History Recap / InspectorLynleyS06E01Limbo

* CrusadingWidower: Lynley, after Helen's death.

Six months after his wife's death, Lynley is letting himself drown in the bottle. Havers’ attempts to reach out to him are unsuccessful. In the middle of this, news arrives that a child’s body has been found. The child in question is Justin Oborne, Lynley’s godson, who went missing 12 years ago on the night of his 5th birthday party.

At the request of Justin’s parents, Sam and Vivienne, Lynley goes to Rome to bring back Justin’s older sister, Julia. Julia distanced herself from her parents soon after Justin’s disappearance. Lynley persuades Julia to return, but they end up sleeping together on their first night back to London. The next morning, Lynley wakes to an ugly shock: Julia is lying dead on the pavement after a fall from the window, and he is the prime suspect. The arresting officer, DSI Michelle Tate, is determined to have Lynley convicted. It looks like Lynley's best hope is to argue that Julia committed suicide, but Lynley is instinctively sure that she didn't.

* ChekhovsGunman: The lady who stares at Lynley and Julia as they kiss in the stairwell [[spoiler: comes in very handy to establish that Lynley ''didn't'' rape Julia, contrary to DSI Tate's belief]].

* CrimeAfterCrime: [[spoiler: What started as a cover-up for manslaughter ends up being a manslaughter plus two other murders. Oh, Conrad, you ''connard''! ]]

* ExplainExplainOhCrap: Lynley and Lafferty try to reason why [[spoiler: [=McCaffrey=]]]'s confession [[TakingTheHeat isn't quite convincing]], despite the DNA results on the rubber glove showing a close match.

--> '''Lafferty''': Possible, but unlikely. I mean, if it's not his, it's a [[spoiler: close relative's]]. ''[They look at each other [[OhCrap in sudden horror]].]''
* FalseConfession: [[spoiler: [=McCaffrey=]]] tries to make one in order to [[TakingTheHeat cover-up]] for [[spoiler: Conrad]].
* GuiltByCoincidence: Someone up there must have been ''really'' pissed off with Lynley. To begin with, he is the only one in the flat when Julia falls out of the window to her death. Later, when [[spoiler: Christine]] is murdered, he suddenly remembers that his blood is on her sleeve from earlier in that afternoon, when she cleaned up an injury he had sustained. Appropriately, [[OhCrap his reaction is:]] "''[[PrecisionFStrike Shit.]]''"

* ItsAllMyFault: [[spoiler: Sam]], during his BSOD after Julia's death. An exasperated Lynley tells him that [[SarcasmMode unfortunately, it isn't]] ''[[SarcasmMode all]]'' [[SarcasmMode his fault]].
* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope: Covering up a [[spoiler: genuinely accidental death]] is morally slippery ground, but committing ''more'' murders to keep it a secret? Not so much.
* KickTheDog: Lynley is fairly beastly to poor Havers in this episode, snapping at her for no reason at all and generally being an arse the likes of which we haven't seen since the pilot episode. (Actually, he was ''kinder'' in the pilot...) Barbara takes it with what is, for her, astounding grace, always matching him shot for shot but never once giving him the sort of telling-off he truly deserves from her. The reason for this is unspoken but obvious; she is the only safe outlet he has, and if it makes him feel better to snap at her, she's going to let him.

* QuitYourWhining: Lynley takes this approach to [[spoiler: Sam]] when [[TalkingDownTheSuicidal trying to get him to see reason]]. It very nearly backfires. Interestingly, [[spoiler: Sam]]'s attitude to his personal tragedies -- which is {{Wangst}} -- arguably [[{{Foil}} shows Lynley what his own behaviour might be looking like to others]], and gives him a wake-up call.

