Miss Scarlet and The Duke Season 2 Episode 2 Review: The Black Witch Moth

We’re getting into more pointed commentary on gender roles and social expectations in the Victorian era on Miss Scarlet and The Duke Season 2 Episode 2, “The Black Witch Moth.”

With a famous sketch by Charles Darwin stolen from a museum run by Hannah Garret, Scotland Yard and Eliza Scarlet are on the case. What starts out as a simple theft unravels into a more poignant discussion on women’s attempts at further building a business with some admirable results.

While an episode last season focused more on the radical ways a woman’s voice is heard, “The Black Witch Moth” brings forth another perspective on how to uplift fellow women in this microcosm of society.

I appreciate that this case is light on the murder, allowing the central message to come to the fore. The way Mrs. Dashwood set everything up to give not only uplift Hannah and her work at the museum but Eliza’s detective work, as well as her own intellect in orchestrating it all, is impressive and drives the point home.

Despite not knowing who Eliza was before meeting her in this episode, Mrs. Dashwood was still determined to help her build her business and point out that women can do anything and are just as valuable in the same pursuit as men.

While the case and its message make for an exciting entry for the series, the juxtapositions between Hannah and Thomas’s situation and what we see happening with Eliza and William continue to move their own romantic arc forward in the face of their decision in Season 2 Episode 1, “Pandora’s Box.”

There’s something about the fact that Hannah explicitly states that her husband wanted a pupil, not a partner, which feels pointed. We do see Eliza and William work together, as partners, in a way that may potentially feel like there is understanding as to their work.

With the clear line drawn in the sand at the end of the last hour and the truth about how they feel still hanging between them, I like that there isn’t a step back from the banter we’ve seen build throughout the show.

It will be interesting to see how far this partnership goes beyond this case and if that means the pair will be giving it another chance romantically.

Meanwhile, Detective Fitzroy and Wellington’s dynamic continues to be as strained as you could imagine as he finds him in an opium den at the top of the hour, leading to some interesting moments between the pair, especially as the former collapses at a crime scene.

I can see the potential in Fitzroy and Wellington’s dynamic growing into a mentorship of sorts, especially in the final scene as he is speaking with him by his bedside at the hospital and sharing his own bit of history with Fitzroy.

Let’s hope we get to see that development as well.

Random Thoughts

• Hattie’s still a bit much, but she’s growing on me a bit.
• Fitzroy’s interrupted question after seeing Eliza and William talking is so funny
• I appreciate that we’re exploring a few new relationship dynamics with Hattie and Fitzroy
• The fact that Mrs. Parker not only tells Eliza she’s right but also seeks her out for a job is absolutely unexpected.

What did you think of this episode of Miss Scarlet and The Duke? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Miss Scarlet and The Duke airs  Sundays at 8/7c on Sunday.

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