The Three Seasons of 'Happy Valley'

American audiences were first introduced to the acclaimed Yorkshire-set gritty police drama Happy Valley via Netflix which aired Season 1. Those early viewers and reviewers on social media and elsewhere generally agreed with the gushing praise about the series from UK viewers – yes, the show is that good, and it's stood the test of time, with three seasons airing between 2014–2023.

The second series, and the first presented by PBS Masterpiece, saw police sergeant Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) and her colleagues investigate the human trafficking that has taken a hold in the Calder Valley of West Yorkshire. With it, a string of prostitutes have become the victims of a vicious serial killer. Catherine has a soft spot for at-risk young women and makes it her mission to protect them; perhaps because she couldn’t save her daughter Becky ten years ago.

Catherine's troubled but loving family includes her sister and former drug addict Clare (Siobhan Finneran) and her challenging grandson Ryan (Rhys Connah) who both live with her. Catherine’s son Daniel (Karl Davies) also starts bunking at his mum’s place after his wife unceremoniously kicks him out of the house.