Riptide on Channel 5: Who really killed Alison's husband Sean? All the suspects after episode 1's shock death
Alison was left bereft after her husband's disappearance
Riptide hit Channel 5 with a LOT of drama this week, as episode 1 introduced Alison and her beloved husband Sean – only to cruelly take him away.
When Sean Weston went surfing, he was never seen again. And while the police believed he may have been caught in a riptide, his wife Alison suspected foul play. After all, he was an accomplished surfer…
At the end of the first instalment, viewers saw a mysterious figure digging Sean’s grave. And we have already got plenty of theories on the identity of the killer. There is definitely no shortage of suspects!
Here’s who TVGuide.co.uk – and the fans – think killed Sean Weston after watching episode 1.
***Warning: spoilers from Riptide episode 1 ahead***
Riptide theories after episode 1: Fans think Rachel killed Sean…
At the end of the first episode of Riptide, we saw a mystery figure burying Sean’s body on the beach – but it could have been anyone.
However, fans are already suspicious that Sean’s ex-wife Rachel was the one who killed her ex-husband. Rachel and Sean clearly left things on bad terms when Sean left her for Alison. In their last interaction, Sean screamed at Rachel and told her to get out of his life and stop trying to ruin it. This definitely gives Rachel a good motive for murder.
Sean also cursed his ex-wife out to Alison, so there was clearly a lot of anger between the pair. Could this have led to a big fallout between the exes that ended with Sean’s murder?
We saw Rachel drive by Hannah in her car not long after Sean went missing, so she was definitely around when he was killed. And fans seem to think so, too! One viewer wrote on X: “Maybe it was his ex-wife. Everyone else seems a tad too obvious.”
Ethan is another suspect on the list
Sean’s son Ethan is another obvious suspect on the list. He had a lot of resentment towards his father for swapping his mum for Alison.
He repeatedly told his father that he thought Alison was a “gold-digger”. He made it clear he was angry at Sean for not having a financial agreement in place with Alison.
We saw a flashback in which Ethan and Sean were having an argument on the beach. Sean even mentioned changing his will over the whole fight… Could this have driven Ethan to kill Sean? Like his mum, it definitely gives him a motive.
Ethan was understandably emotional at his father’s memorial service, but was this out of grief… or guilt? One fan suggested on X that Ethan “is definitely the top suspect” with another declaring he is “the prime suspect”.
Riptide episode 1: Could Ethan’s boyfriend Jesse be the killer?
Another fan theory about the Channel 5 drama involves Ethan’s boyfriend Jesse… Did he kill Sean to get revenge for his boyfriend?
Well, fans seem to think so! One wrote on X: “Calling the most unlikely suspect… Ethan’s boyfriend wants to make sure they get the inheritance!”
All seemed friendly between Jesse and Sean, and he was supportive to Alison at the memorial service. But, he definitely could’ve killed Sean for revenge for his boyfriend. After all, this is a Channel 5 thriller we’re talking about!
Ethan was very upset over all the drama surrounding his father and Alison, so it’s definitely possible that Jesse killed Sean in a loyal boyfriend move. He’s definitely one to keep an eye on…
Did Alison’s ex-husband Michael kill Sean Weston?
Alison’s ex-husband Michael also has plenty of motive for killing Sean after Alison left him. Michael has made it pretty obvious that he isn’t over Alison, and seemed jealous of neighbour Dan’s friendship with her. So, did Michael kill Sean to get Alison back again? Fans have a theory that it’s definitely possible!
One viewer said: “If Dan now meets a sudden end then I think we know it’s the ex!”
Another added “Is it her ex-husband? He looks a bit dodgy.”
Michael has definitely acted pretty suspiciously. He quizzed the police on the odds of finding Sean’s body and turned up late to the memorial service later in the episode.
But we saw him put sandy boots into his bin, so isn’t it all a bit too obvious? Or is Michael the suspect we should all have an eye on?
Fans don’t trust neighbour Dan after Riptide episode 1
Riptide fans have also had a lot to say about Alison and Sean’s neighbour Dan! He turned up at Alison and Sean’s house just before Sean was killed with a story about his wife who had died of cancer.
But fans are suspicious of his story. One viewer pointed out: “All the pics of him and the wife he says died of cancer are individual. Not one of him AND her together? That to me seemed odd. Made up story?”
Another viewer agreed, saying: “Why are there no photos of creepy neighbour and his wife actually together?”
Dan even told the police that Sean had been drinking the night before his surf… Obviously this makes Sean’s death look like a tragic accident. Did he do this to clear him of any suspicion?
Dan has got pretty heavily involved in Alison’s life for a neighbour. And while the motive might not be clear, there is definitely something suspicious here.
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