S2·E7 How to Pick a Prick

Episode recap

In the seventh episode of the second season, the Garvey sisters find themselves thrust into a new crisis that forces them to confront both external danger and internal mistrust. The episode opens with the lingering shock of a betrayal that has upended the fragile equilibrium the sisters have long maintained. The betrayal, described as “shocking,” serves as the catalyst for a collective quest for truth, compelling each sister to dig deeper into the circumstances that have turned their world upside‑down. Their investigation is portrayed as a methodical, if emotionally charged, pursuit; the sisters move through familiar Dublin settings, piecing together fragments of information while constantly questioning each other’s motives. The series’ central premise—that the tight‑knit Garvey sisters have always looked out for one another—provides a stark contrast to the suspicion now threading through their interactions.

Parallel to the sisters’ search, the episode foregrounds a confrontation between the police officer Houlihan and the figure known as Loftus. The description “goes head‑to‑head” signals a direct clash of wills, suggesting that Houlihan is challenging Loftus’s authority or actions in a manner that escalates the episode’s tension. This conflict is presented as a significant subplot, intersecting with the sisters’ own investigation and adding a layer of institutional pressure to the personal drama unfolding among the family.

Throughout the hour, the narrative balances the sisters’ relentless drive to uncover what happened with the procedural dynamics of Houlihan’s showdown. The episode maintains the series’ blend of drama and crime, using the betrayal as a narrative fulcrum that propels both the familial and law‑enforcement storylines forward. By the close, the sisters have gathered new pieces of evidence, yet the full picture remains incomplete, leaving the audience aware that the truth they seek is still out of reach. Simultaneously, the confrontation between Houlihan and Loftus reaches a critical point, hinting at further repercussions for the characters involved. The episode thus reinforces the series’ core themes of loyalty, deception, and the lengths to which the Garvey sisters will go to protect each other, even as the forces around them grow increasingly hostile.