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Grantchester

Before we delve full throttle into the plot of the Grantchester Season Three finale, we need to get one thing straight.

Of course Sidney Chambers (James Norton) didn’t leave the church. Of course he didn’t run off to London to live in a moldy basement with Amanda Kendall (Morven Christie) and her gurgling baby. Of course he didn’t abandon Leonard (Al Weaver), Geordie (Robson Green), and Mrs. Maguire–I mean, Mrs. Chapman (Tessa Peake-Jones)! Of course the episode ends with Sidney doing the right thing and embracing whiskey and heartache.

At its heart, Grantchester is about two things: a dishy vicar solving crimes and moral philosophy. If Sidney Chambers chose his desires over his implausible life juggling church service and detective work, he wouldn’t be Sidney Chambers — and Grantchester wouldn’t be Grantchester.

Now, I understand why there could have been doubt about Sidney’s resolve. Putting aside the fact that ITV, the British network that produces Grantchester, hasn’t ordered a fourth season yet, this entire season has been focused on Sidney’s ever-dwindling faith. The episode opens with Sidney awkwardly tugging on his constrictive collar before explaining the to the Archdeacon that he’s leaving the church because he’s in love. He really tries to commit to this choice. He types up a letter of resignation to send to the Bishop, starts saying his goodbyes, and even goes through the trauma that is flat-hunting in London.

In the end, though, he’s pulled back to the church. It’s not one person’s impassioned plea, but rather the realization that he can’t resist being a pillar in the community. In fact, Sidney seems resolved to a life of mundane matrimony until he sees the Granchester cop cars flying past him. As soon as he smells a crime, Sidney puts the collar back on and digs into the mystery.

This week’s mystery starts off with a supernatural kick. An adorable kid named Archie Riley skips past Daniel Marlowe’s house on his way to the meadows. Marlowe jokes with the kid to be careful. “I heard there are monsters out there!” Next we see the child pursued. By what, we don’t know, but when he collapses in the church, Sidney and Geordie are pulled into it.

Archie has an iffy home life. His listless mother seems transfixed by depression and his father is consumed with lecturing cute co-eds about D.H. Lawrence’s approach to sexuality. So when Archie gives describes his assailant — and he basically describes the Fourth Doctor — his family shrugs it off as a flight of fancy. Geordie eventually sides with Sidney and thinks that the kid might not be full of it. The scarf that Archie describes is a match for Girton College, the all-ladies Cambridge college where Mr. Riley teaches. So when Archie’s little brother Jacob goes missing during a game of hide-and-seek, Geordie suspects that one of Mr. Riley’s many mistresses snatched the kid.

While the town looks for Jacob, Sidney looks for purpose in his work and swiftly finds it when he sees how much solace the church is giving Mrs. Riley in her moment of need. It becomes apparent that Sidney enjoys being the person the town turns to. Mrs. Maguire nails it on the head when she sobs that the people of Grantchester don’t turn to the church — they turn to Sidney.

When Sidney figures out that some mystery person has been quietly taking care of the Riley boys, Geordie zeroes in on their schoolteacher. By “zeroes in,” I mean “beats him up during a tense interrogation.” Ironically, it’s Margaret who gets to the bottom of things by calling up his ex-wife and getting actual information on the teacher’s possible motives. He lost his own son in a car crash and wanted to save the Riley boys from their indifferent parents. In the end, Jacob is brought home, the Rileys embrace, and all seems right in Grantchester. Things are so right that Geordie finally makes moves to reconcile with Cathy.

Things are not right with Sidney and Amanda. Sidney chooses the Riley case over signing the lease on their London flat and Amanda discovers that he hasn’t yet posted his letter of resignation. She feels betrayed, but honestly, if you’re dating a dishy vicar, you have to accept that he’s a vicar first, and dishy second, (and jazz enthusiast third).

Finally, did anyone else think it was hugely telling that Amanda skipped Mrs. M’s big wedding day? The newly-made Mrs. Chapman has been a big part of Amanda’s life. No, really! All those free babysitting hours aside, Amanda and Sylvia go way back. One of the first jokes Sidney and Amanda share in the series is about the nagging housekeeper. I get not wanting to face down Sidney at the wedding, but her choice to not be there for a friend highlights the big difference between her and Sidney. When push comes to shove, Sidney Chambers will be there for people. Amanda will be there for herself. Bye, Amanda.

Since this could very well be the last episode of Grantchester — though I truly hope not — I just want to say that I really value what this show gives us in the current television landscape. There are a lot of shows out there that explore morality on a metaphoric scale, but they typically offer a nihilistic or, at the very least, cynical perspective on good and evil. Grantchester knows that we are a culture in trouble, that community is constantly fraying at the edges. But Grantchester still argues that there’s something beautiful about doing the right thing. It’s not about living your life according to the rules, but living your life with compassion and love.