Frankie Drake Mysteries Review: Fifty Shades of Greyson/Diamonds Are A Gal’s Best Friend (Season 2 Episodes 7 and 8)

Frankie Drake Mysteries has spent a large chunk of Season 2 playing around with its overall tone and focus. The series has adopted a more ensemble feel, giving all its leading ladies more to do and rounding them out as individual characters. And while those are both good things, it’s still impossible to ignore the fact that the series has changed.

However, Frankie Drake Mysteries Season 2 Episode 7, “Fifty Shades of Greyson” and Frankie Drake Mysteries Season 2 Episode 8, “Diamonds Are a Gal’s Best Friend” mark the first time in the series’ second season where it truly feels as though the show has settled fully into its new identity.

“Fifty Shades of Greyson” is, in fact one of the best episodes of the series to date, managing an almost perfect balance between a compelling plot and several lovely character moments between our leading ladies.

And it finally, after seven episodes, gives us a proper look at Detective Greyson.

Much like Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries — which also features a sassy, trailblazing female detective in stylish outifts — this show also tends to prefer giving its lead a handsome man to spar with.

Season 1 had reporter Ernest Hemingway who snarked at and flirted with Frankie in equal measure, and now Season 2 seems as though it will fill at least some portion of that void with Detective Greyson.

And after this episode, that doesn’t seem like the worst thing in the world.

We’ve seen the two at various level of odds over Frankie’s investigations in the past. But this episode marks the first time they’ve really gone after each other in either a verbal or a professional capacity, since Frankie and Mary think Greyson is corrupt and tampering with evidence to sway the outcome of a case.

He’s not, of course, but the fact that the episode lets you think he is for a good half of it is a pretty solid bluff.

And by basically making him a suspect, we get to see Frankie engage with Greyson on both sides — both as a potential enemy and as someone she trusts.

If it wasn’t obvious before now, the two have more than decent chemistry with one another, certainly a greater spark than she did with any of her recent boyfriends. (Or Hemingway for that matter.)

Not that their relationship has gotten to the point where any of that matters, at least not yet. But, come on, we’ve all watched television before. We know exactly where this is all probably going.

Even if it might take a while to get there.

In addition to making us think he might be a criminal and establishing as potentially valuable boyfriend material for Frankie, “Fifty Shades of Greyson” actually gives us a look at the character of Detective Greyson as someone more than just a guy that interrogates people.

His kindness toward Mary is charming, for starters, as is the fact that he clearly believes in her abilities as a police officer, even if she’s not allowed to technically be one herself at the moment.

Greyson is apparently a little more progressive than I initially gave him credit for. (A girl can admit when she’s wrong, is what I’m saying.)

This is also a fantastic episode for anyone who loves Morality Officer Mary Shaw, as this story sees her serve as a victim advocate, a detective in her own right and someone willing to risk herself and her position to stand up for what she thinks is right.

Mary loses her job because she publicly accuses Greyson of corruption, and accepts the apparent end of her dreams with an admirable amount of grace. Her lack of gainful employment drives her to join Drake Detective Agency full time, a twist that I honestly wouldn’t have minded seeing stick for real.

Of course, Mary’s back on the force by the end of the episode, reputation restored. And maybe life as a private investigator would involve crossing too many ethical lines for her to every be truly happy. But it was certainly fun to see Frankie, Trudie and Mary working together for real — and saving the day simply because women know they have to let each other in on where they are at all times. 

Women’s wisdom, saving the day again. 

Stray Thoughts and Observations

• Not that I don’t enjoy this series as it is, but I have to admit I’d watch the heck out of a show about Mary fighting to break the glass ceiling of the police force in Toronto. As a character she’s come so far from where she started on this show. 
• I hope in Season 3 that Flo gets the sort of complete character overhaul that Mary has this year. I still want to know more about her.

What did you think of this episode of Frankie Drake Mysteries? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Frankie Drake Mysteries airs Saturdays at 7/6c on Ovation.

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