Ep 1. Goodbye China

George Gently season 4 episode 1, titled "Goodbye China," begins with Inspector Gently and his team investigating the murder of a young woman who was found dead in a river near an American airbase in 1968. The woman is later identified as a Chinese immigrant who worked in a local factory.

The investigation leads Gently and his team to the local Chinese community, and they discover that the victim was involved in a secret relationship with a young British man. The team is also suspicious of the American soldiers stationed at the airbase, who are known to frequent the local area.

As Gently and his team delve deeper, they uncover a web of corruption involving the local police and American soldiers. The investigation takes a dangerous turn when the team discovers that the victim was part of a larger smuggling operation involving the trafficking of Chinese immigrants.

Gently and his team are determined to bring those responsible to justice, but they face obstacles along the way. The local police are uncooperative, and the American soldiers are fiercely protective of their own.

The investigation also takes a personal toll on Gently, who learns that one of his colleagues is involved in the smuggling operation. Gently must decide whether to turn him in or keep his friend's secret.

As the investigation comes to a close, Gently and his team are left to reflect on the impact of their work. They have brought justice to the victim and her family, but they know that there is still much work to be done to combat the corruption and prejudice that allowed the smuggling operation to exist in the first place.

"Goodbye China" is a powerful episode that deals with important themes of immigration, corruption, and justice. The performances are excellent, and the writing is both complex and thought-provoking. Fans of George Gently will not be disappointed by this gripping and emotional episode.