word that sums up how I feel is gob-smacked.

Having watched 4 out of the 6 episodes so far, I have to say that it has been quite a while since I wished that the days would speed by so I can get my mitts on the next episode.

Stunning drama

[info-6-485649 · 10/10 · 20 May 2014]

I've been thoroughly enjoying this dark gritty drama. All the leads are excellent, but Sarah Lancashire as the main police officer with a tragic family history, is outstanding. It started well then just got better and better with each episode and twist of the plot (and screw) having me on the edge of my seat. I've just watched what must be the penultimate episode and it has left me physically shaking - it was that convincing and shocking. It's hard to credit the complaint of mumbling by one reviewer. I can't recall even one line of script I didn't follow and it's usually something that bugs me. I'm so glad I've watched this series, it's got to be one of (if not the) best TV dramas of 2014.

Intense

[jarcheese2012 · 10/10 · 4 June 2014]

The most intense, well written, well acted crime series I've ever seen on television. For six weeks I've been hooked on a story that uses a police drama as a framework for the human emotions that are at the core of this fantastic series. Steve Pemberton (The League of Gentlemen, Inside No 9) as the self-interested accountant out of his depth when a kidnapping plot goes horribly wrong was brilliant and James Norton was easily one of the best psychopaths I've ever seen in a television drama. There was real depth to his character and I expect he was hated by viewers as much as Joffre in Game of Thrones nonsense police officer. But it was Sarah Lancashire's show all the way as the tough, no-nonsense, but damaged police officer. At first I thought this was going to go the way of the film Fargo, with it's kidnapping-gone-wrong scenario, but by the start of the second episode it was clear that it was going to take a different path. Be warned though, it's dark and unsettling with moments of sudden shocking violence, especially at the end of the fourth episode, where I was left shaking at the sheer intensity of it all. Better than anything American crime dramas have had to offer us over the past year, it was brilliant. Absolutely bloody brilliant!

Just give her the award now - Sarah Lancashire

[flying_pixel · 9/10 · 1 June 2014]

I've only just realised what a great actress Sarah Lancashire is (I last saw her as a dizzy blonde in Coronation Street!). In the whole range of the Happy Valley character its the silences, those long lingering close-ups of her face as it conveys everything she doesn't have to say. One minute you feel sorry for the poor sod; next your laughing at the characters directness; next your almost in tears as she drives to hold herself together in the face of crippling memories. The story itself it terrific but sitting in the middle is Catherine Cawood, the dedicated, honest, seen-it-all-before, no-nonsense copper. The writer who opened the story with the confrontation with a smack-head allowed some cracking dialogue to kick the series off and show us the character we will grow to like and care for. The BAFTA's hers!

Great cop show

[gallagherkellie · 8/10 · 31 May 2020]

I love how the British do crime shows! So raw and realistic. The main actress is amazing, she does such a good job at being equally scary and sweet. It's got some good twists and shock moments. Definitely worth watching.

BAFTA material

[rven3 · 10/10 · 4 June 2014]

I thought 'Scott & Bailey" to be extraordinary - and it is - but "Happy Valley" is gut wrenching, heart stopping, uncomfortable, and totally, totally brilliant. Firstly, nothing of quality can be created without a very good script, and Sally Wainwright's script is her best yet, and rivals her Scott & Bailey scripts. The dialogue crackles with its own rhythm, and sharp observations of modern life, while the emerging story is all at once shocking as it is at times ordinary.

Happy Valley is the name the police use to describe this neck of the woods, around Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire. Drugs, unemployment, and the resultant crime are part of everyday life. Within this mix, we meet Catherine Cawood, a policewoman (formerly a detective) played by Sarah Lancashire. At the risk of throwing too many superlatives into this review, I believe Ms Lancashire should win a BAFTA in 2015 for her portrayal of a dedicated, often jaded, but loyal and determined copper. I *believed* her character, through her heroics, as well as her anti-heroism. Her ambivalence towards her young grandson is uncomfortable to watch, but completely understandable. It would be too easy to say that Sarah Lancashire *is* the show, but that would be unfair to some of the other fine performers, such as James Norton, George Costigan, Siobhan Finneran, and a stellar performance from Steve Pemberton, whose character, Kevin, sets off the whole mess of events which kept me breathless for the 6 episodes.

