Law & Order UK “Dependant” (based on the original Law & Order episode “Phobia”) provided a case that was a real wake-up call for Kate Barker. Jake Thorne had reservations about bringing on a defense barrister into the Crown Prosecution Service, and Kate’s behavior with this case seemed to prove him right. Kate’s naïveté almost cost the CPS the case when she trusted her friend – who happens to be the defense barrister – with information on tactics Jake was planning to use to prove his case. Once Kate’s breach in conduct came to light, both Jake Thorne and CPS Director Henry Sharpe erupted in outrage. (It was fun to see both Peter and Dominic have a collective conniption.) It wasn’t until DS Ronnie Brooks used his detective skills to yank out of Kate her hang-ups with the case, allowing Kate to have an epiphany and get to the bottom of the murder. Overall, the writers did a fine job this entire series in bringing a new character into the fold and giving her an interesting personality. Likewise, new DI Wes Layton (Paterson Joseph) fit in right off the bat and we’ve been given just enough of his story to be compelled to want more.
This was Paul Nicholls final episode with the series and it appears that, unlike his character’s predecessor Matt Devin, DS Cam Casey goes out with a whimper instead of a bang. I enjoyed Paul Nicholls a lot in this role and am sorry to see him go.
The one character that shines in this Law & Order UK series is Ronnie Brooks, played perfectly by Bradley Walsh. Since the beginning of Law & Order UK, Bradley (along with excellent writers) has taken Ronnie Brooks from a cookie cutter jaded Lennie Briscoe clone to a character with top notch detective skills coupled with compassion and caring for his colleagues, his family, and victims. Maybe the fact that Bradley has been with the series since day one has given his character the most depth, but I also believe that Bradley’s acting talents have lot to do with making Ronnie Brooks such a well liked and nuanced character.
Overall, “Dependent” was an interesting case that, in my opinion, improved a bit on the original. Giving Kate the chance to redeem her massive screw up with the case hopefully will give her the opportunity to bring some trust back into her working relationship with Jake and Henry. It was a perfect close to series 7.
Here is the recap:
Cast:
Bradley Walsh - DS Ronnie Brooks
Paul Nicholls - DS Sam Casey
Paterson Joseph - DI Wes Leyton
Dominic Rowan - Jacob Thorne
Georgia Taylor - Kate Barker
Peter Davison - Henry Sharpe
Guest stars:
Kelly Gough - Jen Fallows
Josh O'Connor - Rob Fallows
Nicola Sanderson - Soco Joy Ackroyd
Adam Astill - Gareth Wilks
Jessica Gunning - Angela
Lee Whitlock - Dean Carter
Glynis Barber - Sue Pendle
Ashley Bannerman -Lisa Longwood
Leila Mimmack - Ruth Pendle
Stuart Organ - Aaron Walker
Adrian Christopher - Police officer
Elliot Knight - Neil Jenkins
Lucas Hare - Custody Sergeant
Raquel Cassidy - Lydia Smythson
Christopher Colquhoun - Andrew Lintin
Gillian McCutcheon - Judge Blake
Anniwaa Buachie - Clerk
A young couple, arguing as they walk near St. Anne’s Estate, stumble upon a man’s dead body. Later, with DS Ronnie Brooks, DS Sam Casey, and Joy from the forensics team on the scene, they find that the dead man, Richard Peters, has bruises on the back of his hand, a cut on his lip, and a blow to the head. The young couple didn’t see anyone. They also find there is an empty pram on the scene – and the baby bottle is still warm. Ronnie also hopes that the baby is.
Later, at M.I.U. in interrogations, Ronnie and Sam speak with Gareth Wilks, the partner of Richard Peters and parents of young Leo, and ask about the details of Rick’s usual day. Gareth and Rick fostered Leo when he was 4 months old and applied to adopt. His biological mother was a drug addict. Gareth gives them a photo of Leo and explains Leo needs seizure medication twice a day for epilepsy.
Afterwards, Ronnie, Sam, and DI Wes Leyton watch CCTV footage from the area where Peters was murdered. They see a van enter, and Angela explains it belong to Dean Carter, who has a previous for assault and theft. Ronnie notes that a Carl Simpson was jointly charged at the time, and he also was charged for possession of indecent child images. Ronnie wonders if Dean and Ronnie had a shared interest, and Wes tells them he wants patrol teams looking out for the van and wants no high speed chases in case Dean has Leo.
Sometime later, Ronnie and Wes leave M.I.U. as the van was spotted by a uniform at Borough Market and it looks like it is stopping. Ronnie explains that Sam is at the north side of the river with his team just in case the guy makes a break across the bridge. As Wes moves for the driver’s side of his car and ask if Ronnie is going with him, Ronnie comments that Wes is driving and Wes replies “Yes, I’m gonna drive.”
At Borough Market, Ronnie and Wes wait in the car and Ronnie radios the other units to ask if they are in position. Wes says they are ready to go and Ronnie orders the other cars to move in. They do so and police cars race in to block off the van. Ronnie asks Dean to open the van and when Dean asks if they have a warrant, Wes says they have a missing kid and he doesn’t need one. Wes opens the back door of the van – but there is no Leo inside.
