TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: Dark, edgy, and surprisingly suspenseful, Happy Valley dispenses some of the more oddly liberating violence on television.
Episodes
Happy Valley: Season 1 Photos
Tv Season Info
Cast
as Catherine Cawood
as Kevin Weatherill
as Tommy Lee Royce
as Lewis Whippey
as Lewis Whippey
as Ashley Cowgill
as Nevison Gallagher
Critic Reviews for Happy Valley: Season 1
All Critics (21) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (0)
Happy Valley... suggests just how much story can still be found in the life of a middle-aged, female law enforcement official, a less played-out counterpart to the grizzled, seen-it-all-detective.
In this job, I watch an awful lot of first episodes -- shows I review, deem to be awful and then avoid for the rest of their run. But I can't wait for the second part of Sally Wainwright's Happy Valley.
It was with the bad guys that Wainwright really made things interesting, and again this was achieved though the characters' carefully built-up histories.
Happy Valley is an impressive reminder of the myriad ways good writing, better acting, and, above all, a unique sense of place can make even the shaggiest story feel surprising and vital.
You know it's good when you care, and want to know what happens next.
Sarah Lancashire is perfect in the lead role and should give masterclasses in the art of understated acting.
Audience Reviews for Happy Valley: Season 1
The Happy Valley is a suspenseful drama about a stubborn policewoman uncovering an abduction plot. It was incredibly intriguing and I loved all the characters. The acting was superb, Lancashire stole the show.
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
A nice surprise coming from the UK, Happy Valley is a bit of a cross between Fargo and Breaking Bad, with dark ambitions and a very compelling lead role from Sarah Lancashire. the story is nothing new but it pulls on the heartstrings more than a couple of times, giving us touchy situations these characters live in that don't really have easy answers in the real world, and the writers treat this aspect with intelligence and elegance.
Super Reviewer
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