The environment - around Hebden Bridge and Halifax, in West Yorkshire - is beautiful, and the buildings appear to have grown directly out of the landscape, and while this may be an ancient environment, the problems which occupy the police all belong in the modern world. I am really hoping there will be a Series 2.

Gripping, Powerful, Tense, 100% drama at it's best

[albatosh · 10/10 · 21 May 2014]

Happy Valley......not for most of the residents! The BBC tend to (every now and then) come up with a block busting drama series. This one had (and has) me gripped to my seat from the start. Clever interaction between all the cast and 'Superb' acting on the part of every actor/actress including Corrie's Sarah Lancashire and Benidorm's Steve Pemberton. Great Yorkshire setting, the atmosphere oozes out of every brick & stone. Edge of the seat stuff, every episode ending in a cliff hanger.. Please let there be more BBC, you do have an awful habit of killing of great drama series just when everyone is hooked (e.g. Garrow's Law). Bring on season two please (writer) Sally Wainwright

Drama with a capital D

[kevinanddawnharty · 10/10 · 24 May 2014]

Absolutely incredible Drama with a capital "D". Please tell me they are talking with Sarah Lancashire about a second series.I look forward to seeing Sarah, the cast and production team at all the award ceremonies this year.BRILLIANT!! and we have only seen 4 episodes. The locations, the camera work,the wardrobe and the realistic make up all combine to give the episode such realism it is at times genuinely frightening.In my experience fear generated when watching TV comes only with groundbreaking drama of the highest order. The cast leave me breathless with admiration at such fine performances from all involved but like all great team efforts there is one shining light giving a career best performance as Catherine Cawood that is Sarah Lancashire.

Absorbing, tense, and wonderfully acted

[Red_Identity · 23 August 2014]

I expected something slow paced, in the vein of The Killing. Not at all, but it's absorbing and tense from the start, very mainstream-accessible, and always intriguing. The acting from all involved is pretty excellent, especially Sarah Lancashire. An amazing performance, one that I hope gets serious awards recognition next year. I ultimately liked this more than I expected to, it's easy to get caught up in its plot and I also think that it does a great job moving it along at a surprisingly fast pace while also having some fantastic character moments. At times it gets a bit too over-the-top in its melodrama, but it never actually fails to emotionally hit home. I'm super ecstatic that it's coming back for a second season.

Series 1 & 2 gripping, series 3 distinctly soapy.

[joachimokeefe · 7/10 · 14 February 2023]

Hebden Bridge, where this copsoap is set, is a picturesque (like a model village) hilly town prone to flooding in the northeast of England, near Halifax, set in a broad, sweeping valley, of which many admirable broad, sweeping shots are taken throughout this crime drama. Eee bah gum.

The main character is a middle-aged woman police officer who suffers from the 3-series persecution of a nutcase who fathered a heavily-eyebrowed son by her daughter. Adorably, Sarah Lancashire does the turn of her life.

The first two seasons are a very engaging cop-drama with twists, turns and suspense that provide a very satisfying level of entertainment. If you watch them, you ought to find the experience enjoyable.

The third series is extremely drawn out; while there are many moments of acute and perceptive character observation, these are spaced with very slow intervals of hackneyed suspense situations familiar from many cop dramas of the past. It doesn't help that the two main sister characters both appeared in 'Coronation Street'. The whole six-episode thing could have been done in an hour.

Happy Valley is well formulated to keep you watching to the end; and in the end no real harm is done to Sgt. Cawood's spacious, colourful, expensive kitchen - but nor do you see the come-uppance of the murderous non-white pharmacist, whose story is actually more engaging than the main plot that meanders to a banal conclusion.

Series 1 & 2 excellent, series 3 drawn out, dreary, and droopy.

Season 3 review

[rj-96851 · 5/10 · 2 July 2023]

After the 1st two seasons I searched, watched and anticipated Season 3. Great writing, acting, and story telling. Sadly, it doesn't live up to the first two seasons. There are dangling story lines that are casually wrapped up, with little explanation. The alternative story of the pharmacist, the soccer coach, etc. Is concluded with a weak explanation. Why include all that if you're not going to follow through with a dramatic finish? Tommy Lee's death is summed up via a text message? The whole thing needed a good finish. I've recommended HV to my friends but that won't happen anymore. It seems to be one of those shows that should have left well enough alone.

