DISCLAIMER: This recap of Criminal Record Season 1 Episode 6, “Beehive,” contains spoilers. Proceed at your peril. 

“Beehive” brings us one step closer to freeing Errol Mathis and effectively shutting the door on Dan Hegarty’s shady dealings. Once again, Cush Jumbo and Peter Capaldi prove why they’re two of our best performers today. I wish we had more explosive scenes with these two, but I love that each interaction is more heated than the last. The death of Doris isn’t the most original move the show could make.

However, it’s utterly tragic, given her advocacy and work to free her son. It also propels the narrative and brings about the downfall of Tony Gilfoyle. My guess is it’ll also motivate Errol to fight for his innocence. 

Doris Mathis looks angry while standing outside her shop in Criminal Record Season 1 Episode 6, "Beehive."

CRIMINAL RECORD Season 1 Episode 6, “Beehive.” Photo courtesy of Apple TV+.

“Beehive” is another solid episode in the Criminal Record universe. This series excels at making even the seemingly low-stress moments these high-stakes events. You can’t help but be glued to your screen as Jumbo and Capaldi deliver mesmerizing, supercharged performances with this tense, captivating backdrop. 

RELATED: Check out our recap of Criminal Record Season 1 Episode 5, “Possession with Intent”

Beehive 

We open with Tony (Charlie Creed-Miles) tending to his beehive. A neighborhood kid who delivers his mail pops into his backyard to observe the bees. Tony explains in a voiceover what happens when a queen bee is dying. We see June (Jumbo) looking through the 2011 Errol Mathis case files. There’s a dialogue about two bees fighting it out for that coveted queen position that’s a little too on the nose, but the sentiment works. June will ensure she rises victorious over Dan. 

Meanwhile, we see Isaac (Thomas Harper-Jones) sitting in his hospital room, watching cartoons. His mom, Jenny (Kerrie Hayes), chats with Dan (Capaldi) about her son’s shooter. Dan reveals they’re moving to charge the man for attempted murder. However, this process might take a while. Elsewhere, June takes her findings to Sonya (Aysha Kala). Upon looking through the case files for Errol, June noticed that Dan visited Errol’s flat between when Errol couldn’t recall any details and when he delivered a detailed confession. What did Dan see? 

Errol Mathis wears a blue and black plaid button-up t-shirt while sitting in a prison cell and talking on a phone in Criminal Record Season 1 Episode 6, "Beehive."

CRIMINAL RECORD Season 1 Episode 6, “Beehive.” Photo courtesy of Apple TV+.

Visiting Errol 

Then, Doris (Cathy Tyson) posts on her blog about visiting Errol that day in prison. She’s hopeful they’ll exonerate him, especially if they can track down Carla. Her husband, Reggie (Patrice Naiambana), looks less hopeful. At the prison, Doris conveys the new developments to Errol (Tom Moutchi). Errol doesn’t want to get his hopes up, though. He urges his mom to drop it before signaling to a guard that he’s ready to return to his quarters. Doris looks crushed. 

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Later, Dan knocks on Patrick’s (Rasaq Kukoyi). To his surprise, Lisa (Maisie Ayres) answers. He didn’t know his daughter and Patrick were dating. Lisa and Dan argue outside the flat. He tries to get her in the car, but she refuses to budge. Then, she goes in for the kill — she claims she doesn’t blame her mother for leaving him. Who would want to stay with him anyway? Dan tells her to f*ck off before driving away. Realizing he made a mistake, Dan turns around to retrieve her. 

Meanwhile, June meets with Ross Cordona (Mark Weinman), Errol’s lawyer during the 2011 case. She tries to pry into his side of things. Why did his client fully confess to a murder he didn’t remember committing? Unfortunately, Ross refuses to impart any information. 

Patrick Burrowes stands outside his apartment while on the phone and looking shocked in Criminal Record Season 1 Episode 6, "Beehive."

CRIMINAL RECORD Season 1 Episode 6, “Beehive.” Photo courtesy of Apple TV+.

MIA 

Dan returns to Patrick’s apartment to find Lisa is gone. He asks Patrick where she could’ve went. He urges Patrick to stay put and call around while he searches the area. Elsewhere, Latisha (Janet Kumah) tries to apologize to Doris for reporting her doings to Tony. Doris doesn’t seem ready to forgive yet, which is understandable. 

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Then, June and Chloe (Dionne Brown) mend fences at work. The conversation turns to Claudia Mayhew and the police reform she’s spearheading. Chloe mentions all the abuse Claudia receives for her work and how she’s had to move twice. This gets the wheels in June’s head spinning. 

Dan returns home to find the box of drugs under his bed on the floor, with its remaining contents spilling out. Lisa grabbed some drug paraphernalia before she departed. At her home, June asks Leo (Stephen Campbell Moore) why he thought Jacob’s friends planted the meth in his backpack. Leo admits he doesn’t know why — he just blurted it out. Oh, you know why: you simply refuse to confront your internal bias.

Are We Good? 

June catches this and tries to expand upon it. Leo shuts it down, asking if they’re “good.” June smiles, reassuring him that they are. Jumbo performs this scene beautifully. She expertly walks that tightrope, where June doesn’t want to “come off” as “confrontational” to Leo. She navigates the nuances and layers of this moment like a pro. 

