Lola Petticrew in "Trespasses" (Photo: Wildgaze Films/All3Media International/PBS)

It seems safe to assume that no one watching Trespasses expected a happy ending. This isn’t that kind of story; that’s been obvious from its opening frames. Between the ever-present threat of violence and the constant social tension between two sectarian groups in a never-ending war with each other, the show is infused with a constant sense of dread that infuses even its sweetest moments with a palpable tension. Even if you’re lucky enough to find some sort of happiness, how long can it last in a world like this?

Sure, Michael and Cushla may have genuinely loved each other, but their star-crossed relationship was probably doomed from the start. Michael’s married, a known public figure, and already being monitored by armed agents of the state and paramilitary groups alike. Cushla’s a Catholic teacher, and her entire livelihood depends on not running afoul of various official bodies that have opinions on how she chooses to live. That’s not the recipe for happily ever after, no matter how much either of them (or those of us watching at home) wanted it to be.

Despite knowing this was the relationship’s most likely end, the news that Michael Agnew is dead arrives like a thunderclap to close the show’s penultimate installment, and the fallout from his death drives the bulk of this finale. His murder (mercifully) occurs offscreen, but the long-tail impact of his death reverberates through Trespasses’ final hour in unexpected and heartbreaking ways.

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The ‘Trespasses’ Finale Is a Tragedy on Multiple Levels