Ep 3. Episode 3

After the explosive events of the first two episodes, Line Of Duty season 5 episode 3 picks up with tensions running high within AC-12 and the wider police force. The fallout from the raid on the Eastfield depot continues to reverberate, with Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) facing intense scrutiny from the press and his colleagues alike.

As Ted strives to clear his name and salvage his reputation, his team at AC-12 - led by Detective Inspector Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure), Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) and their new colleague, Detective Constable John Corbett (Stephen Graham) - delve deeper into the links between organized crime and corrupt police officers. Corbett, who has proved to be a thorn in AC-12's side from the moment he arrived, takes center stage in this episode as his motives and loyalties are called into question.

As always, Line Of Duty ratchets up the tension with intricate plot twists and cryptic clues, as the team race against the clock to uncover the truth about Eastfield and the elusive 'H', the corrupt senior police officer who has been pulling the strings behind the scenes. Episode 3 sees the pace ramp up as new leads emerge, old alliances come into question and the stakes become higher than ever.

Meanwhile, there is further tension within the police force as Detective Chief Inspector Patricia Carmichael (Anna Maxwell Martin) arrives from Central Police to take charge of the investigation into AC-12's handling of the Eastfield raid. Her no-nonsense approach and ruthless interrogation tactics put the team on edge, as they struggle to fend off her accusations and keep their own secrets from coming to light.

Line Of Duty is known for its nail-biting interrogations and Episode 3 is no exception. As AC-12 bring in one suspect after another, each denial and half-truth only serves to muddy the waters further. The tensions between Corbett and the rest of the team come to a head as he is brought in for questioning, but it soon becomes apparent that there may be more going on behind the scenes than anyone had suspected.

As the episode hurtles towards its cliffhanger ending, Line Of Duty leaves viewers on the edge of their seats, with more questions than answers. Will AC-12 manage to clear their names and uncover the corruption at the heart of the force? And, crucially, who is 'H', the mysterious figure pulling the strings from the shadows? Episode 3 is a must-see for fans of the show, packed with drama, suspense and brilliant performances from its talented cast.