ITV Grace fans split over series finale as 'dead' character makes epic return

Ds Roy Grace was stunned to see a familiar face after three years
-Credit: (Image: (Image: ITV))


ITV's drama Grace left viewers divided within minutes of its start on Sunday (September 22), as a character presumed dead made an unexpected comeback. The series finale saw DS Roy Grace, portrayed by John Simm, visiting a Munich hospital where he unexpectedly encountered his wife Sandy, who vanished in 2021.

Sandy's disappearance has been a ghost haunting DS Grace for the last three years, with her being assumed dead. However, the revelation that Sandy, played by Clare Calbraith, is still alive couldn't have come at a more inconvenient time for Roy.

His partner Cleo, enacted by Zoe Tapper, is expecting his baby, and he had just discovered that Sandy was officially declared dead, which would have enabled them to tie the knot. Upon discovering in episode three that Sandy might still be alive, Roy shared the shocking news with Glenn, played by Richie Campbell, who convinced him to reveal the truth to Cleo.

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They agreed to visit Sandy in the hospital together and were seen arriving in Munich at the end of the episode, reports the Mirror. In the series finale, Roy and Cleo visited the hospital where Roy saw his wife for the first time in years.

However, their reunion was far from joyful, as Roy appeared shocked while Sandy, battered and bruised, seemed angry to see her estranged husband. When Roy questioned Sandy about why she disappeared and lived under a false identity, she explained that being with her husband had led her to some dark places.

Sandy and Grace came face to  face for the first time in three years
Sandy and Grace came face to face for the first time in three years -Credit:ITV

Meanwhile, social media was buzzing as viewers shared their excitement over Sandy's return and the potential unravelling of her mysterious disappearance on "Grace". Yet, some fans felt the series had deviated too much from Peter James' original work.

One viewer expressed their frustration on Twitter: "Roy #Grace never met Sandy. The whole reason why you as a reader love him is because he is a tortured soul not knowing why or where or who."

Another added their thoughts: "The missing wife scenario is all a bit of a bore. Can he just get back to solving crimes instead of this pointless back story #Grace."

"Nothing like the book no Sandy and Roy reunion actually happened #Grace", a third fan pointed out, showing their disappointment.

On the flip side, there were those who were thrilled by the episode, with one fan tweeting: "This is amazing #Grace", and another posting: "It's her #Grace", followed by a shocked face emoji.