Shetland series 10 has pulled the rug out from under viewers, casting fresh suspicion over much-loved Sgt Billy McCabe – and episode 4 has only deepened the unease.
In Wednesday’s instalment (November 26, 2025), Stevie was desperately trying to keep her sister Amy close, but the task became almost impossible once Amy uncovered some devastating truths about her.
Elsewhere, DI Ruth Calder pushed her informant Louden into an extremely risky assignment that quickly spiralled into violence, while Tosh and Sandy continued to pick apart Robert Tulloch’s past within the police.
But the real shocker landed right at the end when their digging dragged Billy’s spotless record through the dirt. For the first time, viewers were left wondering whether the island’s most trusted sergeant might not be as untouchable as they thought.
Here’s a recap of what happened in Shetland series 10 episode 4.
***Warning: spoilers from Shetland series 10 episode 4 ahead***
Ashley Jensen’s DI Ruth Calder put her informant in grave danger in Shetland (Credit: BBC One)
Shetland series 10 episode 4: Is Will Louden dead?
DI Ruth Calder was on a mission to bring down the drug-dealing Callaghan family this week. In a bid to find out the identity of the Callaghans’ contact in Shetland, she piled the pressure on Will Louden to dig into the family and put him in grave danger.
He reluctantly agreed… Although, to be fair, he didn’t have a lot of choice as Calder emotionally blackmailed him with the promise to help him see his estranged child. Her harsh tactics were all in a good cause, but they put Will’s life at risk.
He warned her “it was too dangerous”, and he was right. When he started asking questions, Callaghan’s henchman Mitchell started followed him. It wasn’t long before he saw Louden meet up with DI Calder, and knew he’d found the “grass”.
At the end of the episode, Calder found Louden slumped unconscious by a wall. Although it wasn’t clear if he was dead, it had been made to look like he’d taken an overdose.
Perhaps if Ruth Calder had been a bit more careful with her informant, then he wouldn’t have been left fighting for his life.
Stevie Shannon’s real motives revealed and why she attacked Morag
In Shetland series 10 episode 4, the focus was very much on Stevie Shannon. We discovered – as if we hadn’t already guessed – that she had made the call to social services about her sister. Wow, what an absolutely cow.
Understandably, Amy was devastated to find out her sister was behind it. We learnt that Stevie just wanted Amy all to herself, and resented her life with her husband Luke and son Aiden.
A clearly very unwell Stevie believed that the whole world was trying to “get between her and Amy”, including Luke and Aiden. Of course, because she’d made a malicious report, the police were able to arrest her. Crucially this gave them reason to take her fingerprints. Viewers will know that there was a third set of prints found in Eadie Tulloch’s house.
Of course, when social services had been called it was Billy’s wife Morag who attended the scene. We know she was involved in Stevie and Amy’s case back in the day, alongside Eadie Tulloch.
Trying to defend herself to Amy, Stevie told her: “I’m going to put things right. I’m going to make sure she can’t take Aiden off you.”
She then drove to Morag’s house in a rage, broke into her house, and threatened her. Acting quite deranged, she said: “You took Amy from me. You and Tulloch. You stole her.”
Luckily, Morag managed to talk Stevie down before any harm came to either of them. Police subsequently arrived to arrest Stevie.
Support authors and subscribe to content
This is premium stuff. Subscribe to read the entire article.
