The Light in the Hall is a six part Welsh series. Reporter Cat (Alexandra Roach) returns to her small town when the convicted murdered of her childhood friend is released from prison. Her efforts to write a story about that long ago disappearance bring up all kinds of secrets.
The Light in the Hall is another series from Wales that was filmed twice. Once in English and again in Welsh. I’ve reviewed several other series that fit that description including Hinterland, Keeping Faith, and Hidden. Many of the actors from those series have parts in The Light in the Hall.
Sharon (Joanna Scanlan) is the grieving mother of Ela (Ella Peel) who disappeared 18 years ago. Although her body has never been found, a local named Joe (Iwan Rheon) was convicted of her murder. He confessed, but doesn’t really remember what happened or know where Ela is. He is now being released from prison and will return to the small town where it happened.
Sharon is desperate to get him to talk so she can find out where her daughter is and give her child a proper burial. She does some crazy things in her pursuit of answers from Joe, including spend all the money for her daughter Greta’s (Annes Elwy) wedding on a thug meant to beat the answers out of Joe.
One of Ela’s former friends, Cat Donato, is now a reporter. She’s back in town talking to everyone in hopes of finding out where Ela’s body is. She ends up being the catalyst that eventually gets the whole thing figured out.
One of the first people Cat talks with is Caryl (Sian Reese-Williams) who was also a friend of Ela’s. The three of them were close but had some sort of 15 year old argument right before Ela disappeared.
Joe’s father Wyn (Ifan Huw Dafydd) isn’t welcoming on Joe’s return. Joe’s sister disappeared at about the same time as Ela. Joe believed she must be dead, too.
Wyn works on the council with Nina (Lisa Palfrey). Her daughter Izzy (Hannah Daniel) is a pregnant lesbian who also knew Ela as a teen. Izzy and her partner just happened to stop by with the news about the pregnancy when all the drama over Joe’s return began. Izzy couldn’t tear herself away.
There was drama galore among these characters. They hid secrets and answers that could have changed peoples lives. They harbored old hurts and heartbreaks. They wanted retribution. Cat circled around them all prying one hidden tidbit after another out of them.
There were beatings and break ins, diaries and house fires, hidden crimes, green eyes, and broken hearts. The pacing was good on the reveals and surprises as the mystery was solved. The series was created and written by Regina Moriarty.
Joanna Scanlan was particularly good in this. Grief and lack of closure had made her a little bit unhinged. She did a beautiful job with it. Iwan Rheon as Joe was also very good.
This series is streaming on Acorn TV and AMC+ if it sounds like something you want to watch.