The latest episode of BBC drama This City Is Ours left fans on the edge of their seats as the action-packed instalment ended in chaos, with a character shot and fighting for her life.
The current series of the Liverpool-set crime drama resumed on BBC One on Sunday evening (November 8) with a fresh episode for those who haven't yet devoured the complete season. Continuing from its launch last year, both audiences and reviewers have showered the show with acclaim.
Warning: this article contains spoilers for This City Is Ours series 2, episode 5.
Engagement celebration turns to violence
Its second run follows Michael Kavanagh being pulled back into the Phelan criminal empire, operations, and brutality. The ensemble features performers including Mike Noble, James Nelson-Joyce, Laura Aikman and Hannah Onslow.
In the fifth instalment, Jamie and Melissa threw their engagement celebration while Michael and Diana tried to negotiate peace with the family. Meanwhile, Freddie descends deeper beyond Michael's grasp and the Phelans negotiate an arrangement with Ozzie Thompson.
However, audiences could sense that something truly terrible was imminent as the celebration drew to an end. Shortly after Michael arranged an accord between the groups, Freddie was observed tearing across the city, evidently on a mission.
Freddie opens fire
Michael's efforts to locate him and intervene before events unfolded proved fruitless. As the Phelans departed the party venue and spilled out onto the street, Freddie emerged from a concealed position opposite and began shooting.
Jamie appeared to be his intended target. However, in an earlier scene, Freddie had tested the weapon and missed spectacularly. It came as little shock, then, when it emerged he had once again failed to hit his mark.
Amid the chaos, Rachel discovered she had been shot in the leg. Michael swiftly arrived to assist her husband Bobby in rushing her to hospital, with the rest of the family close behind. As she was brought into the emergency department, Rachel flatlined, and her prospects looked deeply troubling.
Meanwhile, outside, Michael persuaded the Phelans to make a run for it as he gave himself up to police.
Viewers react to the dramatic scenes
Viewers watching at home were left utterly devastated as the dramatic scenes unfolded. Many had sensed chaos was imminent, with one person posting on social media: "I'm getting definite The Godfather vibes from watching the engagement party scenes."
Another added: "Sobbing here. They can't kill off Rachel." Several fans warned that another character's fate also looked precarious. As one viewer asked: "Freddie's in trouble! Do the others know it was him?" Another wondered: "Omg Freddie. What have you done?" While one admitted: "I fear for Freddie's future."
However, another viewer remarked: "For a bad shot Freddie got the right spot on that leg. Fatal surely?" Meanwhile, one viewer believed they had noticed a blunder in one character's behaviour, commenting: "Whyyyyy didn't Michael just level with Freddy and say "your auld fella's playing dead but he's fine" Sometimes you've just got to be blunt".
This City Is Ours is streaming on BBC iPlayer.
