'Grantchester' Season 6 Finale: A Measure of Peace
It's been a dramatic season of Grantchester after the show's year away. From the drama of Leonard's jail sentence and the arrival of a new curate to Geordie's past showing up to haunt him, the season finale has many loose ends to tie up. But one thing it cannot do is change history. Despite Will's bravado speeches, the Church of England is not going to suddenly about-face on the current indecency laws, which will not be overturned for another decade. (Or at least until next season on Call The Midwife.) Moreover, Will is in trouble, and the Bishop plans to do a check-in visit due to Henry's tattling.
Leonard: Mrs. C's a right of passage. We have similar things in prison. You'll come out stronger.
Facing the loss of his job, Will turns to Geordie and police work, riding along when a domestic call comes in, one that asked for Det. Keating specifically. It's the house of music producer Gene Daltry (Tristan Gemmill), whose superstar jazz singer wife Rita (Michelle Greenidge) sports a black eye he insists she got from tripping down the stairs. Gene's friend Dr. Harvey (Gordon Kennedy) is ready to sweep it under the rug, dosing Rita with sleeping pills. The poor maid Dorie (Nneka Okoye) knows the truth, and given the opportunity to return his hat, she slips Geordie a message from Rita: Johnny's business card.
Richards is Rita's lawyer and told her to ask for Geordie. But he knows this isn't a situation for the police or the courts. Rita is Black; her chances of justice against her wealthy white husband are nil. Johnny wants the Daltry alarm system details, which links directly to the station, so he can help her make a run for it. Geordie gives him a glimpse at the records, an utterly illegal move, but only the eagle-eyed Miss Scott notices.
The following day, Gene is dead of a gunshot in what looks like a staged break-in. When Rita breaks down under questioning, Johnny's affections for her become unavoidably apparent. Occam's razor says Johnny's guilty, which he admits after Will leaves to take Rita home. Worse, Geordie's technically an accomplice by giving him the information. But Dr. Harvey seems ready to step into Gene's controlling shoes when Will walks her in, pointing to another suspect. He gathers glasses from Dorie to know if he drugged Gene. It's a get out of jail free card, should Geordie decide to pursue it, but he does not.
When Will is perplexed at Geordie's behavior, Miss Scott reveals she saw him slip Johnny the alarm information. Meanwhile, Geordie spent the night sleeping in the church, having gone there dead drunk. Henry finds him, and when Keating refuses to unburden himself, Henry proves he's been paying attention and goes to find Will. When Will discovers Georide's not at home, Cathy is furious it took this long to start asking questions, especially after the anniversary party. But when she accidentally uses the exact phrase Amelia used to say to cover up Will's father beating her, it's a hard trigger, sending Will after Geordie in a rage. But Geordie merely wilts under the aggression.
Geordie confesses he technically was the last survivor in Burma; Johnny was taken to be executed the morning the Americans liberated their camp. But Geordie blamed himself for praying they would kill Johnny, and the guilt is killing him. But he must arrest his friend and face the consequences. But it turns out Will's hunch about the sleeping pills was correct. But it wasn't the doctor; it was Rita, who realized Gene had stolen her money. She faked the black eye to convince Johnny to take the fall after rewriting Gene's will. When Will comes charging in, Rita admits she did it and pulls a gun. Johnny sees her about to pull the trigger and dives for it, saving Will's life. But he's still under arrest for conspiracy.
While all this is going on, Leonard has found a new life working as the de facto prison Chaplin after last week's adventure He might no longer wear a collar, but watching him lead these men through bible study makes him seem every inch a vicar. Moreover, his good deeds will be rewarded. His sentence has been commuted for solving Elroy's murder. he walks out of prison a free man, with Jack sitting outside, ready to pick him up and take him home. He's even got a present in the back seat, but it's not refreshments, but Daniel, ecstatic to see Leonard again and take him home for cinnamon buns and tea.
And just in time too. Mrs. C. went on the warpath against Henry for ratting out Will to the Bishop. Leonard steps in and halts her in her tracks, reminding her that he, Sidney, and Will weren't perfect boys when they started at the parish; she'll grow to love Henry too. He also talks to Henry and helps him see that Will's obsession with police work is genuinely a part of his ministry. When the Bishop arrives ready to issue pink slips, Henry talks him down, standing up for Will and saying this has all been a misunderstanding. As the episode ends, he and Will join forces to carry on the parish together.
Putting Johnny in a prison cell hurt Geordie, but he's ready to go home and talk. But it's too late. Going home isn't possible, at least not yet. Cathy hands him his suitcase, telling him she needs the time apart, promising to tell the kids it's only temporary, at least for now. Season 7 will start with Geordie once again separated from his wife. At least he's got a different priest to help him through it this time.
