Finally, Line Of Duty has returned to our screens, and doesn’t it feel good to have AC-12 back in our lives?
It’s been a long two-year wait, but Jed Mercurio did not disappoint as his Bodyguard predecessor – and his arguably better series (don’t @ us) – began its fifth series on Sunday night.
Hastings, Arnott and Flemming were back in action as they delved deeper into the organised crime group we discovered were operating at the end of the last series, who are headed up by the corrupt figure from within the police force, known only as “H”.
But as with any episode of Line Of Duty, there were plenty of moments where you thought you knew what was going on, only for a shock development to turn everything completely on its head (how could you, Maneet?).
With that in mind, here’s the burning questions we’ve been left asking this week...
Why did Lisa really spare PC Cafferty’s life?
If McQueen is not the undercover officer in the gang, it made no sense that she didn’t kill PC Cafferty. Could it be that Cafferty is actually an insider working with the gang, or could McQueen also be an undercover cop like Corbett?
Or did McQueen simply know Cafferty was a mother and didn’t want to leave her kids without a mum?
Has Arnott developed an addiction to painkillers?
It has been a significant period of time since the last series when Arnott was left in a wheelchair after being thrown down some stairs. However, we saw that he is still struggling with his back, before taking tablets to control the pain.
Was this scene included to show that he has developed an addiction to cope with his issues, or was it to plant the idea in that his injuries could resurface at an inconvenient point in the story?
Was Hilton really “H”?
After Maneet’s confession to supplying ACC Hilton with AC-12 information in order to protect her cousin, Malhotra, Hastings told the rest of the department it was enough to finally conclude that Hilton was the mysterious figure of “H” who has been heading up the organised crime gang.
Flemming wasn’t exactly convinced by the explanation, though, seemingly thinking Hastings could be involved. Is she on to something?
Why has Hastings split from his wife?
He was revealed to be living in a budget hotel, unable to pay his rising bill. But what happened in his personal life to lead him to this point? And could his dire financial situation and impending divorce lead (or have already led) him into corruption?
Who put the microchip in Maneet’s burner phone?
Was it Corbett as part of his undercover operation? Was it McQueen? Or was it Maneet, in an attempt to come good?
Has Corbett become corrupt since going undercover?
He let a number of officers die in the heist and also apparently ordered the attempt on Maneet’s life, after believing she was attempting to pass information on the gang’s operation back to AC-12.
These aren’t exactly the actions of an honourable cop who should be limiting the loss of life in the undercover operation. Given his handler, Supt Powell, admitted she hadn’t heard from him in months, has he gone rogue?
If McQueen is not the undercover officer, what it she up to?
She is clearly uncomfortable with the things the gang are up to, and had a panic attack when the writing was on the wall for Maneet, plus she also spared PC Cafferty. Is she simply a woman who has gotten herself in too deep into the world of crime, or is it possible she could be a second undercover cop, unaware of Corbett’s real identity?
Either way, we’re still going to be watching her character very closely.
Is Maneet dead?
Well, she did have her throat sliced, and the series trailer also showed forensics arriving at that location, so it’s not exactly looking good, is it?
Line Of Duty continues next Sunday at 9pm on BBC One.