BBC's Better Ending Explained: Did Lou Escape the McHugh Gang?

What Was the Deal with the Maliks Gang and the Drugs War?

McHugh wanted to continue expanding his drug empire, but his supplier wouldn’t increase their shipment, so he looked for an extra source to sell him cocaine. This led him to Jimmy Erskine, who supplied the rival Malik gang in neighbouring Bradford, and when a deal was arranged between McHugh and Erskine Lou bribed a police informant to tip off detectives about the exchange. That cheeky scamp of an informant pocketed the cash and told the Maliks instead, allowing them to intercept the drug drop-off and give the poor unsuspecting McHugh gang members a right battering, which made Col want to start a drugs war in revenge. Lou realised it was going to be her fault if someone gets killed, so instead she convinced Col to let her plant drugs in the Maliks’ car, taking them off the streets and allowing him to expand into the Bradford drug scene. Win win.

What Happened Between Owen and Donal/James?

When Col began to suspect Lou’s allegiance had changed, he planted his son Donal in Owen’s support group, and they struck up a friendship so Donal (who is known to Owen as James) could extract information from him about what his mum might be up to. Donal kept out of sight of Owen’s parents, knowing they would recognise him.

Although Donal fulfilled his Dad’s wishes – and Owen told him that his parents had been fighting about whether to ‘stab their friend in the back’ was what convinced Col that Lou had turned on him – the boys’ friendship clearly became real as they spent more time together. Col instructed Donal to take Owen to a remote lake while he confronted Lou (effectively taking him hostage without him realising it), and if she didn’t cooperate, Donal was instructed to drown Owen in the lake. 

While they waited, Owen kissed Donal, who politely declined his advances – it’s actually a very sweet moment, so it’s a good job Donal then received word that he didn’t have to kill Owen after all. He took him home unharmed, but Owen’s dad spotted Donal and gave him a good kicking for taking advantage of his son. 

After this, there was no need for Donal to spy on Owen, and he’d been scared off anyway, so he didn’t return to the support group, leaving Owen confused and sad about why his friend had suddenly disappeared.

Who Was Vernon, and What Happened to Him in Prison?

Played brilliantly by Game of Thrones’ Anton Lesser, Vernon is a disgraced, corrupt ex-copper who only escaped prison by making a deal with police, but lost his career and family in the process – a sort of ‘ghost of Christmas future’ for Lou. He also worked with Lou’s dad, a former detective, and shows her that her idolised view of him wasn’t particularly accurate, and he was actually a bit of a vain tosser who took credit for other people’s work.

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