Legends moves to Liverpool in episode 3, starting to bring home the consequences of the escalating drugs trade. The episode opens with Tommy, Eddie’s son, returning home from military service. Tommy meets a woman at a nightclub and instead of stability he quickly falls into a dangerous lifestyle. What begins as a reckless night soon turns into a serious addiction and Tommy begins to spiral rather than return to his military duties.
The undercover operation becomes more complicated as Angus learns of the new alliance between the Liverpool gang and the Turkish organization. Guy tells him he’s going to be the Turk’s transporter, helping them move massive loads of drugs into the country. Kate points out that the setup could also give them great insight into the Liverpool gang’s operations, but Angus is still concerned that the entire thing might fall apart at any time.
Don is clear the two investigations remain separate even though rival gangs are now working together. Meanwhile, Erin reveals more about Eddie and Carter’s past, explaining that Carter had been in trouble with the law a number of times before, but each time charges mysteriously disappeared before the case ever made it to court.
Carter and Aziz are hashing out the details of their partnership, and Hakan tells Carter he’ll be tested before the partnership is in full effect. Aziz tells Guy to deliver a consignment of drugs not directly to Liverpool but to a public bridge in Birmingham, and this makes Guy suspicious.
Later, Guy asks Don to let the shipment through customs, but Don refuses to clear illegal narcotics through government channels. He tells Guy to find another way of getting the drugs through without customs.
That evening, Carter and his men leave, and Kate and Bailey break into Carter’s warehouse. As Kate photographs the drug stash, Bailey discreetly installs a recording device. As they are about to leave, they discover that the exit code for the building is different from the entry code, and they are trapped inside.
With time running out, Kate calls on Shaun for help. Shaun tries to get into the building from the outside but the security system has completely locked down. Thinking fast, Kate tells Shaun to cut power to the building so that they can force their way out. Kate and Bailey just barely escape before anyone notices and the plan works.
Guy’s concerned about more pressure from the Turkish group back home. Sophie senses his anxiety and Don interrupts their conversation to assure her that the Turks are not privy to the details of their personal lives. Don is impressed with Sophie’s experience in customs, and thinks she may be of use to the operation.
Later that night, Guy tells Don about the loss of his younger brothers and the rough childhood that made him. It’s one of the most emotional scenes of the episode and provides viewers with a deeper understanding of Guy’s motivations.
The next day, Bailey narrowly avoids suspicion when Eddie spots him posing as a utility worker outside Carter’s building. Bailey is able to explain himself, but Eddie still seems suspicious.
Guy meets Zeki and Taner at Felixstowe Docks as they get ready to move the latest shipment. When officials show up for an unexpected inspection, Guy enlists Don to back him up. Don quickly steps in and the shipment goes through without a hitch.
In the meantime, Kate gets Carter’s address from Erin and decides to go and check out his apartment herself, pushing the boundaries of the mission even further.
Elsewhere, Tommy finally confides in Eddie, revealing his addiction and asking for help. The next day Eddie agrees to take him to rehab and gives him money for food, leading viewers to hope that Tommy may be turning his life around at last.
Sorry, that hope doesn’t last long.
But when Guy and Taner arrive in Birmingham for the handover, the police raid the meeting place. Guy gets away but the drugs are left behind. It turns out later that Guy had secretly arranged for Don to give the police a tip off, sabotaging the operation on purpose while keeping his cover.
Next, Hakan tells Carter to eliminate a traitor within his organization. Carter soon discovers discrepancies in Shaun’s background and discovers Shaun is connected to customs.
Meanwhile, Eddie gets the bad news that Tommy has died of a drug overdose before even making it to rehab. The heartbreaking loss shifts Eddie’s outlook, but before he can even begin to deal with the tragedy, Carter orders him to kill Shaun.
Kate and Bailey luckily hear the conversation on their transmitter and are able to get Shaun and his family out just in time. Moments later Eddie and his men arrive and burn Shaun’s house down, ending the episode on a shocking cliffhanger.
The Episode Review
“This is Liverpool” is easily one of the best episodes of the season so far. The tension never lets up, especially in the warehouse scene when Kate and Bailey get trapped. It’s one of the episode’s most suspenseful moments, and shows how dangerous the mission has become.
The heart of the episode is Tommy’s storyline. The story has real heft in it, seeing him deal with addiction and ultimately lose his life as he was trying to get help. Eddie has spent his life helping move drugs into the country, and now he’s got to face the devastating consequences within his own family.
Carter continues to solidify himself as one of the most ruthless characters in the series. His ambition grows, and he feels no remorse whatsoever for the damage he causes.
The final sequence, where Shaun’s family narrowly escape their house as it is set alight, provides a good ending and raises the stakes for the next episode. Episode 3 is a masterful combination of emotional storytelling, tension of suspense, and major character development, making it one of the most memorable chapters of the season so far.