The Dry

The Dry

[Full series drop on ITVX here] (series 1 and 2)

Series 2

Series overview

Award-winning playwright and BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Nancy Harris (Dates) and acclaimed director Paddy Breathnach (Viva, Rosie) return to helm the second season of this acclaimed comedy drama.

Roisin Gallagher returns as recovering alcoholic Shiv Sheridan, alongside regular cast members from the first series.

The second series picks up seven months on from the events of the first, and we now meet the Sheridans in their new normal. To all outward appearances, it seems like the family is relatively content: Shiv’s been sober, celibate, and solvent for 6 months, Ant has hung onto his job at the estate agents and his relationship with Max, and Caroline’s making up for a lost time by shagging everyone she meets on Tinder. So far, so normal… Or is it? After all, how normal is it for 3 grown adults to still be living at home with their parents? And are the Sheridans really happy with this new status quo, or have they just rearranged their dysfunction and found another groove of denial to fit into? 

Episode 1

It’s Shiv’s 36th birthday and she’s full of good intentions to stay on the right track. Even though she’s been flirting with sexy barista Alex for months, she’s determined not to let a man derail her sobriety again and refuses his offer of a date. At work, she’s excited to learn about a bursary for new and emerging artists. Shiv’s life is finally looking up. Meanwhile, Bernie has a new boyfriend, Finbar, and is in flying form. Sobriety is going really well for Bernie and she’s being celebrated as inspirational – much to Shiv’s annoyance. Caroline also has a new man – investment banker Shane – and is determined to get married, become a consultant and have babies before 35. She thinks Shane could be the one. Maybe. Ant and Max are happily loved up, though things are going less well for Ant at work. Sales are down – and Eddie warns Ant he needs to up his game. Life hasn’t been quite so kind to Tom. He’s been exiled to the shed and is massively irritated by the presence of Finbar, who makes Tom feel like a guest in his own home. Shiv’s birthday party goes awry when Finbar introduces a radical new house rule and everyone leaves early. Shiv decides to throw caution to the wind and goes to meet Alex, it’s her birthday after all.

Episode 2

Things are getting steamy between Shiv and Alex. Shiv is loving all the excitement, until Alex suddenly refuses a late-night invitation to stay over. Shiv is thrown and turns to her siblings for advice, but Caroline and Ant are distracted by their own problems. Caroline is defensive of commitment-phobic Shane, while Ant is missing Bernie, who’s not as much fun now that she’s sober – and her new sponsor Billy is monopolising her time. Poor Tom’s fortunes take a turn for the worse when he’s unexpectedly fired from his job. Shiv has an unexpected run in with a face from her past and Caroline is shocked to see Rory passionately kissing a new woman. Maybe he isn’t as heartbroken as she thought? At work, Shiv jumps at a chance to prove herself and volunteers to cover the geriatric’s life drawing class, but disaster strikes when the model cancels. Despite the awkwardness, Alex saves the day by agreeing to step in and Shiv learns that there is a lot more to him than meets the eye.

Episode 3

The Sheridans are startled to find Alex in their kitchen making an impressive breakfast; they’re even more confused that Shiv has managed to bag herself such an impressive boyfriend. Tom tries to fly under the radar as he continues to hide the fact that he’s lost his job. Little does he know that Shiv is hot on his trail and unfortunately for Tom, she’s following him on a day when his emotions get the better of him. At work, Ant is put under pressure when he’s told his job is in jeopardy but a visit from Max brings an invitation – to move in together! What should be an exciting moment is hi-jacked by Ant’s insecurities. Meanwhile, Caroline starts to question whether Shane really is the man for her. If Shiv – and Rory – can find new partners maybe she needs to keep looking for “the one”. She reactivates her dating apps and launches into a dating marathon. On the other side of town, Shiv finds Tom in a compromising position but is too alarmed to intervene. She heads to a meeting for advice, only for it to be gatecrashed by Jack. After collapsing on her date Caroline ends up in hospital and gets some shocking news.

Episode 4

Shiv books an acupuncture session with Mina, but she has an agenda. Unable to confront Tom, she hopes Mina will pay him a visit instead. Tom clearly needs help, but Shiv doesn’t feel like she’s the oneto give it. Caroline reels from the news that she’s pregnant, and run-ins with Finbar and Dr. Dan only rattle her further. As if one parent going off the rails isn’t enough, Shiv learns that Bernie plans on giving a newspaper interview about Pam’s murder – which definitely doesn’t seem like a good idea. Meanwhile Shiv learns that she’s through to the next round of the bursary application. She rushes to tell Alex her good news and he encourages her to share this moment with her family. It’s time they gave her some credit! Tom’s delighted to see Mina again, but she gives him a rude awakening; No more living in the shed. He needs to stand up to Bernie. Caroline ambushes Shiv at work, desperate to talk, but Shiv feels like her news is being sidelined as usual and the sisters end up arguing. With the threat of losing his job on his mind, Ant puts in a disastrous performance at a dinner with Max’s family. As the Sheridans arrive home that evening Bernie and Tom share some shocking news.

