The greatest Irish drama of all time?
The one Irish TV show which captured the imagination of the vast majority of the population despite Joe Duffy’s indifference to it.
Series five will live long in the memory and to many, it was the best series so far. We take a look back at some of the most memorable scenes from the last series.
1. Nidge and Patrick falling out
Nidge had an unholy alliance with Patrick the pipe-bomb maker. Things went sour though when Nidge tried to have him shot after fearing he would reveal Nidge’s dark secret about Fran’s wife’s murder. Nidge tries to buy a truce with Patrick, but he declines telling him he should keep the money for a headstone.
2. Fran finding out about Nidge’s role in his wife’s death
As mentioned above, Patrick eventually tells Fran who really killed his wife Linda. It spells the end for the Nidge/Fran axis of evil and his demented rage is as scary as it is brilliant.
3. Fran in prison fighting three lads and taking out someone’s eye.
Nobody is safe from the long reach of Nidge and even though Fran is in prison, he is in no way safe. He is set upon by three individuals in his cell and although outnumbered, he manages to fend them off with a weapon he has made. It’s a very bloody, violent scene culminating in one of his attackers losing an eye.
4. Paulie’s fall to his death
Paulie was the big new character in series five. He was the nephew of Terence Big Balls and sent to keep an eye on Nidge in Dublin. He quickly makes his presence felt by intimidating Nidge and having a very passionate affair with Siobhan. There is that brilliant scene when you think he has sussed Siobhan’s betrayal to the Guards, but falls to his death almost immediately.
5. Patrick’s harrowing scene involving a speech and subsequent killing of the man who shot his son
In a botched attempt on his life, Patrick captures the perpetrator and keeps him locked up in a shed. There then follows an absolutely enthralling scene involving Patrick and his would-be assassin as he pleads for his life. Absolutely riveting stuff and John Connors is spellbinding in it.
6. Fran’s shower scene
This was probably the most controversial and talked about scene in the entire series. An incredibly disturbing, harrowing scene involving an attack and vicious sexual assault on Fran in the prison showers. It’s a scene not for the faint-hearted.
7. Siobhan and Nidge being shot by Patrick
The big finale had everything. Slow-motion, unbelievable tension and two of the biggest names in the show being shot. Patrick wreaks his revenge on Nidge by shooting both his niece Siobhan and of course the main man himself, Nidge. The shooting of Nidge was particularly harrowing as it is all done in full view of the watching Trish and his son Warren.
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