yeah, yeah, Father Brown again
The Police Inspectors in Father Brown never stay around for long. At least we know what happened to Vallentine, he moved to London. Sullivan was just gone by the begining of series four. My guess is that the happenings of The Owl of Minerva caused him to rethink his life. So he moved away from Kembleford to begin anew somewhere else. At the beginning of series four it seemed like Inspector Mallory allready had some familiarity with Father Brown and the gang.
I operate on a scale of "which one do I dislike the least" when it comes to the Kembleford Police Inspectors. And I'd say Vallentine and Sullivan are about tied in this. Vallentine was a bit grumpy and gruff, but he had his moments, and when he left he did say that he thought he might end up missing Father Brown. Which I guess is his way of admitting that Father Brown is good at solving crime. Sullivan, to me, came off as a bit smug in a way. Just like Vallentine he did not like Father Brown meddling in police matters, but he was even more insistent on that Father Brown is just a meddling fool, as if he was repressing the memories of how Father Brown and his crew are the ones who solves the cases most of the time. He was grateful that they clared his name in The Owl of Minerva, but I guess he's too awkward and proud to give proper thanks. Mallory is your classic temperemental police Inspector. I like him a little, but I find him too much of a cliché to be honest.
Also! I can't understand how Sid/Sullivan is the biggest ship in the fandom!! Well, I do understand insofar that they are two conventionally attractive guys, one who is a police officer and the other an ocational petty crook, and people like some foe yay. But if you ask me they never interacted enough for any sort tension/chemistry/rapport to develop between them. They probably has what it takes for other people, but they are far from the kind of people I prefer to ship. Not that fond of rival/bitching shipps in general. I'm not one to talk either way, as I ship Sid with Father Brown, something I am very well aware of is mental in at least four different ways.