
*Warning: This article contains spoilers for the finale of Happy Valley.*
Happy Valley came to a spectacular end last night, with Tommy Lee Royce burning himself on fire and Catherine Cawood finally leaving the police department.
It was a thrilling trip from start to finish, but fans are understandably clamouring for more – even if writer Sally Wainwright claims it will never happen.
One of the most pivotal moments in the last episode was when Ryan Cawood (Rhys Connah) informed the police what he knew about Tommy’s location and explained why he went to see him in prison.
Despite Catherine’s (Sarah Lancashire) worst worries that Ryan looked up to Tommy (James Norton) and would one day turn out to be a monster like his father, she was completely mistaken.
‘He’s a prince,’ she says, and she’s not wrong.
While there may be no more Happy Valley episodes, Rhys Connah has shared the event that he believes influences Ryan’s destiny outside the scope of the programme.
At the police station, he told Catherine that he felt sad for Tommy, but he knew that his father would never be the parent he desired. He belongs in jail.
After mistaking Ryan for a new police recruit, Detective Superintendent Andy Shepherd (Vincent Franklin) tells him there’s’something about him’ at the station.
‘On the day we were filming that scene, Sarah and I were talking about it. She stated that for her, that establishes how the tale will continue after the cameras have stopped running, he told RadioTimes.com.
‘This is Happy Valley’s final season. This is the finale, yet it offers context for the tale that follows, allowing us to look beyond how Season 3 finishes. And I believe Ryan would become an excellent police officer.’
Many people believe Ryan will be the key character in a future spin-off series, and Rhys isn’t the only one who believes this.
‘Did I spot a teaser for a possible future spin-off series when the Detective Superintendent says to Ryan “I thought you were a new recruit. Something about you” and Ryan gives a little smile,’ noted one viewer, while many others had the same idea.
Someone else tweeted: ‘Several years down the line when Rhys Connah is in his early twenties, there will be a spin-off series starring Ryan as an ambitious young detective, honouring his grandmother and trying to help the Tommy Lee Royces of the world.’
Sally Wainwright, on the other hand, appears to be ready to leave Happy Valley.
‘The aim arose through talks I had with Sarah to make it a three-parter, to construct a trilogy,’ she explained. We always thought this would be the final season, and it most certainly is.’
Happy Valley is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.