It can only be a 10

[simevo-20093 · 10/10 · 1 February 2023]

I don't understand how anyone who has watched this show can rate it anything else but a 10.

Quite simply it is a masterclass in efficient, involving, gripping, emotive, thrilling storytelling.

The acting, partic from Ms Lancashire, but also the rest of the accomplished ensemble is absolutely top notch.

Sally Wainwright, alongside RTD is the finest writer of her generation and one of the best the UK has ever produced.

No cash cow grabbing. They waited for 7 years before the final season, just to the child actor could grow up and the storyline could be believable. They didn't try to fit in another useless 6 seasons in the interim. They had a vision for the story from the start, and delivered only that over 9 years and 18 episodes.

Astounding tv.

Wonderful writing,great performances.TV drama at its best.

[ianlouisiana · 10/10 · 13 May 2014]

One day Mr S.Pemberton will be recognised for the superb actor that he is.In "Benidorm" he plays the outwardly crass Garvey paterfamilias as a completely believable bloody - minded Manc,but his performance slowly reveals him to be a loving husband and father frustrated by his inability to articulate his emotions. From "The League of Gentlemen" to "Inside No.9" he has displayed the ability to act and perform comedy outside the box and in "Happy Valley" he has reached a new level as an embittered accountant who conceives a plan to hold his boss's daughter for ransom after being refused a pay rise.He passes the plan on to a local villain then finds his boss has changed his mind. Horror - stricken,he goes to the local nick where he meets sympathetic Sgt Cawood(the equally inspired Miss S.Lancashire),but runs off before she can get the truth out of him. Sgt Cawood has what you might call "issues" as her daughter committed suicide after giving birth to a child as a result of rape.Incidentally,she is buried in a graveyard near Sylvia Plath.Not surprisingly the child has "issues" too as does Sgt Cawood's sister(The mighty Miss S Finneran - Mrs Garvey in "Benidorm" -who is a recovering heroin addict. But please don't think that "Happy Valley" is a drama that disappears up it's own self - pitying bottom because all the women are too tough for that particular cliché to apply. Instead they front it out as the rapist is released from prison,gets a job with the local bad guy who is engineering the kidnapping and proceeds to rape the victim. Miss Lancashire is the best,toughest and cleverest female cop since Miss Frances McDormand in "Fargo".It would never surprise me if in the end she didn't feed the rapist into a woodchipper.I certainly don't fancy his chances of staying alive,let alone free. What with "Happy Valley" and the female - led "The Crimson Field",the BBC are leading TV drama out of its male - dominated somewhat patriarchal comfort - zone and giving us some real warts and all portraits of women who are not content to make tea and cakes while hubby rides home on the 4.55.from Victoria.

As good as Telly can get.

[cliffmacdev · 10/10 · 25 August 2014]

I have just finished watching the series and I must clarify now. I am a cynical person just looking to find fault with television or film.

I am very careful about what I allow into my head. This has to be about as good a television series as can possibly be. I do not even own a television. Watched via Netflix.

I live in America and the tripe that's dispensed, made me give up my telly. I grew up in England and maybe biased since I really haven't seen anything to compare with British TV. In America in my opinion there is Aaron Sorkin's The Newsroom and The West Wing and David Kelly's Boston Legal. That is comparable to Happy Valley. Different shows but brilliant quality.

Happy Valley has flawless acting, direction, score if that's the right term, script, pace,delivery, essentially perfect. Whether this is as a result of great casting, direction or simply brilliant actors, I haven't a clue. I am also an unemotional person and I really cannot see how television can get better. It's restored my faith somewhat, not enough to buy a TV but to realize that it can be that good.

Just really pucker!

