I can't imagine what it's like to battle sexism as a woman in the 19th century. I read books and watch movies where the trials and tribulations of those women are depicted and it's aggravating to say the least. So a friend who enjoys murder mysteries and knows I do too, recommended this British series, Miss Scarlet And The Duke and it's like I found a gem!
Does this title sound boring? Don't be fooled by it. True, the series is centred around two characters: Miss Scarlet (played by Kate Phillips) and Inspector Williams, aka Duke (played by Stuart Martin). But it is also a crime drama set in Victorian London around the 19th century—that’s mystery and historical drama.
The first episode reveals Miss Scarlet being led by a small boy to what looked like a body on the ground. She examines it and quickly realises the person is not dead, only drunk. She reprimands the boy to ensure it's actually a ‘dead’ body before calling her.
That's how the audience is introduced to this young, clever woman who takes over her father's detective agency after his death and struggles to gain a reputation as a detective in London. The key word here is ‘struggle’ and every episode in each season displays the challenges she faced all while employing smart moves to solve intriguing mysteries.
I enjoy mystery and crime drama because every scene keeps me guessing and engaging my mind to uncover the truth or solve the puzzle before the film does. This series satisfied this craving of mine and I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did, considering the protagonist is a woman. I think the gender makes the series all the more exciting and enlightening.
There are four seasons so far, six episodes in each, and I understand the series has been renewed for the fifth season with some major changes.
At one point during the first season, I feared I might get bored because of the constant emphasis on sexism. Contrary to my expectations, each episode tackled the theme in a captivating way, portraying how this was a major hurdle for Miss Scarlet. From mean, dismissive clients who would refuse to pay her fees after she had completed her work to members of Scotland Yard who patronise, and sometimes disrespect her despite relying on her skills to close their cases.
In season one, every episode gets better. The blend of intrigue and action in every whodunnit together with Miss Scarlet's tenacity and courage to fight societal expectations keep me on the edge of my seat. Even more, the show creators incorporated humour in this storytelling to engage the audience.
The chemistry between the leads, Miss Scarlet and Inspector Williams aka Duke, is almost magnetic. Their path always seems to clash in every episode even when they don't want it to. Their relationship is sort of feisty, swinging between friendship and enemies. I enjoy every scene where they argue—he finds her annoying because she's smart and always steps ahead of him, and at the end, she helps him solve the cases.
I've watched only the first season and suspect their relationship might become romantic in later seasons, though I'm not certain. The title includes both characters' names, so I assume the creators are selling us a smart, sleuthing duo who may later fall in love. A little spice in a mystery show is not a bad thing. However, if this is not the case, I won't mind. The show is still great this way and I look forward to watching and solving more exciting mysteries alongside Miss Scarlet and the Duke.
Overall, Miss Scarlet and the Duke is a fascinating and entertaining crime drama I would recommend to anyone who enjoys mysteries and historical dramas. While the historical setting might be boring to some people, I'll suggest keeping an open mind and focusing on the mystery instead. I'd rate the first season 3.8 stars out of 5.
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Poster source, fair use
Other images are screenshots from the series
Posted using CineTV