ITV Grace viewers flummoxed as major character returns three years after 'death'
Viewers of the ITV drama Grace were left split within minutes of the show starting on Sunday (September 22), as a character previously thought to be dead made a surprise return.
The series finale saw DS Roy Grace, played by John Simm, come face-to-face with his wife Sandy, who disappeared in 2021, during a visit to a Munich hospital. Sandy's disappearance has haunted DS Grace for the past three years, as she was presumed dead.
The revelation that Sandy, portrayed by Clare Calbraith, is still alive comes at an unfortunate time for Roy. His partner Cleo, played by Zoe Tapper, is pregnant with his child, and he had just learned that Sandy had been declared dead, which would have allowed them to marry.
After learning in episode three that Sandy might still be alive, Roy shared the shocking news with Glenn, played by Richie Campbell, who persuaded him to tell Cleo the truth. They decided to visit Sandy in the hospital together, and were seen arriving in Munich at the end of the episode.
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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, with Roy appearing shocked and Sandy, battered and bruised, seeming angry to see her estranged husband, reports the Express.
When Roy asked Sandy why she had disappeared and lived under a 'false' identity, she explained that being with her husband had led her into dark times.
Meanwhile, social media was abuzz with reactions to Sandy's return to the series, with fans eagerly anticipating the resolution of her mysterious disappearance. However, some viewers criticised the show for straying too far from Peter James' original novel.
One viewer on Twitter expressed their disappointment, saying: "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 viewer commented: "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."
A third viewer noted the deviation from the book, stating: "Nothing like the book no Sandy and Roy reunion actually happened #Grace".
However, there were also positive reactions, with one viewer exclaiming: "This is amazing #Grace", and another adding: "It's her #Grace", accompanied by a shocked face emoji.
You can watch Grace on ITVX