Simply the Best

[jdhb-768-61234 · 10/10 · 3 December 2022]

The original "Happy Valley" six-parter has to be the best, or at least the best I've ever seen, police dramas series. The story is brilliant, the casting, acting and direction superb and the absence of 'background dramatic music' is a God send which adds so much to the overall ambience. Viewers are actually able to hear the dialogue and aren't distracted by the annoyance of entirely unnecessary noise which does nothing to enhance the drama, in fact, it diminishes it.

Sarah Lancashire is phenomenal in her lead role and it's hard to believe that anyone could have been betteras she tries to deal with the horrors of her past while carrying out her duties of the present. In the rest of the cast, James Norton exudes menace as the main villain, while Steve Pemberton and Joe Armstrong are utterly believable as the ill-matched baddies. Siobhan Finneran is wonderful and so realistic as the understated sister, trying desperately to deal with her own demons while also supporting her police sergeant sibling. The rest of the cast, including Rhys Connahr as young Ryan who is the epitomy of a child who simply doesn't understand what's going on, is just perfect.

I defy anyone to watch this series and not be afected by the raw emotions of the story, not to be drawn in and wonder how they might react in similar, or even remotely similar, circumstances. This is Sally Wainwright at her very, very best, supported by a cast at the very top of their game.

Absolutely fantastic series, brilliant throughout. 10 out of 10 is the least I can give it.

A dark drama

[Tweekums · 10/10 · 3 June 2014]

Kevin Weatherill is an ordinary man doing an ordinary job as an accountant; he is not happy man though; he wants to send his daughter to a private school but his boss refuses to give him a raise. When he sees that another client is dealing drugs he comes up with a plan… he will get this man to kidnap his boss's daughter and use the ransom to pay the school fees. This man agrees and the plan is set in motion. Keven later changes his mind but by now it is too late… the girl is about to be kidnapped by a couple of men; including the thoroughly unpleasant ex-con Tommy Lee Royce. Royce is already known to the police; most notably Sgt Catherine Cawood; Royce raped her daughter leaving her pregnant but nothing could be proved. Following her daughter's suicide she is determined that Royce will get nowhere near her grandson and hopes to put him back in gaol as soon as possible… she doesn't know about his latest offence though; nobody has reported the kidnap to the police… an inaction that will have fatal consequences.

When I started watching this I was expecting an English 'Fargo'; dark but still a bit funny… well it was dark but there were few laughs; there weren't intended to be. Sarah Lancashire does a great job as Sgt Cawood and James Norton is genuinely disturbing as Royce. The rest of the cast are pretty solid too; most notably Steve Pemberton, who plays Weatherill; a man getting in over his head then blaming everybody but himself for the consequences of his actions, and George Costigan who plays Nevison Gallagher; father of the kidnapped girl. The story was gripping from start to finish with some shocks along the way and right up to the end I was unsure whether we'd get a happy conclusion or a tragic one. Overall I'd say that this was one of the best TV dramas I've watched for some time; it is well worth watching.

Excellent not since Breaking Bad has a series been so addictive.

[david-fernandez · 10/10 · 11 March 2016]

Here I am in Spain and I'm watching this in original English (we got the option to switch to either language here at the press of a button) and I am extremely impressed, the writing, the acting, the grittiness of it all.

Sarah Lancashire gives an Oscar like performance as the good cop trying her best in a world full of potholes and bad people, who would have thought that the brassy bar maid from Coronation Street could have pulled a role off so well ? You may think that the show is exaggerated i.e. how can so many gruesome things occur in such a small rural town in the North of England ? well remember the general area is quite close to Greater Manchester so think again and the real life Yorkshire Ripper was from around that county so it's not beyond the realms of possibility. I take my hat off to all those involved is this great production. I just cannot stop watching it !!

Point-on-point representation of life in West Yorkshire

[hazzahx · 10/10 · 16 September 2015]

I saw the trailer for this series thinking it would be your average BBC attempt at making yet another piece of sh*t crime drama, but upon watching the first episode I was amazed by how similar it is to my life in Halifax. Drugs are everywhere, everyone is doing them or has a relative who is, alike our main character Catherine with her druggie of a sister, I myself have several druggie relatives that are woven deep into the crime underworld of West Yorkshire, I love how accurate this show is and hope that the next season is just as good, I have no problems with this show whatsoever and only wish that it's next season has a deeper insight into life in the valley and how Drugs play such a key role in many peoples lives around here.