* TalkingDownTheSuicidal: Lynley tries to do this with [[spoiler: Sam]], during the latter's BSOD. [[spoiler: Thankfully, Lynley succeeds]].
* UndyingLoyalty: Once again, Barbara's to Lynley is on full display, but that's about as much of a surprise as water being wet. The real surprise is Lafferty, who drops his [[BunnyEarsLawyer bunny ears]] and establishes himself as a sincere and devoted friend.
* VillainousRescue: [[spoiler: Conrad rescues Lynley from DI Tate's one-eyed interrogation.]]
* WhatIsEvil: How about this as a piece of philosophy from a triple-murderer?
--> [[spoiler: '''Conrad''']]: Life is binary –– sunny day, rainy day. There’s no good or evil or free will. We just react to the hand we’re given.

* WhatTheHellHero: Havers is ''not'' impressed by Lynley's method of [[SexForSolace seeking solace]], and is [[BrutalHonesty characteristically blunt]] about it. "I don't think it was your finest hour," she tells him. In response, Lynley retreats to the gents' to sulk.
* WidowerHero: Lynley, after Helen's death.

* LoveMartyr: Barbara is a platonic version in this episode. She would have been well within her rights to tell Lynley just where he could put his [[KickTheDog attitude]] toward her, but she does nothing of the kind, instead letting him rain verbal blows with about as little complaint as she's capable of. [[UndyingLoyalty She has her reasons]].

* ItsAllMyFault: [[spoiler: Sam]], during his BSOD after Julia's death. An exasperated Lynley tells him that [[SarcasmMode unfortunately, it isn't]] ''[[SarcasmMode all]]'' [[SarcasmMode his fault]].

* LoveMartyr: Barbara is a platonic version in this episode. She would have been well within her rights to tell Lynley just where he could put his [[KickTheDog attitude]] toward her, but she does nothing of the kind, letting him rain verbal blows with about as little complaint as she's capable of. [[UndyingLoyalty She has her reasons]].

* SexForSolace: Lynley, with Julia.

* AlwaysSaveTheGirl: Once again, Lynley does not give a damn about much of anything else when Barbara is in trouble.

* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope: Covering up a [[spoiler: genuinely accidental death]] is morally slippery ground, but committing ''more'' murders to keep it a secret? Not quite.

* UndyingLoyalty: Once again, Barbara's to Lynley is on full display. The real surprise is Lafferty, who drops his [[BunnyEarsLawyer bunny ears]] and establishes himself as a sincere and devoted friend.

* LoveMartyr: Barbara is a platonic version in this episode. She would have been more than within her rights to tell Lynley just where he could put his [[KickTheDog attitude]] toward her, but she does nothing of the kind, letting him rain verbal blows with about as little complaint as she's capable of. [[UndyingLoyalty She has her reasons]].

* LoveMartyr: Barbara is a platonic version in this episode. She would have been more than within her rights to tell Lynley just where he could put his [[KickTheDog attitude]] toward her, but she does nothing of the kind, letting him rain verbal blows on her with about as little complaint as she's capable of. [[UndyingLoyalty She has her reasons]].

--> '''Havers''': ''[last lines]'' Welcome back you.

* TheMourningAfter: Lynley's in the middle of one, and ''not'' coping well.
* NotSoStoic: Lynley generally manages to ''appear'' stoic about Helen in public, but briefly loses his composure when Julia sums up his hurt and anger: "She changed you and then abandoned you. What a bitch."

* ThePowerOfFriendship: Once again, the power of friendship between Lynley and Barbara can work miracles. Add to that Lafferty's coming out as a die-hard Lynley supporter, and not even the ''worst'' combination of circumstances can defeat Lynley.

Six months after [[spoiler:his wife's death]], Lynley is letting himself drown in the bottle. Havers’ attempts to reach out to him are unsuccessful. In the middle of this, news arrives that a child’s body has been found. The child in question is Justin Oborne, Lynley’s godson, who went missing 12 years ago on the night of his 5th birthday party.

* BerserkButton: [=McCaffrey=] finds out that taking a jab at Lynley's SurvivorGuilt over [[spoiler: Helen's death]] isn't a good idea.

* NotSoStoic: Lynley generally manages to ''appear'' stoic about [[spoiler: Helen]] in public, but briefly loses his composure when Julia sums up his hurt and anger: "She changed you and then abandoned you. What a bitch."

