[Spoilers] Sir Harry Pearce

[JHyde]

I'm not sure it's necessarily as the show has progressed - I don't think Harry was exactly caring and sharing in season 6, for example.

I think part of it is that he's still finding his feet with this new team. Lucas hasn't really been back more than six months in real time (at best), Ros has a lot to deal with and she's never been a soft touch, he's inevitably gentle with Ruth by and large not least because of the events of 8.1.

He's sad and old and lonely and the body count just keeps getting higher. And however much we'd like to see it, I'd be surprised if Harry could ever really retire.