Unforgotten series finale
ITV Hub
I’m going to be careful with this review of the last episode of Unforgotten series four, as there may still be some viewers who have yet to watch the finale, which just aired on ITV. Frankly, they need to get their priorities right, but so be it. Of course, the penultimate episode, which went out over a week ago now, ended with one of the most stunning TV moments of the year so far when Nicola Walker’s DCI Cassie Stuart was driving home, distracted by her attempt to make amends with her father, anxiously waiting for her phone to buzz with a message or call from him, when a car smashed into hers. Let’s face it, there are only a few possible outcomes from that calamitous crash: she survives what looked like a horrendous hit-and-run and somehow makes a full recovery; she survives but ends up in some kind of critical condition – in a coma or with lasting damage that will impact her life forever; or else she actually dies. I’m aware I’m talking about Cassie as if she’s an actual person, but that’s a reflection of the incredible achievement of this show. Over the course of four superbly written and acted series, Cassie has become as multi-faceted and utterly real as any character on TV. Together with her unassuming cop partner Sunny (Sanjeev Bhaskar), Cassie’s investigations have been driven by her hatred of cruelty and violence, and her essential compassion and desire for justice. So, the idea that she might leave us now, just as the series has achieved maximum impact in terms of popularity and quality, is frankly unthinkable. One thing’s for sure – with this spectacularly emotional finale, Unforgotten has reached new heights.