* WidowerHero: [[spoiler:Lynley]], after [[spoiler:Helen's death]].

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: {{Averted}}. DSI Tate is anything but reasonable, although she does have a few kind moments, like when she allows Havers to speak to Lynley before the interrogation. Big mistake.

* CrimeAfterCrime:
* DarkSecret:

* FalseConfession:
* GuiltByCoincidence: Someone up there must have been ''really'' pissed off with Lynley. He is the only one in the flat when Julia falls out of the window to her death. Later, when [[spoiler: Christine]] is murdered, he suddenly remembers that his blood is on her sleeve from earlier in that afternoon, when she cleaned up an injury he had sustained. Appropriately, [[OhCrap his reaction is]] [[PrecisionFStrike "Shit."]]

* JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope:
* LeaveMeAlone: Lynley, to Barbara. Poor girl.

* TheMourningAfter:

* OneOfOurOwn:
* ThePowerOfFriendship: Once again, the power of friendship between Lynley and Barbara can work miracles. Add to that Lafferty's coming out as a die-hard Lynley supporter, and not even the ''worst combination of circumstances'' can defeat Lynley.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: {{Averted}}. DSI Tate is anything but reasonable, although she does have a few kind moments, like when she allows Havers to speak to Lynley before the interrogation.

* WhatIsEvil: How about this as a piece of philosophy from a [[spoiler: triple-]] murderer?

* ClearMyName: Lynley, with Barbara's help.
* ConflictingLoyalty: Barbara is torn between her loyalty to the Met and her loyalty to Lynley. No prizes for guessing who wins.

--> '''Lafferty''': Possible, but unlikely. I mean, if it's not his, it's a [[spoiler: close relative's]]. ''[They look at each other [[OhCrap in horror]].]''

* GuiltByCoincidence:

* MamasBabyPapasMaybe:

* ThePowerOfFriendship: Once again, the power of friendship between Lynley and Barbara can work miracles.

* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: When it's a choice between clearing her partner's name and following the rules, as far as Barbara Havers is concerned, there ''is'' no choice.

* UndyingLoyalty: Once again, Barbara's to Lynley is on full display.

* HypocriticalHeartwarming:

* NotSoStoic:

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: {{Averted}}. DSI Tate is anything but reasonable, although she does have a few kind moments.

* TalkingDownTheSuicidal:

* WhatTheHellHero:

* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight:

* ConflictingLoyalty:

* HeroicBSOD:

-> '''Havers''': No! I mean, are you bloody okay? God, I've been asking you that for the last six months!

* ClearMyName:

* DrowningMySorrows:

* HesBack:

* LeaveMeAlone:

* ThePowerOfFriendship:

* SexForSolace:

* UndyingLoyalty:

* WidowerHero:

* ExplainExplainOhCrap: Lynley and Lafferty try to reason why [[spoiler: [=McCaffrey=]]]'s confession [[TakingTheHeat isn't quite convincing]], despite the DNA results on the [[spoiler: rubber glove]] showing a close match.

* ChekhovsGunman: The lady who stares at Lynley and Julia as they kiss in the stairwell [[spoiler: comes in very handy when DSI Tate tries to establish that Lynley raped Julia]].

* ExplainExplainOhCrap: Lynley and Lafferty

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: {{Averted}}. DSI Tate is anything but.

* WidowerHero:

[[caption-width-right:350:[[DontYouDarePityMe "Don't look so concerned, Havers]]. [[HeroicBSOD I'm fine."]]]]

--> '''Havers''': ''[visiting Lynley after his arrest]'' Are you okay?
--> '''Lynley''': You mean, "Did I do it"?
--> '''Havers''': No! I mean, are you bloody okay? God, I've been asking you that for the last six months!

With Havers and Lafferty's help, Lynley tries to run an unofficial investigation to find Julia's true killer. But will the three of them be able to defeat DSI Tate's scrutiny -- not to mention the killer's maneuverings -- and gather enough evidence to clear Lynley's name?