Frankie Drake Mysteries Review: Radio Daze/Emancipation Day (Season 2 Episodes 3 and 4)

The second season of Frankie Drake Mysteries continues with a pair of episodes the further push the idea that this time around, the show is much less focused on its titular leading lady. Though Frankie is certainly part of the story in both Season 2 Episode 3, “Radio Daze,” and Season 2 Episode 4, “Emancipation Day,” she’s the least interesting aspect of it. 

This isn’t a bad thing, by the way. 

Frankie Drake is absolutely an amazing character in her own right. She’s smart, brave, capable and so much fun to watch. But the best part about her isn’t her snarky wit or badass attitude. It’s that she’s so dedicated to lifting up the women around her. So it makes sense that the show named after her is too. 

Frankie is an incredible woman. But so are Trudy and Mary and Flo and Nora and Wendy Quon and every other female character on this show who’s busy pushing boundaries and defying expectations. 

In short, I’m so glad that there’s more balance here, and a more overall ensemble feel. “Radio Daze” gives everyone something to do, but it’s Mary who gets to step into the spotlight, acting in a radio play and thwarting a bank robbery thanks to her quick thinking and knowledge of Morse code. 

Mary Shaw’s been busy stealthily becoming my favorite character on Frankie Drake Mysteries since that episode last season when we found out she’s related to Wynonna Earp. Sort of (It’s Season 1 Episode 7, “The Ties That Bind,” if you’re curious.)

But Season 2 is diving even deeper into her character, and I’m so here for it. She’s never been just a Morality Officer, that’s for sure, but now, it feels as though she’s truly becoming a detective in her own right. She may still struggle — often — with getting men to take her seriously in a professional capacity, but she’s out there doing the work. 

Whether or not she ever manages to get a police officer’s badge or earn a proper title based on her activities, Mary is 100% a detective. 

Of course, it was still super fun to watch her meet a real-life, honest to goodness female police officer in America. After all, everyone needs encouragement — and it was satisfying to watch her get the chance to validate her own feelings and experiences in the profession. (Especially re: her treatment at the hands of men.) 

“Emancipation Day” is a more Trudy-focused installment, which sees Frankie’s second in command reevaluate her life choices. Frankie Drake Mysteries really does deserve a lot of credit for telling such a nuanced story about the Black experience in Canada in the 1920s, and the ways in which that story differs from what happened in the U.S.

Both episodes have comparatively little Frankie, and her only real overarching storyline at the moment seems to be her…connection/dislike for/competitiveness with Detective Grayson. 

Now, having read my fair share of romance novels, I know that anytime two people are instantly prickly and antagonistic with each other in a situation like this, it probably means they’re going to get together romantically at some point in the future. 

So, you know, we should probably get ready for that.

Now, I don’t particularly think that Frankie and Grayson have any sort of chemistry together in that regard, but, hey — can it be worse than her flirtation with Hemingway? Probably not. 

What is interesting is that Grayson’s presence — and his professional role that often stands in direct contrast to Frankie’s — is the first time the show has really given the ladies of the Drake Detective Agency a consistent foil.

(Nora, obviously, doesn’t count.)

Frankie, as a character, is more interesting when she has a consistent opponent — or at least a regular sparring partner. Perhaps Grayson will be able to fill that void as the season goes on? 

Stray Thoughts and Observations

• Real person sighting: Mary’s radio play-loving friend Huey is actually Foster Hewitt, who not only went on to work in sports, he became the voice of Hockey Night in Canada, and was famous for his play-by-play calls. 
• It’s so lovely that secondary figures like Wendy Quon pop up so regularly on this show. 
• Chantal Riley really does have an amazing voice. 
• I could have done without the “is Trudy’s boyfriend cheating” plotline. It feels…I don’t know, beneath this show somehow.
• I don’t think I say this enough, but this show really does tackle necessary social issues in very well done and creative ways.
• As much as I loved the whole “Mary meets a real female police officer and fangirls out” subplot, it’s also so weird to me that this show acts like America is this strange, alien kingdom with bizarre and unfathomable traditions instead of just right there with ideas they could just, I don’t know, adopt?

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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