Everything you need to know about new BBC drama Better
All episodes are available on the BBC iPlayer
If you're still grieving over the loss of Happy Valley, don't worry as BBC bosses have a brand new gritty drama for fans to get their teeth into, in the form of Better.
The five-part thriller arrived on BBC One on Monday 13th February, with fans extremely excited to binge the drama which features a stellar cast including Leila Farzad and Andrew Buchan.
After fans were torn over the first episode, here's everything you need to know about Better.
What is Better about?
Featuring Leila Farzad as DCI Lou Slack, and Andrew Buchan as Col McHugh, Better is 'a thrilling redemption story.'
BBC say of the new drama: 'When her beloved son almost dies, a corrupt police detective has a painful moral awakening and decides to put right 20 years of wrongdoing.
'We follow DI Lou Slack’s epic battle towards redemption, by bringing down Col McHugh; the man she has come to love like a brother and the man she has helped place at the head of Leeds criminal underworld.
'But while Col is a dangerous enemy to make, Lou’s biggest battle may yet be with herself.'
Trailer for Better:
A 42-second-long trailer was released for the new series in January, with main character DCI Slack saying: "70 per cent of the cocaine in the city flows through him", as Col McHugh's face appears on the screen.
When did Better start?
The brand new series kicked off at 9pm on Monday 13th February.
How can I watch Better?
Better will air on BBC One every Monday night at 9pm, with all episodes also available to binge watch now on the BBC iPlayer.
Where was Better filmed?
The drama was set and filmed in and around Leeds city centre, and nearby locations in West Yorkshire.
Speaking about why they decidded to base the show in Leeds, writer and executive prodcuer Jonathan Brackley said: "It was very important for us to set it somewhere with its own distinct identity. Somewhere that could become sort of a character, a part of the show in its own right. Sam: Our executive producer Jane Featherstone has connections to Leeds, and so she suggested it, and it was just perfect. It's such a vibrant, cosmopolitan, interesting characterful city.
"Once we decided to set it in Leeds, it was about opening the whole thing up to as many cast and crew members as we could find to imbue it with that authentic flavour of the place."
Who is in the cast of Better?
As well as main characters Leila Farzad and Andrew Buchan, Better has a stellar cast, including Emmerdale actress Charley Webb, and Peaky Blinders star Samuel Edward-Cook.
See the full list of cast members and their characters below:
DI Lou Slack: Leila Farzad
Col McHugh: Andrew Buchan
Ceri: Samuel Edward-Cook
Owen: Zak Ford-Williams
Esther: Olivia Nakintu
Vernon: Anton Lesser
Sandy: Lucy Black
Donal: Ceallach Spellmam
Bulgey: Garry Cooper
Lord Roy: Mark Monero
Noel: Kaya Moore
Alma: Carolin Stoltz
Phil: Gavin Spokes
Lynne: Julie Edwards
DS Khan: Junade Khan
DC Ibbotson: Anthony Lewis
Zaara Slack: Souad Faress
Artem: Mor Bar-El
Elise: Charley Webb
Juliet: Kate Rutter
Joelon: Joseph Steyne
Jade: Tillie Amartey
Mahmet: Diyar Bozkurt
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WARNING: The below content features some MAJOR spoilers.
What happens in episode 1 of Better?
Leeds-based Detective Inspector Louisa ‘Lou’ Slack has a dark secret. Though everyone else sees an upstanding citizen and accomplished police officer, few of them know that for the last twenty years, she has been in the pocket of Leeds’s pre-eminent drug trafficker, Col McHugh; the two have used each other to climb up the ranks in their respective careers, becoming close friends and confidants in the process. When Lou’s son Owen falls critically ill, she undergoes a moral awakening. Lou sets about making amends for her years of wrongdoing. However, she soon realises that to change her ways she may have to work against Col, potentially putting herself in danger.
What happens in episode 2 of Better?
Lou invites further suspicion when she fails to warn Col about a police raid in time, so Col decides to test her, unaware that Lou is considering quitting the force altogether. Owen finally returns home from the hospital to face a new normal and joins a support group, while Lou and Esther make a shocking discovery during the raid. Col’s suppliers cannot increase their shipment of drugs to him, slowing down his plans for expansion. Unable to decide how to stop working for Col, Lou tracks down an old colleague of her father for advice but puts herself in a potentially compromising position.
What happens in episode 3 of Better?
Col’s latest attempt to procure an additional supply of drugs comes up short, while Lou decides not to quit her job, instead joining a taskforce targeting Col. Determined to come up with a viable plan to take Col down, Lou and Vernon’s efforts backfire, potentially triggering a gang war. Col, relentless in his desire to grow his empire, prepares to take up arms. Lou rushes to offer a last-ditch alternative to war that threatens to blow her cover completely. Meanwhile, Owen and Donal grow ever closer. Ceri, now aware Lou is actively working against Col, issues Lou with an ultimatum if she ever puts him or Owen in danger. Esther’s frustrations with her job lead to an increased curiosity about Lou’s unorthodox style of policing.
What happens in episode 4 of Better?
Following Lou’s confession to Esther, Lou goes for a last-ditch attempt to bring Col down potentially compromising her - but things do not go exactly as she hoped. Owen and Donal take an impromptu trip together and their relationship reaches a head while Lou and Col have a heated argument about the morality of Col’s line of work. Owen continues to be frustrated by his parents’ insistence on keeping things from him. Feeling powerless, Ceri resorts to drastic action in order to defend his family. Bulgey decides to take matters into his own hands.
What happens in episode 5 of Better?
Lou tries to start afresh at her job and tries to live a good life by other means but is stymied by her own lingering guilt and Col’s continuing freedom. In search of deeper understanding, she pays her estranged mother a visit. Lord Roy seizes an opportunity to consolidate his position at the top of Col’s organisation and seeks revenge for his friend’s death. Unable to let this pass, Lou lures Col out for a fateful meeting, and the true path to her redemption is finally revealed.
Better airs at 9pm every Monday night on BBC One.
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