The fourth episode of The Long Shadow, dropping on AMC+ and Sundance Now on Thursday April 4, 2024 continues the narrative of the Yorkshire Ripper case, as the net closes in on the elusive serial killer. With each woman’s survival, the detectives grow more hopeful that their elusive culprit is finally within reach.
The episode opens in July 1977, with another brutal attack on a woman in Bradford. Maureen Long survives her encounter with the Ripper, giving the police a much-needed glimmer of hope. Her account leads the investigation towards a white taxi cab and its bearded driver.
As the police pursue this new lead, DCS George Oldfield directs a extensive search, focusing on taxi drivers. Terry Hackshaw emerges as a notable person of interest in the police investigation. His presence in the vicinity of several murder scenes, coupled with his striking similarity to the perpetrator’s description, raises serious suspicions. The police decide to tail him, hoping to gather enough evidence for an arrest.
However, the investigation takes an interesting turn when another victim, Jean Jordan, is found in Manchester. This discovery leads the police to consider another unsolved murder, that of Joan Harrison in Preston, two years prior. The cabbie under surveillance is brought in for questioning, but the lack of evidence forces the police to release him, for the time being.
Meanwhile, the investigation’s first leader, DCS Dennis Hoban, cuts out newspaper articles on the case, a task now consumed by obsession. Meg Winterburn, a female officer, is sent undercover on a risky mission to accompany Maureen Long on a night out, aiming to identify the Ripper. The operation achieves little success, except for making Maureen feel increasingly uncomfortable, as she is wrongly assumed to be a sex worker.
As the episode reaches its climax, another woman, Marilyn Moore, survives an attack and provides a description that matches both Peter Sutcliffe and the unnamed bearded cabbie. This new development leads the police to re-arrest Terry Hackshaw. However, as the interrogation intensifies, another woman, Elena Rytka, is brutally killed in Huddersfield, forcing the police to release Hackshaw, who has an alibi.
Oldfield, determined to catch his suspect, subjects Hackshaw to a gruelling interrogation, which borders on psychological torture. Parallel to this, a letter arrives, seemingly from the Ripper himself, and references a case that only the killer would know about. For Oldfield, this is the crucial piece of evidence he needs to convince him that they have the right man.
Yet, as Hackshaw is released due to lack of evidence, the episode concludes with a cliffhanger, leaving viewers unsure of the police’s next move. The search for the Yorkshire Ripper continues, with Oldfield’s methods being increasingly called into question.
This episode provides an insightful glimpse into the desperate measures taken by investigators and the impact of the case on their lives. With each passing week, the pressure mounts, and the public’s anticipation for an arrest grows.
The Long Shadow Episode 4 Drops on AMC+ and Sundance Now on Thursday April 4, 2024.
