The season finale finds us in May 1940 – in a world vastly different than the one when Home Fires started.
The British expeditionary force has been driven back and France is expected to fall. The prospect of Nazi boots marching through Great Paxford is real.
Steph teaches Frances how to shoot a rifle, and the WI sets an ambitious fundraising goal to purchase ambulances for the home front. They hold a movie night and bake sale, with unexpected ramifications.
Pat returns to the WI when Bob is called to the front as a war correspondent. His self-centered goodbye to his devoted wife leaves us hoping that this will be a one-way trip for him. We applaud as happiness over her newfound freedom washes over Pat.
Spencer finally tells Claire that he loves her. “Then hold my hand and walk tall,” she replies. He does just that on the movie night and confronts the townspeople, telling them that they’ve known him all of his life. He’s not asking them to accept his decision, but he’s standing by it.
Alison decides to stop “cooking the books” for her stable of nefarious clients, writes a note to Teresa, and turns on the gas. Teresa comes home just in time. She surreptitiously slips Alison’s ill-gotten gains into the WI cash box at the movie night, putting their total over the top.
Alison’s change of heart is, alas, too late. The next man at her door isn’t another shady businessman but Detective Sargent Brooks. He takes her into custody for her fraudulent activity and aiding and abetting tax evasion.
The Wing Commander’s wife pays a visit to Laura’s mother and exposes Laura’s secret affair with her husband. Things go from bad to worse when his wife sues the WC for divorce, naming Laura as co-respondent.
A telegram is delivered to the Brindsley’s and Miriam stashes it away, unopened. Bryn finds it and brings it to her. “We have no choice. We have to open it….We need to read the words together. We have to know,” he tells her. David is missing in action.
“Missing. He’s alive. Missing isn’t dead,” Mim declares, breathing hope into both of them. They get more good news when Dr. Campbell tells them that Miriam is pregnant.
Joyce’s husband has decided that they should relocate to the coast for the duration. She drops into a WI meeting to see Frances.
“You made them stronger, Madam President. It’s what good leadership does,” she compliments Frances. Joyce hands Frances the key to her back gate. “And when we eventually return, I’ll be outraged if our tennis court hasn’t been plowed up and put to good use.” This moment of reconciliation that we’ve longed for is interrupted by the rumbling of planes overhead.
The episode closes as the villagers pour outside to watch planes streaming by overhead, drawing the pilots and the village closer to the conflict.
Bring on next year’s Season 2!
Aired at 9pm on Sunday 14 June 2015 on ITV.
> Order Home Fires on DVD on Amazon.
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