It’s been over two long years since the Defoes were last on screen, pulling audiences in with their love-life dilemmas, legal cases and some seriously luxe office attire. (Nicola Walker’s coats anyone?)
Fans thought they’d said goodbye to Hannah (Walker), Nathan (Stephen Mangan) and co. in a bittersweet season-three finale, but then May brought with it the welcome news of another outing.
The gang are back together and travelling to Spain for a family wedding in The Split: Barcelona, taking place over two sun-soaked episodes this month.
It’s a true Christmas treat for fans from Abi Morgan, bringing with it a much-needed dose of escapism in cold, dark December. Expect the usual ingredients of messy family dynamics, divorce and drama, topped off with a hint of holiday romance, in what is a comforting and charming, if predictable special.
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The first episode kicks off two years on from the finale and Hannah and Nathan’s divorce, but despite the division, the former couple remain as amicable as ever.
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As the two exes reunite with the wider family – Nina (Annabel Scholey), Rose (Fiona Button), Ruth (Deborah Findley) and Ronnie (Ian McElhinney) – the usual banter and teasing ensues, with particular attention paid to a certain new accessory of Nathan’s.
They’re rounded up and whisked away from Barcelona airport to a stunning vineyard location that’ll have you reaching for your phone and firing up Airbnb jealously.
It’s just as well relations are friendly between the two, with Hannah and Nathan having big roles in the wedding ahead, seeing eldest daughter Liv (Elizabeth Roberts) tie the knot with long-term boyfriend Gael (Alex Guernsman).
We’re introduced to Valentina (Romina Cocca) and Alvaro (Manu Fullola), the parents of Gael and owners of the sprawling oasis. Elegant and immaculately dressed, they reminisce about their own union ahead of the nuptials in a touchy-feely PDA that conjures a sarcastic, shared look between Hannah and Nathan. But as we’ve come to know with The Split, appearances aren’t everything.
Related: The Split's Nicola Walker reveals "there’s still love" between Hannah and Nathan
They’re not the only new cast additions, the most notable being Die Another Day and Percy Jackson star Toby Stephens. He plays Archie Moore, a charming yet aloof lawyer who just happens to be at the same wedding as the Defoes – and a single Hannah.
The pair have some history, and there’s a present-day complication, but could a weekend in the sun finally seal the deal for them romantically?
While we’re here for a wedding, it’s the will-they-won’t-they between Hannah and Archie that feels like a return to form in The Split: Barcelona. Once again, Morgan has mastered the rarely seen depiction of second-time love on primetime TV, beautifully delivering the prospect, pain and panic of it all.
Related: BBC's The Split to get a brand new spin-off
The season-three finale saw a happy ending for Hannah, albeit not a romantic one, with the message clear that happiness shouldn’t hinge on a significant other. Two years on, we see she’s content with what life holds for her – family joy and continued career success – but there’s room for love as an added bonus, should it appear.
Trusting in love in your fifties is no easy feat, as Hannah and Archie demonstrate, having been burnt by past loves, relationships and life experiences. Fear overpowers hope and there’s a vulnerability in opening yourself back up to both the process and person.
"But isn't anything worth doing terrifying?" Archie poses to Hannah during a late-night beach scene, where the crux of this is explored. Morgan’s writing as ever has you feeling and cheering for her characters, willing them to be brave enough to take the next, somewhat obvious step.
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Aware of fan loyalty to the whole family, Morgan includes some heartwarming and hilarious sub-plots for Rose and Nina, with the latter’s new relationship in particular providing the comedy.
Then there’s the divorce storyline woven in, a classic The Split custom, showing these legal heroes seeing justice served on behalf of their new client. However, this time it feels a little rushed, as if it’s been shoehorned in to tick a checkbox. Any eagle-eyed viewer will also grasp the twist before it arrives, with heavy hints dropped ahead of the first episode’s dramatic ending.
Nevertheless, The Split: Barcelona delivers total fan service that feels like a long overdue reunion with your favourite Quality Street. Time may have passed but the show hasn’t lost its fun or familiarity, with it hard not to still harbour warm feelings for the Defoes, and hope for more adventures in the future.
The Split: Barcelona airs on December 29 and 30 at 9pm on BBC One and the BBC iPlayer. Seasons 1-3 are available to stream on iPlayer now.
Emily is an experienced freelance entertainment writer and editor, reporting on all things TV, film, soaps and showbiz. An NCTJ-qualified journalist, with a First Class Honours degree in Journalism from the University of Sussex, Emily is a former Deputy News Editor and Evening News Editor at Digital Spy. She has previously worked at Hello magazine, BBC South News and GoodtoKnow.
A small and big-screen obsessive – with subscriptions to every TV and film service under the sun – Emily knows her movie stars from soap stars, and is always clued up on the latest reality show dumping, just-dropped trailer or off-screen spat. She's interviewed a number of celebrities over the years, with highlights including The Masked Singer host Joel Dommett and GMB's Kate Garraway (who "loved" her trousers).
Emily counts Sharon Horgan and Julia Davis as her TV heroes, and is a loyal Wes Anderson fan. LinkedIn
