BBC’s Shetland series 10 delivered another gripping, atmospheric and emotionally tense instalment this week, as episode 2 peeled back layers of secrets that have been simmering beneath the surface of Lunniswick for years (BBC News). Picking up in the immediate aftermath of last week’s explosive cliffhanger, the drama wasted no time plunging viewers deeper into the mystery surrounding Eadie Tulloch’s murder — and the complex web of relationships tied to her past.

As DI Ruth Calder and DI Alison “Tosh” McIntosh continued their investigation, they discovered new motives, surprising connections, and unresolved grief that cast long shadows over the island community. With the show’s signature blend of slow-burning tension and character-driven storytelling, episode 2 offered five major revelations that left fans theorising long after the credits rolled (Radio Times).

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Shetland series 10, episode 2.

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Why did Lana set fire to Eadie’s house?

The episode began with the immediate fallout from Lana Muir torching Eadie Tulloch’s home, an act that not only destroyed crucial evidence but raised unsettling questions about Lana’s true state of mind. Although previously presented as a vulnerable older woman suffering from dementia, Lana’s behaviour during questioning suggested she may be far more aware than anyone assumed.

She described Eadie as a “force of nature,” admitting they had once been close friends — even “kin not blood.” But her later remark, “You reap what you sow,” hinted at bitterness buried beneath the surface. When pressed on whether Eadie had hurt someone, Lana shut down, saying: “Some things are best left to lie.”

Her distress forced Procurator Fiscal Matt Blake to halt questioning, identifying her as a “vulnerable adult,” but the implication remained: Lana knew more about Eadie’s death than she was willing — or able — to say (The Guardian).

Stevie and Amy Shannon are suspects (Credit: BBC)

What happened to Eadie’s son Craig?

The episode also revisited the tragic storm of the early 2000s — a defining event in Lunniswick’s collective memory. Eadie’s son Craig, along with Lana and Arthur Muir’s son Ally, was killed when their fishing boat, The Linty, sank during the violent storm.

The loss deeply reshaped the lives of both women. Lana, previously described as warm and cheerful, became consumed by grief. Meanwhile, Ed Tulloch revealed that the tragedy created a permanent rift between him and his mother:
“I could never live up to Craig.”

While it remains unclear whether the storm connects directly to Eadie’s murder, the shared trauma between families adds another layer to the tangled emotional landscape (Digital Spy).

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Who are Amy and Stevie Shannon — and why are they suspects?

Old social services files dredged up another lead. Morag McCabe, wife of Sgt Billy McCabe, revealed that Eadie once handled the case of Amy and Stevie Shannon, two sisters removed from their neglectful mother on Eadie’s recommendation. Amy, now an adult, is suing social services for separating the siblings and placing them in traumatic foster environments.

Amy described their removal as devastating, noting that their mother died only months after they were taken. Stevie ended up in multiple foster homes and two children’s institutions — experiences that contributed to troubling behavioural reports about her “manipulating” other children.

Both sisters claimed that someone recently reported Amy and her partner to social services — but who? Tosh sensed that something was “off” about Stevie, and viewers undoubtedly agreed (The Telegraph).

Given Eadie’s reputation for making unpopular decisions in her social work days, the Shannon sisters quickly emerged as people with a possible motive.

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Arthur becomes the newest suspect

Halfway through the episode, suspicion shifted dramatically to Arthur Muir. Lana, in a lucid and emotional moment, told detectives:
“I know what happened to Eadie. It was terrible what Arthur did.”

The revelation of an affair between Arthur and Eadie decades earlier immediately escalated tensions. Arthur admitted they had ended things when Lana’s dementia diagnosis came five years earlier, but he concealed a major detail: he had visited Eadie on the night she died, bringing whisky and food.

Arthur insisted they only shared “one dram,” yet the autopsy found Eadie had a “skinful” of whisky in her system — which made no sense, given she supposedly didn’t drink. DI Calder summed it up:
“Our 76-year-old victim was paralytic at the time of her murder.”

Arthur maintained that Eadie was alive and well when he left. But between concealed visits, old affairs, and Lana’s fear, the detectives could no longer dismiss him — even if they released him for the moment (BBC Scotland).

What is Hayley’s dangerous secret?

The episode also followed Hayley Burnett, whose increasingly suspicious behaviour drew scrutiny from both her partner Chris and the audience. She was constantly checking a second phone — something she initially blamed on running two restaurants.

But the truth was far darker.

Hayley confessed she was in serious trouble:
“The restaurant’s got into debt and I’ve done something stupid. Now I have to do exactly what I’m told or we’re in danger. All of us.”

She revealed a large bag of heroin she was supposed to deliver to a dealer to clear her debt. Whether this drug plot connects to Eadie’s murder remains unclear — but it adds significant tension to the broader story.

Saskia Ashdown and Gabriel Akuwudike as Hayley and Chris Burnett in Shetland series 10 (Credit: BBC/Silverprint Films/Jamie Simpson)

Top Five Revelations in Episode 2

1. Arthur and Eadie’s past affair
   Their romantic history — and Arthur’s secret visit on the night she died — casts a long shadow over the investigation.

2. Eadie’s whisky mystery
   The unexpected discovery of high whisky levels in her system contradicts everything we know about her — and Arthur’s story.

3. Hayley’s criminal entanglement
   Hayley’s drug-related debt puts her entire family in danger and adds a new threat to the island.

4. Amy and Stevie Shannon’s grudge
   Their deep resentment toward Eadie for separating them as children gives them a strong emotional motive.

5. A shared tragedy between Lana and Eadie
   Both women lost sons in the same devastating storm — a trauma that still resonates, and may be connected to long-buried resentment.