Shark Bytes

I just assumed the two actors quit. Why else would the show commit suicide like it did? Why not keep Assumpta in a coma for 2 years? Peter could have stuck around indefinitely and pined in secret at her bedside.

I just discovered the Ballykissangel series from my local library in the U.S. and instantly got drawn in to the first three series.

There was depth and sensitivity to each of the characters and the ongoing lessons in life and morality that Father Peter faced became the underpinnings for the series.

As other readers have pointed out, the end to Series 3 was a big disappointment. Throughout the first three series, Peter addresses moral dilemnas against the backdrop of his Catholic faith but in such a way that all of us can relate, whether Catholic or not. When he is faced with his own personal tragedy and moral dilemna, the viewers are left hanging as to his ultimate decision. Did he remain a priest after Assumpta's death and did his own personal loss make him a better man and priest?

The remaining series paled in comparison to the first three and this burning question was never answered.

I liked the beginning seasons of BallyK, but the reason it ran out of steam was the strict Catholic morality that governed the show. That is why the situations became trite and pat. Right before Assumpta died, she and Peter kissed each other passionately
after admitting their feelings. That might have been seen as a sin by someone with a strict Catholic morality, so she had to die, and he had to leave in shame instead of staying like most wanted him to. Then when Niamh went off the rails, as people often do after losing someone, and kissed another man, Ambrose had to die so she could be punished for her sin. Also, for her to re-marry without committing more sins, she had to be a widow, not a divorcee'. As for Assumpta, she irritated me. She was usually grumbling about something
or sticking her nose where it didn't belong. Some would call that being a high spirited Irish woman, I would call that being a pain in the butt. Also, her quickie marriage didn't ring true. She seemed to be such an independent person, so why would she marry someone she didn't love? Being in love with a priest was obstacle enough. If Peter really loved her, he'd become a Methodist or
another Christian religion where he could be a minister and get married. I was disappointed with Sean and Niamh as a couple, they had no chemistry and the kissing was awful! When she kissed Ambrose, it looked like they were really in love. On the plus side, the acting was top notch, especially Tina Kelleger's. If you don't believe me, rent the movie "The Snapper", and see that she's one of the best actressess on the planet. I cared enough to watch until the end, when they were going to repeat history with that brunette (the real daughter of the actor who played Brian Quigley) and her attraction to the handsome Aussie priest. I guess the producers saw that it was played out and cancelled it.

My husband rented the first half of season one from Netflix. I was addicted immediately. I've been insatiably watching the DVD's at an accelerating pace and, in my haste, have purchased the first 3 seasons. However, I made the mistake of getting on the internet before finishing season 3. I'm devastated! No aplogies: the story of Peter and Sumpta has consumed my middle aged heart. Pathetic, I know. Now I'm dreading watching the last few episodes.

Believe it or not, it’s 2008 and Ballykissangel is only now being shown on BBC Prime in Serbia! I know only few people watching it, because there are no Serbian subtitles. People here have seen Stephen Tompkinson in Wild at Heart, which is a shame, because I like him most as Peter Clifford.
I fell in love with BallyK the moment I saw the first episode. For the past few weeks I have been preparing myself for The Reckoning, searching the Internet and watching video clips. But nothing could have prepared me for such a heartbreak.
Have the creators ever explained why they have decided to finish season 3 in such a way?
Since I was a teenager, I haven’t been drawn to a series and to its characters this strongly. It is “exhilarating and depressing at the same time” (in Peter’s words). The story is written with such wit and intelligence. It has awoken the emotions I thought I was too old and too serious to be able to feel. (For God’s sake, I’m a 34-year-old teacher)
I was very happy when I came across http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/9171/BallyK.html . It was extremely comforting to read all the alternative endings to The Reckoning episode, and to see that I am not alone feeling this way.
I am also completely awestricken by Stephen Tompkinson’s brilliance, charm and wit. It has been far too long since I liked an actor so much. I have always been a fan of English films and English humour, but unfortunately I have had little chance to enjoy them. I will do my best to change that.
My best regards to all the fans.

I do does it. It was so shocking when Asumpta died. But it was even more shocking when Peter who was such a great character and priest could not handle temptation. He was so good for the town. I loved the way he ran around putting out fires. It would have been a better show if he could. They lost me at that point. Then when Ninmh turns mean and hurts Ambrose I really was disappointed. The final nail was when they killed another pivotal character, Ambrose. It barely matter. I thought who shall they kill next? It went from a show about a day in the life of an interesting group of people to a soap opera and the BBC became the serial killer of television characters. I am sorry to hear about Brian. I have not made it that far but now I will stop while I am ahead. On another note, I did like the addition of Billy and Sean (and Sean’s daughter). They were great new cast members for added story lines, just not to replaced original cast.

i thouroughly enjoyed each character, and coming to miss some,added tribute to their parts well played.they all became family, and their music played in my sleep.i did feel the loss of assumpta,peter,ambrose,and quigley--but to me, c'est la vie!
it did become 'choppy' after series 4, and the scene changes to and fro' were too soon.but still, hats off, to one of the most enjoyable tv viewing that i have experienced in my 55 years.

Definitely when Assumpta died and Peter left. I can't believe they couldn't be together! It was so sad. I cried.

I put a lot of interest into the show for the first 3 seasons and was very let down when Assumpta died and Peter left town. I wish they could have gotten together.

It definitely wasn't when Peter declared his love for Assumpta. I agree that those two were the best characters (I also believe the first three series were great). I watched some of the other series but it was never the same after Assumpta died and Peter left town. I agree that it would have been interesting to see how the town would have reacted to their being together. I think we saw Brendan's reaction, he would have been pleased. I'd still like to see a book made from the third series. I watched it (on DVD) several times.

I'm with everyone else, it's after Assumpta died that it stopped working. I still watched it after though, and then totally stopped when Ambrose died. Stupidest move in a television programe ever.

Well, of the choices on offer, I guess it's the death of Assumpta. But that's not precisely what killed the show. In fact, the episode after the death revealed promising lines of development--and then Father Clifford just left the village, too.

Ballykissangel stopped being Ballykissangel when it lost its priest, not when it lost its publican. It's very like Northern Exposure in that way. Ballyk osing Peter was like Cicely losing Joel: the viewers had their viewpoint into the "mad little village" shut off.

Now, I have to say that Ballyk got back up on its feet with its final season, because there was an attempt to give us back the original "stranger in a strange world" setup, and the new, Australian priest had a lot going for him. In fact, had he come in at season 3, I don't think we would have seen the Peter/Assumpta departure in quite the same clear-cut way.

It was definitely the ending of series 3. 3 seasons of tension between Peter and Assumpta and then they kill her off a mere 10 minutes after they finally get together. Too unbelievable and a missed opportunity to see how the rest of the town would react.

When Assumpta died the show died. What a horrid choice to make! Then later they have Niamh cheat on Ambrose then kill off Ambrose. I won't even watch the reruns past those episodes now.

When Assumpta died... in a most ridiculous fashion, I might add... and Peter left. That's when they rolled the shark tank in. When they put all those new characters on the next season, they rolled the ramps on either side of the tank and gassed up Fonzie's motorcycle. If they had left it there, we might have parked the motorbike and walked away... but when they changed priests AGAIN, made the first set of new characters disappear and brought in another set??? OOOOO, loook! Fonzie's revving the cycle, he's hit the gas... he's going, going, going... and he's Jumped the shark, ladies and gentlemen! I liked the new folks in season two and, if they'd stayed the course, I expect it might have flown but...