The Marlow Murder Club Season 3 Episode 3 Review

The second case of the season starts with a body in the street during broad daylight on The Marlow Murder Club Season 2 Episode 3.

The dead man is Louis, but it takes some time for him to be found. That’s partly because nearly all the surrounding houses have been abandoned to construction and partially because the neighbors in the remaining two homes are often busy arguing.

Judith, Suze, and Becks are clearing out Judith’s “hoarder room” when they’re summoned by the commotion at the scene. They meet the neighbors along Tannika and Brendan, and Grace, who is leading the demolition of most of the houses on the street.  

The initial question into whether Louis’s body was moved spurs a humorous enaction aided by Beck’s husband, Colin. Later, a flirtatious art teacher raises Suzie and Judith’s suspicions about possible trouble in their marriage.

Investigations largely consist of conversations with the assembled players, made tedious by their attitudes toward one another. Grace is a uniting sore point for all of them, raising still more eyebrows by accidentally uncovering another body.

For a case that’s going to be closed within the span of two episodes, we do surprisingly little to identify a prime suspect or even narrow down the candidates in this first half. So far, we’re stuck with a muddle of connections and motives.

It makes it more difficult to get invested in the storyline, especially when it’s already hard to relate to the episodic characters. A few cute interactions with family aside, I just don’t care enough about them to guess a killer’s identity. 

I am intrigued by the reveal of possible additional victims, especially ones buried for some time. That adds the kind of spin that could break us from the somewhat dull back and forth we see and take the case to another level.

The separate scenes of our main trio are considerably more enjoyable. The “crime recreation” scene, with everyone’s antics and Beck’s daughter’s commentary, is one of the funniest we’ve seen yet. I’d like to see Colin join them more.

I’m not at all concerned about Beck’s interactions with her teacher, though. Considering they’re both logical individuals who’ve been down this road with her before, you’d think Judith and Suzie wouldn’t jump to conclusions so quickly.

And then there’s the matter of Judith’s beloved aunt and the unknown man found in a photo with her. I’m already far more eager to see the answer to this mystery than I am to the actual murder of at least two people.

While Tannika doesn’t get as much time along with them as I’d like, the promise of them all going to her own daughter’s performance is heartwarming—and leaves us with the most important question of all: what does rhyme with ‘hedgehog’?

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The Marlow Murder Club airs Sundays at 9/8c on PBS

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