After weeks of relentless hounding by the loathsome Mr Smith, Humphrey was finally forced to decide who would be leaving Shipton Abbott police station after delaying his response for as long as he feasibly could.
With time having officially run out for the DI following budget cuts, he made his way to The Hub in the penultimate episode of Beyond Paradise season 4 and approached his boss’s desk, folder in hand.
Inside was the name of the person who would be packing up their belongings and heading off on their not-so-merry way, fracturing the solid foundation the group had built together.
But there wasn’t an ounce of regret or guilt on Humphrey’s face. In fact, he looked completely at peace with his decision – even smiling (yes, smiling!) at Mr Smith, a far cry from the despondent figure he’d cut of late.
Yet, the name inside said folder wasn’t revealed to us in that moment. Before Mr Smith could open it, the episode ended – but not before the teaser for next week’s finale hinted that the detective had chosen to sacrifice himself in order to protect his colleagues and friends.
Oh Humphrey, the man that you are.
“Change can be difficult, but I’m here to help,” said Mr Smith – rather unhelpfully, ironically – as he made himself comfortable behind Humphrey’s desk, much to the dismay of the Shipton Abbot team.
“I can’t work with that Mr Smith,” groaned Kelby, visibly distressed, while Esther asked, “This can’t really be it?”
But as I wrote at the beginning of the season, this certainly isn’t “it” for Humphrey. No, it goes without saying that his detective days are obviously far from over. But the question of how everything will right itself had yet to be answered.
“Should we tell him?” Anne asks Margo, hinting that Martha’s mum has a trick up her sleeve – and one that could possibly have something to do with the dinner she invited Mr Smith to?.
Earlier in the episode, Anne invited him to join her, Humphrey and Martha for some beef Wellington and pavlova (to encourage Humphrey to build a better relationship with his boss), which he readily accepted. But before they tucked into their home-cooked grub, she ordered them all to place their phones in a box – an idea she’d picked up from a magazine – before whisking it out of the room.
Now, Anne can be eccentric, sure, but something about said action – and the timing of it – certainly raises eyebrows. Plus, in last week’s episode, she tried to inform Humphrey of some “delicate” news concerning Mr Smith, which has yet to be addressed.
So, Anne, over to you. You’ve kept your cards close to your chest, but now’s the time to play your hand.
Beyond Paradise season 4 airs on BBC One and iPlayer at 8pm on Friday.
Add Beyond Paradise to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Check out more of our Drama coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
