Ep 1. Episode 1 (1)

In the first episode of Hinterland season 3, we see the return of DCI Tom Mathias to Aberystwyth after an extended leave of absence. From the very start, we sense a change in Mathias, as if he is not the same man that left months ago. However, he is soon thrust into a new case when the body of a young woman is discovered in a remote farmhouse.

The victim, Megan Ruddock, was a teacher at a local school. She had recently moved out to the farmhouse with her husband, Dylan, and their baby. Dylan is nowhere to be found, and Mathias and his team must determine whether or not he had any involvement in his wife's death.

As they begin to investigate, they learn that Megan had been involved with a group of environmental activists who were protesting a new development that was set to destroy a local area of natural beauty. According to one of her colleagues, Megan had been getting increasingly paranoid in the weeks leading up to her death, convinced that someone was out to get her.

Mathias and his team unravel a complex web of relationships and motivations as they try to find out who killed Megan. Along the way, they are faced with their own demons and challenges. DS Sian Owens, Mathias's most trusted colleague, finds herself caught between her loyalty to him and her growing concerns about his mental state. Meanwhile, DC Lloyd Ellis must navigate the challenges of working with a new partner, DI Mared Rhys, who is less willing to follow Mathias's unorthodox methods.

The episode is set against the stunning backdrop of the Welsh countryside, and the slow pace and brooding atmosphere are as much a part of the show as the intricate plot and character development. The writing is meticulous, with every detail and clue carefully planted and woven into the story. The acting is superb, particularly that of Richard Harrington as Mathias, who conveys a sense of weariness and intensity that is both fascinating and unsettling.

Overall, Hinterland season 3 episode 1 is a gripping and atmospheric start to the new season, with a complex and satisfying mystery that will keep viewers guessing until the very end.