Thread by @QueerlyAutistic

I think that, initially, Callum realising just how merciless and unscrupulous DI Dickhead actually is (rather than just being a standard issue arsehole) is going to push him to be even more compliant in doing what he's told to protect Ben, and understandably so #Ballum

I think that, previously, there was some belief in Callum that DIDH wasn't actually fully awful, and there was some part of him that was reasonable and therefore could be reasoned with. Because he believes in people's inherent goodness, because that's who Callum is #Ballum

However, now he knows absolutely that not only is DIDH fully top grade limited edition arsehole, but that he also doesn't care about the rules or the law to get what he wants. He's entirely amoral in all of it, which means he will do ANYTHING to get what wants #Ballum

The realisation is no doubt going to terrify Callum into further compliance, not for his own sake but Ben's - he knows how far that DIDH will go, and the immediate threat to Ben is even more real than it's ever been. And that's always been his motivation - protecting Ben #Ballum

However, it also makes it unsustainable road, as now that the pretence has gone, DIDH has free reign to treat Callum as awfully and abusively as he clearly wants to. He doesn't have to pretend to play nice anymore, and Callum's world is going to get even harder #Ballum

DI Dickhead's reveal may result in further compliance in the short term, but it also cements him as a villain and cements that Callum will have to reach out to the Mitchells eventually to take him down. This has gone 0-60 in such a short space of time, it cant linger #Ballum

Ultimately, we're now in a position where Callum, Ben and Phil are all under the same threat from the same enemy, and they are ALL in some way responsible for that situation. In many ways, this solidifies them as family more than anything has before #Ballum