Miss Scarlet and The Duke Season 3 Episode 4 Review: Bloodline
A fun team dynamic, an intriguing case, and some (not so) surprising personal developments make for an engaging hour on Miss Scarlet and The Duke Season 3 Episode 4, “Bloodline.”
William’s sent up north on a case, leaving Phelps in charge as “acting Detective Inspector” and Fitzroy questioning some odd occurrences throughout the hour, reaching out to Eliza for help figuring out exactly what’s going on and what Phelps is up to.
The Galanis case is twisty, exciting, and an excellent use of Eliza Moses and Fitzroy’s dynamic. The Galanis patriarch is giving big Marlon Brando Godfather vibes, especially when he’s talking to Eliza pleading with her to keep his grandson alive by keeping him in prison. They make an excellent team, especially when it comes time to investigate and get answers.
In the same way, “Hotel St. Marc” fleshed out a bit of Nash’s character as we know, “Bloodline” offers a bit more insight on Phelps as the investigation takes a turn and we come face to face with what he’s been up to, which is surprisingly noble of him.
The fact that the writers choose not to pull the same corrupt detective route again with Phelps is a surprise. It’s refreshing, to be honest.
Meanwhile, Ivy avoids Barnabas leaving the pair entirely out of sorts for various reasons.
Are those reasons easy to surmise? Yes.
Does it lessen the narrative thread’s effect on Ivy, Barnabas, and Eliza? Absolutely not.
This arc has provided plenty of fun for the last two seasons, and while it continues to provide moments like Mr. Potts going to Eliza to ask for help, it also treats the relationship with care.
Eliza: I know I’m no expert on matters of the heart…
Ivy: No, you are not. If you were, there would be a ring on your finger.
Though an easily telegraphed storyline for Ivy, especially as she and Mr. Potts get closer, it still offers a fantastic avenue for the pair of women to sit and see what the future looks like for both.
Ivy confiding in Eliza that she doesn’t want to leave the house they have or leave Eliza alone is a beautiful and heartfelt moment and is built up to it brilliantly throughout the hour.
I love that the writer’s route also has Ivy highlight how, despite her needling about Eliza’s state of singledom, she’s also changed what she thought was possible in her life in the last few years.
After finding out the truth behind Phelps’s motives, it seems like all is water under the bridge for him and Eliza (thanks to that little understanding they strike).
But of course, who needs goodwill when you’ve got information that can ruin your – nemesis’? Frenemy’s? – day. William’s return and subsequent day off are innocuous enough. Until he drops one last bomb on Eliza, which he delivers giddily.
He’s taken the day and is with Arabella.
This reveal, while absolutely mean and incredibly on-brand for the petty detective, leaves me with many questions. The main one, though, is: how did Phelps know his bit of information would land the way it did?
Eliza’s face at seeing the pair together belies precisely what her feelings are despite her unwillingness to come to terms with them.
It definitely sets up some exciting dynamic changes between the pair –at least, I hope it does—for the last two episodes of the season.
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 PBS.
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Brianna Martinez
Brianna spends her time away from briefs, legal research, and pleadings, watching TV and writing about it. She generally has a lot of feelings about TV, which you can read about here and on Twitter.