Morse finds himself the subject of a murder investigation when his friend, Beryl Newsome, is murdered at a rehearsal of the Magic Flute and he foolishly touches the murder weapon. Morse is suspended and DCI Bottomley, with DS Lewis assisting him, is put in charge of the case. Morse feels that he was set-up and looks to his past to see who, among the many criminals he arrested, might now be setting about seeking revenge. When someone scratches masonic symbols all over his car and he is reported for erratic driving, Morse wonders if Masons may somehow be involved. When a large number of his personal items are found in Beryl's apartment, Morse is placed under arrest.

故事来到1834年的约克郡。Anne Lister和Ann Walker以妻妻身份在希布登庄园安家，决定结合两人的财产，成为一对无所畏惧的伴侣，所有人的目光因此落在了她们身上。Anne Lister的企业家精神和她非传统的爱情生活，都让当地人感到惊恐。而哈利法克斯也正处在变革的边缘，她拒绝低调的态度让一切变得更容易激起争端，并引发危险。　　第二季将继续使用Anne Lister真实日记作为素材，编剧Sally Wainwright会基于历史事实和日记中的500万字来创作剧本。

两姐妹，贝卡和罗莎琳，多年来已经分开，但通过悲剧事件学会了爱和尊重彼此。姐妹俩都飞到马恩岛去寻找并送还母亲玛丽的尸体，她们得知母亲玛丽一直过着双重生活，把父亲理查德留在曼彻斯特的家中，同时为她创造了另一个世界。