Beyond Paradise ending explained as Martha and Humphrey face difficult goodbye

The season finale of Beyond Paradise enthralled viewers as it tied up emotional storylines amid a backdrop of suspense. DS Esther Williams, portrayed by Zahra Ahmadi, faced dilemmas in her personal life, while Kris Marshall's DI Humphrey Goodman and Sally Bretton's Martha Lloyd grappled with disturbing developments concerning Rosie, played by Bella Rei Blue Stevenson.

Amidst these tender moments, the plot thickened with Josh Woods (Chris Jenks) enlisting PC Kelby Hartford's (Dylan Llewellyn) assistance when Lucy Thompson (Eva Feiler), Josh's partner, vanished mysteriously. With the legend of 'Devil's Hump' looming over them, Kelby discovered crucial evidence near the place Lucy was last seen, leading to both characters overcoming their previous animosity.

A pivotal scene between Martha and Esther brought forth revelations about Archie Hughes (Jamie Bamber), allowing Martha to support Esther in pursuing what might be more than just friendship. Recognising the risks, Martha encouraged Esther to embrace the possibility of love with Archie, deeming him "one of the good ones".

In a poignant conclusion, Martha and Humphrey faced an unexpected parental turning point when social worker Hannah Owen (Amalia Vitale) delivered news that would forever change Rosie's future during her pirate-themed party.

Martha and Humphrey, who had begun to view Rosie as a daughter, were left devastated, believing they would have more time with her. The couple admitted that they hadn't expected the farewell to be so painful.

When they broke the news to Rosie, she was left in tears, realising she wouldn't be able to join them for a zoo trip.

However, they managed to mend their relationship, with Rosie even assisting Humphrey in solving the mystery of Lucy's disappearance, which turned out to be a kidnapping case at a local pub.

When Hannah arrived the following day to collect Rosie, a tough goodbye ensued, with Martha asserting: "You are family now, so if you ever need anything, we are only a phone call away."

Martha's mother Anne (Barbara Flynn) also bid an emotional farewell to Rosie. Despite her health scare, she remains a part of the series for now.

Elsewhere, Esther was still grappling with relationship problems with Archie, which were interfering with her work. Esther's daughter Zoe (Melina Sinadinou) confronted Archie to discover what had transpired between him and her mother, urging Archie to try to win her back.

Archie phoned Esther to suggest they could proceed at her speed, but Esther maintained it was not a risk she was willing to take. After arranging to meet, Esther ended up driving off into the sunset, apologising to Archie, who thought she was unwilling to allow herself to be happy.

Beyond Paradise is on BBC iPlayer