The BBC’s gripping psychological thriller stars Morven Christie as Ellen – an architect who finds herself alienated from her workmates, friends and family upon the arrival of her maternity cover Paula (Vicky McClure).
At first the two women are friendly, but their relationship soon descends from petty oneupmanship to full-blown sabotage.
Episode one ended with the shock death of Ellen’s colleague and friend Kay (Neve McIntosh), just moments after she called Ellen to say she had urgent news.
The police and even Kay’s husband are insistent that Kay committed suicide, but Ellen is convinced that she was murdered.
Did Paula kill Kay?
Paula insists that she was at home with her husband Kieran (Navin Chowdhry) and their daughter Caris on the night that Kay died.
But when questioned, Kieran seems unsure about the details of that night.
At the ends of the episode, Ellen and her husband Ian (Richard Rankin) go round to Paula’s home for an extremely awkward dinner.
Kieran asks psychiatrist Ian for his advice to help “someone” with mental health issues, and it is heavily hinted that Paula has trouble perceiving reality – especially after Paula claims that reality “is overrated”.
Will Paula confess her guilt in next week’s finale? Or is Ellen imagining Paula’s supposed scheme?
BBC
Morven Christie’s character Ellen is convinced that Paula is a murderer
BBC
Kay was found dead at the end of episode one
Who is Georgia?
Earlier in the episode, Ellen arranges a meeting with Georgia, a former colleague of Paula’s.
But Georgia appears to have been warned not to say anything and the meeting ends with Ellen chasing her out of a cafe, leaving her one-month-old daughter Lia crying in a car.
Suspiciously, Paula happens to be outside of the cafe, and tips social services off to Ellen’s neglect.
Is Georgia covering for Paula? Or was she simply frightened by Ellen’s aggressive approach?
BBC
Ellen chased Georgie out of a cafe
Are Paula and David having an affair?
David (Dougray Scott) admits that his wife Kay accused him of cheating before her untimely death.
A major clue comes in the form of a lipstick that turns in in David’s bathroom, which belongs to Paula.
Did Paula make a move on Kay’s husband? Or is she trying to frame him for her murder?
BBC
Vicky McClure plays Paula, the titular replacement
Why is Paula obsessed with Ellen’s daughter Lia?
Paula is keen to offer Ellen advice “from one mother to another”, but soon takes an unhealthy interest in Ellen’s pregnancy and later approach to motherhood.
In episode one she pretended to feel the baby’s first kick, and in the latest instalment is is revealed that she has one of Ellen’s ultrasounds pictures under her keyboard.
What is Paula’s obsession with Ellen’s family? Does it have anything to do with her own daughter Caris?
Where is Paula’s daughter Caris?
Ellen goes to extreme lengths to try and discredit Paula’s alibi, and even contacts her daughter Caris via Facebook.
It is revealed that Paula is posing as the young girl, who remains largely out of sight throughout the episode and conveniently absent on the night of the dinner.
The episode ends with Ellen pushing Paula to explain her daughter’s absence until she snaps: “Fine, you win”.
Will Paula confess in next week’s final episode?
The Replacement concludes on Tuesday March 14 at 9pm on BBC One.
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