This City Is Ours season two has finally arrived - and with blood, tears and sacrifice, it's been everything we hoped and more.
The eight-part BBC drama returned for a second installment earlier this month, bringing us back into Liverpool's gritty criminal underworld to reunite with the Phelan clan. Michael and Diana find themselves barely settled in Spain before the violence comes knocking, with a face from Ronnie's past arriving on the scene in Liverpool to shake things up.
And if you thought last season was dramatic, little did you know what was coming. Let's deep dive into that twisty series two finale - including what it could mean for a potential series three...
Warning: spoilers lie down below
What happened in the This City Is Ours season two finale? The ending explained
As season two let us know early on, we were in for (quite literally) a bloody ride.
The Phelan clan weren't shy of delivering retribution in series two. At the end of episode 7, they learnt that Freddie was the shooter who killed Rachel Duffy, after Ozzie sold him out for money to give to his estranged son, Liam. The Phelan's obviously made it their mission to avenge Rachel's death, and thanks to a tracker placed in Freddie's backpack by Ozzie, Jamie and Bobby were able to track him down.
Now, a tip off from Michael did see him initially escape - but Freddie didn't flee to Ireland as planned. With Diana's words weighing heavy on his shoulders, Freddie chose to turn himself in and face his punishment. The series finale reveals that he's been arrested for the murder of Rachel Duffy and is on remand.
Of course, we all knew it was actually Ozzie who manipulated the vulnerable teen into carrying the gun that would eventually kill Rachel - and there's plenty of people who want him dead. As Michael told the Phelans, ‘Freddie pulled the trigger, but it was Ozzie Thompson who loaded the gun.’
Is Michael now working with the Phelan's?
By the end of This City Is Ours, Michael was well and truly in the Phelan firm - and this time, he’s running it.
Without him, the Phelan’s were beginning to crumble. Michael had always been Ronnie’s right-hand man, and had the contacts and attitude to keep the gang running. Without him, the Phelans wouldn’t survive - which is why Michael struck up a deal. He would take over the firm, setting aside their disagreements of the past, with their first act being avenging Rachel.
In shocking scenes, Michael, Jamie, Bobby and Banksey murder Ozzie by shooting him four times.
And the same any business, they had plans to expand. From now on, they’d be looking to sell 250 kees of ‘lemo’ (cocaine) across the streets of Liverpool.
But while he’s back on top, it doesn’t mean Michael’s safe. He’s not really family to the Phelans, and neither Elaine nor Jamie are willing to forgive him for killing Ronnie in series one. Elaine tells Jamie, ‘We need Michael. Doesn’t mean we forget or forgive. It means we wait. Until there’s a time we don’t need him.’
What happened to Felipe, and who was Luis?
By the end of our season two finale, things had taken a sharp downward spiral for Felipe - with viewers finally learning why he had such an obsession with Michael and Diana.
After following Diana across Liverpool and forcing himself into her house, Diana and Felipe ended up in a dramatic confrontation. Felipe finally admits the reason he hates Michael so much, saying that a man he loved had died and that he never got to say goodbye. Felipe held Michael responsible for the death of his partner, Luis, who Michael described as being a ‘junkie with a loose tongue.’
Saying he wanted to join his dead lover, Felipe then walked straight into the knife Diana was holding in defense.
Of course, Felipe knew that doing this would mess with Diana’s head. Viewers previously learnt that Diana had killed her own father to stop him abusing her mum, Lesley, with Lesley taking the blame and going to prison for the crime. While Felipe wanted to die and join his dead lover, he also knew that Diana being responsible would be the revenge he needed against Michael.
That is, until Michael enters...
Felipe and Michael confront each other - but while Michael admits to shooting Luis, he says he didn't kill him. Instead, Michael insists that Luis had already been dead when he shot him in an attempt to prove his loyalty to Ricardo.
It makes no difference to Felipe, who points out that Michael had shot Luis in his ‘beautiful face.’ He then tells Michael, ‘I am passing my pain onto you. Welcome to winter.’
While he likely would have died anyway from his stab wound, an outraged Michael shoots Felipe dead - all while a devastated Diana is in the other room.
Have Diana and Michael split up?
Michael’s return to the Phelan firm didn't come without sacrifice.
In some rather emotional scenes, Michael told Diana that his decision was made for them. ‘I want to run a restaurant with you, and have our own little vineyard,’ he told her, ‘but we need money to invest.’ That investment would come from doing what he’s good at: running Ronnie’s business.
However, Michael’s return proved far too much risk for Diana and her unborn baby. After Michael murders Felipe, it seems Diana simply cannot continue being involved with the violence of Michael’s past - which was part of the reason she decides it's time to walk away.
In our finale, we see her send her mum, Lesley, to let Michael know their relationship is over. Having spent her own time in prison off the back of a toxic relationship, Lesley wants what’s best for her daughter - telling Michael to never contact Diana again, and let her and her child live a life without crime.
Of course, that doesn’t mean the love is gone. Will Diana return for season three, or will she turn her back on Michael for good? Only time will tell.
Stream This City Is Ours on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
Like this? Get more Grazia content straight to your browser. Click here to add Grazia as a preferred source on Google.
Charlotte Roberts is a writer at Grazia UK. She spends her days covering everything celebrity, culture, and entertainment - from film review roundups to cast explainers.