In the latest episode of Casualty, Flynn Byron's (Olly Rix) theory about Colonel Jack Bard (Mark Womack) and his treatment of soldiers was confirmed, leaving him deeply shaken. The revelation came with help from Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless), solidifying Flynn's fears about the colonel's brutal methods.
A Tense History Unravels
Flynn, the Clinical Lead at Holby ED, has been on edge since encountering Bard at the start of the BBC medical drama's latest boxset, Lethal Legacy, which premiered last month. Their tense history stems from Flynn's time as a medic in the army under Bard, a strict disciplinarian known for his unforgiving ways. The bad blood between them revolves around a mysterious figure named Adam, and Flynn suspected Bard's training methods were problematic.
After a young soldier was injured in an explosion at Wyvern Estate, Flynn treated his injuries but discovered bruises on his back unrelated to the incident. He questioned Private Rory Dickson (Gwïon Morris Jones), who was keeping watch on Bard's orders, but Rory refused to answer, and Bard intervened before Flynn could learn more.
Training Exercise Gone Wrong
This week, Flynn and Iain Dean (Michael Stevenson) were called to the woods where a military training exercise had gone horribly wrong. Two soldiers had fallen into a cave. One, Kevin, was treated by Iain, while Flynn tended to Rory. Again, Flynn noticed injuries on Rory that did not match the fall. He asked Stevie, who was treating Kevin, to look for anything suspicious. Stevie discovered evidence of unreported historic fractures on Kevin, reinforcing Flynn's belief that Bard was subjecting his men to hazings and beatings.
Flynn attempted to keep Rory in the ED longer, claiming he needed to pass along a prescription. Rory was visiting Kevin, who was in serious condition. Flynn urged him to open up about what he had endured. 'Hazing is normally disguised so people can't see its effects,' said the doctor. 'Injuries left under clothing such as the bruising on your torso and your fractured ribs. Your eye CT shows a classic blowout fracture – the kind of injury caused by a punch. Not by a fall. Someone went too far, didn't they?'
Rory seemed ready to talk, but Bard interrupted and ensured Flynn had no further chance to speak with him before he left. Enraged, Flynn confronted Bard, telling him he knows what he is doing. Bard simply replied that he is 'keeping his men alive.'
The question remains: Can Flynn prove what Bard is doing? Can he save the soldiers from further abuse? And have we seen the last of Rory?
Casualty airs Saturday at 8:25pm on BBC One or streams from 6am on BBC iPlayer.