Episode 5

It’s a day of being in the hot seat for Shiv: she has her bursary interview, but first she has to attend a family meeting, spearheaded by Tom. The Sheridans, Finbar and Mina gather to discuss selling the house. Everyone is on edge and Bernie makes it clear that she is not letting the house go without a fight. The meeting takes a turn when Shiv accidentally announces that Tom has lost his job. As the revelations get more serious, emotions run high and everyone is left feeling betrayed. Shiv’s selfcentred bubble finally bursts when she realises what’s going on with Caroline and the sisters have a heart to heart. Shiv’s interview goes horribly wrong and her future looks less certain until an offer from Alex gives her an unexpected new path to consider.

Episode 6

Shiv’s is loved up and considering Alex’s invitation when her phone pings and she sees Bernie’s article about Pam. It’s a total tabloid expose and Bernie looks deranged. Shiv knows this will be a blow and leaves to comfort her. As she heads out of Alex’s house, she finds him fighting on the street with an older man. It turns out that this is Alex’s father. Shiv learns more about Alex’s past and is shocked by his harsh attitude to family. Caroline is still keeping her pregnancy a secret and hedging her bets about Shane. She hides her bump under an uncharacteristically poofy dress and heads to a BBQ with Shane. She’s just about to tell Shane about the baby, when Rory and Marie Luisa’s appear. Tom and Bernie’s fighting reaches petty new heights and Bernie makes it clear she will do her best to sabotage any progress on the sale. Ant is feeling lost; Max isn’t returning his calls and Bernie is giving him the cold shoulder because he’s helping his dad with the sale. When Shiv arrives home, she and Ant making a shocking discovery. Shiv is adamant that she will handle the situation herself, swearing Ant to secrecy. Later, Ant finds distraction in Bernie’s sponsor Billy, while a misunderstanding between Shiv and Karen sends Shiv running to Alex. He’s angry with Shiv for her lack of understanding about his father. Feeling more alone than ever, Shiv falls into old habits and springs a run away proposition on Jack.

Episode 7

Deep in the woods, Shiv and Jack talk about life and love. Despite her best intentions, the old flame reignites and they kiss. Shiv quickly puts a stop to it, but when she arrives back at the house, Alex sees that she’s been with Jack and Shiv is forced to face some tough questions. Meanwhile inside the house, Ant is also scrambling. He kicks Billy out as the first gang of potential house buyers arrive. Needing a meeting more than ever, Shiv goes to find Karen, but Karen is in the throes of her own crisis and is nowhere to be found. Bernie is further humiliated when she hears the house viewers mocking her home and her recent article and she takes drastic action. Ant tries to keep the show on the road, but a visit from Max brings more bad news. Tom takes his lawyer’s advice and makes the big move from the shed back into the house. He is taking control. Shane and Caroline finally reach the limits of their love and Caroline turns to Rory for support. Shiv finally confronts Bernie about her drinking, but her offer of support turns desperately sour and Shiv is left feeling that her only route is Australia.

Episode 8

Emotions are running high on the day of the house auction. Bernie is distraught at Shiv’s impending departure. Ant is depressed post break up. Tom is vomiting from nerves. And Caroline is still trying to cope with her pregnancy alone. Alex thinks it’s best that he collect the last of Shiv’s things. Before they head off, Shiv and Caroline take a moment to say goodbye As the auction gets underway, Ant begins to regret his involvement and comes up with a plan to thwart the sale. Bernie begins to see Finbar for the opportunist he is, and an argument between the two escalates when Tom comes to Bernie’s defence. Meanwhile, Alex is growing increasing frustrated at Shiv’s worries around the family and the sale. A quick visit to Karen offers some closure for Shiv but can she really leave her life behind? Tom and Finbar’s brawl spills out in the auction and poor Rory gets caught in the crossfire – he has come to tell Caroline he loves her. In an attempt to de-escalate the fight, Caroline announces her pregnancy. As the dust settles, Eddie tells them the house is sold. At the airport, Shiv realises she can’t leave her family and says goodbye to Alex. When Shiv returns, Bernie finally gets her chance to apologise. She’s not as strong as Shiv and is choosing not to stay sober. The family raise a toast and plot their next move.