Later, Dean is at M.I.U. in interrogation, and he denies knowing anything about a missing kid. Ronnie gets information from Angela and then tells Dean his friend Mr. Turner confirmed he was there to visit him at the flat. Turner also explained Dean was offloading stolen goods. Ronnie continues to press on the issue and about the missing child, and when Dean asks for a deal, Ronnie curtly explains it is not a good day to deal with him. Dean sighs and explains there was a bloke and a bird standing outside on the street, they were there when he drove in and drove out. She was white and he was black, both in their late 20s. He did not see them enter the flats. Dean asks if he can go, and Wes replies of course he can – as soon as he charges him.
Afterwards, Wes complains about the amount of time they spend on Dean Carter. Ronnie calls him over to see a CCTV video showing a lorry being followed past the gates by a white woman and black man. They did not see them leave as there are no CCTV camera over the exit gate. Wes suggests to see if Gareth Wilks recognizes them.
They speak with Gareth and show him the photos of the woman and he identifies her as Ruth Pendle, Leo’s biological mother, but he has never seen the man before. He says the last time they saw Ruth, Leo was still in their foster care and as soon as they adopted, they cut contact. When Ronnie asks if Gareth has an idea where to find Ruth, he suggest Ruth’s mum.
Later, Ronnie and Sam speak with Sue Pendle, who hasn’t heard from Ruth since she left rehabilitation 3 months ago. She had been in there on and off since Leo went into care. Sue paid for her to go into the best place and get the best help but Ruth could not stay clean. Ruth idolized her father, who was a genius. Then he had an affair with someone not much older than her and Ruth started failing her exams. Sue found out too late someone at college gave Ruth cocaine to help her stay awake. Sue feels she should have spotted it but didn’t – not until she told her she was pregnant. She had progressed to heroin by then. When Leo was born, he had to be weaned off it. She refused to tell Sue the name of Leo’s father. She suggests to try Ruth’s roommate from rehab, they were inseparable.
At the home of Lisa Longwood, a persistent Ronnie gets Lisa to open the door and when she does so the officer pushes his way in. Lisa is evasive about Ruth Pendle. When Ronnie mentions he has a missing boy and does not have time for games, Ruth steps out and identifies herself and asks if Leo is missing.
Later, Ruth is in M.I.U. interrogation as Ronnie questions her about why she was at the flat where Richard Peters was killed. She denies being there but Sam continues to press the issue. She continues to deny involvement and Ronnie and Sam explain Leo’s illness and his need for medication. She thinks they are lying to get her to tell them where Leo is. Ronnie mentions they found a business card she had for a solicitor and asks why she would need one, and she thinks it is none of their business. Ronnie says they will ask him and when Ruth says her solicitor is not allowed to say anything, Ronnie counters that those rules tend to get forgotten when a child’s life is at stake. She stares back at them and says nothing.
At the office of Aaron Walker, Ronnie and Sam explain the situation and Ronnie presses. Walker explains that Ruth was seeking advice on how to overturn the adoption – it is impossible for Ruth but not for the father of the child, who was not identified on the birth certificate and therefore he can contest it. He knows the father’s name, and Ronnie continues to explain the urgency of the matter. Walker caves and says the father is Neil Jenkins and he doesn’t have a contact address for him. Ronnie curtly thanks him and he and Sam move to leave.
At M.I.U. Central Headquarters, Ronnie and Sam again press Ruth on Neil’s whereabouts, and she says she hasn’t seen him since she became pregnant. Sam points out the man in the CCTV photo with her, and Ruth remains silent. Sam explains there are 126 Neil Jenkins in London and the length of time it would take to go through them all and the time wasted which puts Leo at risk. Ruth replies if she tells them where Leo is, social services will never let he see him again. She swears she is clean of drugs and she did that for Leo, he is the only thing her life is worth living for. Ronnie shows her information from web forums on parents with children with epilepsy and the issues they must deal with. Ronnie explains Leo’s adoptive parents have been giving him regular medication but Ruth thinks it will not hurt him for a few days. Sam gives an example of how this is a dangerous assumption. Ruth cries about missing Leo and wanting to be with him, but Ronnie gently continues to pressure her. Ruth asks if they promise to look after him and Ronnie promises. She says to tell him his mummy loves him, and Leo is with his dad at 36 Garston Court. Sam races off and Ronnie tells Ruth she did the right thing.
At the home of Neil Jenkins on Garston Court, there is no answer at Neil’s door so Ronnie has them break down the door. Neil and Leo are not there, but an officer says a man with a boy has been spotted on the roof. Ronnie tells him to get there as quick as they can.
They get to the roof and Neil and Leo are there. Ronnie talks to Neil to try to calm him. Ronnie explains Leo’s illness and that Ruth did not know. Ronnie continues to gently press Neil to turn Leo over to him and do the right thing for Leo and not for himself, as that is what good dads are all about, putting themselves second.
Afterwards, Sam and Ronnie exit the building, with Ronnie carrying Leo to a very happy Gareth. Sam explains the paramedics will taken them to hospital to check Leo over. Gareth sees Neil being taken away and asks if that is who killed Rick, and Ronnie tells him to leave that to them.