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Later, Claudia Mayhew (Georgina Rich) calls Dan, asking him where he is. He was supposed to meet her at the pub with other higher-ups to discuss the Rowntree Park case. We know he’s on the hunt for Lisa, though. He ignores Claudia’s calls. Dan drives around town. He calls different facilities, offering Lisa’s description and urging them to call him if they’ve seen her. He sees multiple young blonde women on the street, but none of them are her. 

June Lenker stands in a dimly lit living room, looking upset in Criminal Record Season 1 Episode 6, "Beehive."

CRIMINAL RECORD Season 1 Episode 6, “Beehive.” Photo courtesy of Apple TV+.

Next, June falls down the internet rabbit hole. She reads about Claudia’s attempts to “reform the Met from within.” Then, she stumbles upon the vitriol and the onslaught of verbal abuse aimed at Claudia. It’s all pretty misogynistic and racist. One poster, in particular, catches June’s eye. 

Parakeets 

After spending all night looking for Lisa, Dan wanders into the park. He finds a group of young people residing in a camp. He doesn’t spot Lisa among them. Parakeets move about on branches above him. Thankfully, Patrick calls with news of Lisa’s return home. She’s safe now. 

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Later, June questions Tony regarding the Errol case and his involvement. Oh, and his online activity in the internet smear campaign against Claudia. Tony claims innocence and resorts to insulting June instead. He rattles off a list of racist, misogynistic hogwash before slamming the door in front of her. Inside his home, Tony looks unnerved. June is getting close to the truth. 

Next, June persuades Claudia to move in on Tony. She has solid evidence that he’s been one of the trolls insulting Claudia online and threatening her. Initially, Claudia is hesitant, but she agrees to look into it. Elsewhere, Doris spots Latisha sleeping in her car. She lets Latisha inside, where they chat about Tony and what he did to her. When Tony found out that Latisha talked to June, he took away her apartment and separated her from her children. 

Sonya Singh sits in her law office while looking focused.

CRIMINAL RECORD Season 1 Episode 6, “Beehive.” Photo courtesy of Apple TV+.

A Deadly Confrontation 

Angry on behalf of Latisha and herself, she confronts Tony while he’s packing his wheelchair into the trunk of his van. Doris wonders why he would ask Latisha to spy on her. That’s seedy stuff. Tony hops into his van and attempts to drive away. Doris bangs on his window, calling him out on his crap, before standing behind his vehicle. She tries to prevent him from leaving. Suddenly, Tony reverses, striking Doris. Doris lands off to the side as Tony pulls out of his driveway. 

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Having witnessed Tony hitting Doris, a few neighbors order him to get out of the van. Unfortunately, Doris dies of her injuries right there. Now Tony can add “murderer” to his resume. Poor Doris. Dan is alerted of the murder and chats with Tony while the latter’s in holding. June gets a call and arrives on the scene.

Meanwhile, Errol, unaware of his mom’s death, leaves a voicemail on her cell. He apologizes for his behavior earlier during her visit. Aw, this breaks my heart. Reggie visits Errol later to disclose the news of Doris’ murder. Dan confronts Tony and reminds him why it’s important not to act. Leave the acting to Dan. Dan asks Tony about his online life and his bullying of Claudia. Apparently, Dan didn’t know about Tony’s extracurricular activities. 

June Lenker and Dan Hegarty stand across from each other in a dimly lit living room while in a heated conversation.

CRIMINAL RECORD Season 1 Episode 6, “Beehive.” Photo courtesy of Apple TV+.

This Is My Case 

Then, Dan arrives at Tony’s house, where June and the team are already searching. Dan claims he’s there to take over the case and will send all appropriate paperwork to June for review. However, June asserts she’s the first officer to arrive on the scene, making this her investigation. She’ll be the one sending him all the documentation. Take that! 

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Outside, some folks in suits search Tony’s beehive, where they find a disc hidden among the busy bees. Uh-oh. Dan doesn’t look happy about this discovery. He heads back to the station, where Kim (Shaun Dooley) and the team are in celebration mode. They’ve got the attempted murder charge for the Rowntree shooter. Kim urges his boss to cheer up. Of course, he doesn’t know about Tony yet. 

Meanwhile, June pops the disc in to watch it. It’s Errol’s confession from 2011. Ross Cordona and Tony are also present. June observes Errol’s physicality and demeanor. She does the same for Dan, noticing that Errol seems to be looking at the former for guidance. Dan is leading Errol on, pulling the confession out of him. Errol confesses to stabbing Adelaide Burrowes in the throat and the chest. Dan rests his pen against his chest before Errol says that’s where he stabbed Adelaide. 

The Truth 

June brings Dan in to question him about this new piece of evidence. She reveals the footage from his confession was initially reported as “damaged.” However, it was clearly concealed from public viewing, withheld from Errol’s case files. Dan attempts to evade her questions. June knows his goose is cooked. This is irrefutable proof that the Errol case was sabotaged. Dan mentions the parakeets in London before resigning himself to telling June the truth … which we will hopefully hear next week. Gah! 

RELATED: Keep up on the case with our Criminal Record recaps

Why do you think Dan fed Errol that confession? What did he see at Errol’s flat? Will Tony be rightfully charged with murder? Could we see the downfall of The Sixty-Twos? Only time (and two more episodes) will tell. 

Criminal Record streams new episodes every Wednesday on Apple TV+.

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