Stunning UK cop drama

[wrxsti54 · 9/10 · 9 April 2023]

Happy Valley is simply one of the very best British police dramas and there is a lot of high quality competition. There are a series of unique factors that come together to make this such a gritty and compelling series.

First is the location - shot in the grim valleys of West Yorkshire around rural Hebden Bridge near Bradford, Halifax and Leeds which is unlike the more urban or picturesque locations often used in UK cops shows. The dreary weather, the working class cast, the ubiquitous thick Yorkshire accents and the economic struggles of the former coal mining area are front and centre.

Second is the fact that the central character, Police Sergeant Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire), is a rank and file cop and not a more glamourous Detective is a major departure from normal British police show casting. The tough daily routine of the uniformed constables she leads and not the murder investigations of the CID is what is mostly shown on screen.

Third is the elongation of the gap between series 2 and 3 done deliberately around the other central character, that of Cath Cawood's grandson Ryan (Rhys Connah). Rhys was 8 and 10 in the first two series but the plot lines and subject matter of Series 3 needed to be filmed around the reactions and impact on a mid-adolescent boy and so the writer and director Sally Wainwright waited 6 years for the character of Ryan to grow from a child to a near adult sized teenager and the impact of this decision adds a fantastic and realistic dimension to the story line.

Finally is the ending of the show in Episode 6 of Season 3 (as it is clear there will be no more seasons), which features a stunningly intense climactic encounter between Sergeant Cawood and the other central character psychopathic killer (and father of Ryan) Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton) that rewrites all the norms of every preceding police drama of this type in a most satisfying and dramatic way.

Happy Valley has it all, fabulous dark and brooding locations, tough and gritty working class Yorkshire realism, superb and award winning acting from a stellar cast of veterans and newcomers like young Rhys Connah and a plot line that is taut, compelling, intense and gripping. In a country renowned for its incredible quality police dramas, Happy Valley is a true standout.

Diction, diction, diction!

[DLDbills · 7/10 · 19 May 2023]

I enjoyed this series. It has a great story line (albeit without much suspense), fine actors and good pacing (except the "tie up all the loose ends" in the last episode). My intense frustration was my inability to clearly understand the lead character and to a lesser extent, a couple of other main characters. It's not the accent (I'm American), as most of the actors were easily understandable. It's the mumbly, poor enunciation without enough volume. I don't appreciate having to turn son closed captions for a program in English.

I would have rated it higher if I could have simply enjoyed the show without working so hard to understand the lead, and having to do frequent rewinds to catch the dialogue.

A side note to all the reviewers who complain about "man bashing" - this is a police procedural! Most crime, especially violent crime, is committed by men, who also represent the vast majority of the incarcerated population. Watch other genres if you want to see more "good dad" characters.

Great acting by principal characters but....

[dlxmarshall · 5/10 · 28 January 2023]

A very weak plot and supporting actors. Also it would have been better condensed into four episodes as too much tiresome padding. I appreciate I am going against the grain in this opinion but approached it on recommendations and really tried to enjoy it. Main actors do a good job and the script is decent (am not commenting on the criticism of the feminist rationale as frankly I don't think that's an issue).

So I am sure most people will love it. I thought it to be a little self satisfied and lazy. That being said the lead actress is brilliant, the rest lest less so but still worth a watch to see if it is your thing.

Update: watched second two seasons. More of the same but worse. This really is average at best. It's neither a social drama nor a cop show (many many better examples of both out there). Plot writing gets even worse and just repeats the same formula. There's a real cult around this so assume I failed to take the correct coloured pill.

Perfect Television

[martys-6 · 10/10 · 4 January 2015]

This is without a doubt the best mini-series I have ever watched in my 77 years. Sarah Lancashire is an amazing actress and certainly deserves more attention than she has received. The rest of the cast down to those with the least screen time also give flawless performances. Normally dispassionate while watching a movie, I learned to hate the villain, which means that his performance was also amazing.

The story line is engrossing, the direction is nigh perfect. Even the music fits perfectly.

In January 2015 this series is on Netflix. Watch it, you won't be sorry.

This my first review.