It feels quite unusual for a series to take four years off between production years and then to continue as if nothing has happened but that's what's occured with "Young Offenders". To be fair to them, they've not missed a beat even though one actors schedule has caused for the dynamics to be different.
Having both been arrested for inadvertent drug smuggling, Jock (Chris Walley) is in Colombia, and is serving an eight-year prison term. Connor (Alex Murphy) makes is back to Cork but is also arrested there and sentenced to six years. Three years later Connor is released to find that his beloved Linda (Demi Isacc Oviawe) is engaged to Gavin Madigan (Daniel Power). His Mother, Mairead (Hilary Rose) has married his former nemesis, Garda Tony Healy (Dominic MacHale) and they are living together. Without his best friend for at least five more years, Connor ends up with explosive Billy Murphy (Shane Casey) as his replacement.
This was another really good season of "Young Offenders" even with the dynamics between the characters being changed by Jock's absence, caused as I understand it, by Chris Walley's schedule in particular Netflix's "Bodkin" series. This restricts him to only really featuring in the final couple of episodes of this run. The new dynamic sees Shane Casey promoted from just being a part time headcase to trying to be Connors new best friend. There's also an elevated role for Dominic MacHale too and a heartwarming episode that sees him bond with both Connor and reunite with his father.
As ever, the grossout elements of the series, of which there are less this time, are still mixed in with these touching moments, especially the season finale that puts almost all the shows conflicts to bed. (So much so you wonder if that might serve as a series finale - though there is clearly story to be mined when Jock returns to Cork).