The Marlow Murder Club Season 3 Episode 4 Review: Murder, Lies, and Videotape

On The Marlow Murder Club Season 3 Episode 4, “Murder in the Dark, Part 2,” we learn about what should be an ace in the hole: recordings of every suspect as taken by the home’s owner, Hector.

When the feeds show everyone in other locations at the supposed moment of Freddy’s death, however, things just get more confused. Motives mount as well, including Freddy’s affair with Ryan’s ex-wife.

In the end, we learn that Ryan is indeed the killer, through the affair had nothing to do with it. Having set Oscar up in a past cheating scandal, he now then kills Freddy when the other man threatens to expose him to the group.

There are complexities involving Ryan trying to protect a charity he’d started, but his former friends can muster little sympathy. They remaining members of the group are left in shock and are unlikely to see much more of each other.

Somehow, their final scenes represent only the second most uncomfortable interactions in the episode. As much joy as Judith finds in calling it a date, it’s probably better if neither Suzie nor Brendan ever speaks of speed dating again.

While the intricacies of the first half of this plot added an enjoyably campy element, I do feel like they become a little unnecessary in this second hour. Must everyone have multiple motives just to serve as red herrings?

The camera footage twist is more interesting and does at least prove both that Ryan is quite competent and that his crimes are more pre-meditated that he claims when cornered. Charity or no charity, it’s hard to feel much for him.

I also wish we’d continued to focus more heavily Beck’s feelings about everything. While she’s quickly dismissed as a suspect, all this drama should have an impact, and we’ll be seeing a lot more of her than of any of her friends.

Though as part of the murder club (yet to be officially named), she’s seen her fair share of death already, this one has lots of personal connections. More importantly, both she and Suzie deserve increased presence in broader storylines.

We do get a little of that between Suzie and Brendan, though it’s used almost entirely for comic effect. Again, what was previously amusingly awkward gets just a bit too uncomfortable here, though I do love Judith and Beck’s reactions.

What I’m less sure of is what Suzie and Brendan’s continued strained conversations are meant to suggest. I can guarantee that any hint of interest between them will go nowhere, though you’d need to read the fourth book to know exactly why.

Hopefully as the enter the third and final act of the season, we’ll get the kind of dramatics that give all our main characters their own important roles. We can at least expect the emotional impact of someone’s life being in danger, so…fingers crossed?

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The Marlow Murder Club airs Sundays at 8/7c on PBS/

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