Ballykissangel-Peter makes his decision

"The Reckoning". A sweet Ballyk memory, a clip from the most exhilarating and heartbreaking ep of a TV series I've ever seen.
In a previous clip, Peter and Assumpta shared a walk by the lake to discuss their feelings, and Peter makes his decision: priesthood or Assumpta?

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Ballykissangel
• Peter
• Assumpta
• Stephen
• Tompkinson
• Dervla
• Kirwan

[nonrealist]

It is my understanding that the actors did not want this series to end the way it did - namely Assumpta's death. However, they're not the writers... shame, it was a poor ending to a wonderful series.

[sweetamyleigh]

@nonrealist Interesting. I'd heard that Dervla Kirwin asked to be written out that way so she wouldn't be tempted to come back, but that Kieran Prendiville regretted writing the episode that way. Either way, it was the biggest shock I have ever gotten watching a series, and the saddest.

[LannaSb]

i think this is about the only tv show that managed to absolutely shatter me. i don't think i was ever more shocked about anything happening in a tv show than i was with assumpta dying here. not a good choice of ending may i add.

[minstrel4]

I didn't think I could feel so strongly about anything on film as I did about Assumpta's death. I accidently found out before I had seen the episode, but even then, seeing it was like really losing someone you loved. Watching Peter's grief was the hardest part, knowing all that they went through and that what they wanted was finally in their grasp. It was the best of episodes, it was the worst of episodes. I hated the writers at first. (I do love the polar bear scene though!)

[5870eric]

The Reckoning is the greatest episode of a television show in history. Its polarizing, but things dont always work out quite the way you want, and sometimes bad things happen. I wish the program would have had a happier ending, but it is always saved for me by the absolutely spectacular acting jobs of everyone involved in these last two episodes, especially Fr Peter, Assumpta and Brendan. The first time I saw this I sat in bewilderment as the credits rolled up the screen - now I love it

[annedianna]

@sweetamyleigh Well if that's true about her asking to treat her character like that so she wouldn't be tempted to come back then...what about the people who watch the show? Do they have to be treated like this? Just look at the replies to all these clips. more than 10 years past, and BallyK is still alive like this. So what about the people? I don't want to suggest that she's selfish but...being tempted to come back! that says a lot, doesn't it! I just feel like the audience have been betrayed.

[bensdadfrank]

You have to love the way Peter was always able to break the tension with humor, "I know. You could have held out for a bishop", or in The Walk By The Lake, "Apart from that you mean nothing to me", Seems as though that was one of the things that Assumpta loved. He seemed to be able to find humor, in serious, heart wrenching situations. Then there's the acting, One word: Brilliant

[ETrevar]

@sweetamyleigh Stephen and Dervla's lives were extremely impacted by the tabloid/paparazzi attention their off-screen romance attracted. Dervla, particularly, was very determined to move past being identified with the character of Assumpta, to avoid being stereotyped by it in her career. She wanted Assumpta killed in a completely unambiguous way. She also wanted to "kill" the character within her own self, if you know what I mean. Still, I think the writers took the easy and lazy way out.

[ETrevar]

I had no sympathy for Fr. Mac until I saw a later episode and realized that his career in the Church never progressed beyond a parish priest in a small parish in the "back of beyond." He sold out most of his values and admitted that he hadn't really thought much about God in many years, since before he knew Eileen. He's kind of pathetic, actually. He has no feelings for other people, and few people except Kathleen feel much for him. It's actually quite sad. He will die a lonely death later.

[ETrevar]

@bensdadfrank I also had a similar experience in my life, though not nearly as drastic as what happened to Peter and Assumpta. Still, a part of me did die from my experiences. I understand in my soul their feelings, the torment they went through. I'm glad I didn't see the first serial run of Ballyk because I was able to watch the DVDs, one episode right after another, and I got the full brunt of the story in a very emotional way. Since then, I've watched it over and over. Nothing compares.

[bensdadfrank]

@sweetamyleigh I was a married Cathoilc man, in a dead marraige, in a similar relationship, when this was on in America, albeit in reruns. I felt , at the time, as though I were living this and still feel that way. After several years of marraige to" my bartender", seeing this has reminded me of why I fell in love, and was willing to abandon my very established life. Seeing these clips has brought me back ten years, and reminded me of how love can feel. Thank you so much for posting!

[bensdadfrank]

As always, Brendan's look is so telling. 1:15 to 1:23