Fans of the British crime drama Miss Scarlet and the Duke received some positive news this week. The series will return for a second season. The announcement came Monday through an email newsletter from WGBH and PBS. Season Two’s premiere date was not announced, as the global COVID-19 pandemic forced stoppage of Season Two’s filming early this year. That means filming will have to resume first if it has not already restarted. While audiences await the premiere of Season Two, they can watch the series’ debut season on DVD thanks to PBS Distribution and A+E Networks International. Released Feb. 16, the lead season of the Victorian-era crime drama is an interesting presentation. That is due in part to its writing, which will be discussed shortly. While the writing makes for its own share of interest, the acting deserves its own share of attention, too. It will be discussed a little later. For all that the writing and acting do for this series, they are just a portion of what audiences will appreciate about this season of Miss Scarlet & The Duke. The season’s look fits relatively well with the time, too. Taking into account that aesthetic element along with the writing and acting, the whole of the elements makes the first season of Miss Scarlet & The Duke worth watching at least once.
Miss Scarlet & The Duke is a presentation that will appeal to most crime drama fans in its debut season. That is due in part to its writing. Season One’s writing follows Eliza Scarlett, daughter of well-known private detective Henry Scarlett. The story opens with Eliza facing her father’s death, and in turn, taking over his business. The move is a result of not only her own love of solving crimes – instilled by Henry – and a need to financially support herself. That need to support herself comes because she is a progressive woman in a very male-dominated Victorian-era England. She does not want to rely on a man, which will appeal to plenty of hardcore feminists today. Ironically (and no to give away too much) it would seem that odds are she and William – her male counterpart at Scotland Yard – will likely end up together by Season Two. Season One starts off with what seems like a random story, but as the season continues, viewers eventually find that each case that Eliza investigates is connected to the prior, ultimately leading to one last case, which brings everything full circle back to her father’s death. This writing style will keep viewers engaged throughout. Of course for all that the writing does to entertain and engage with the storytelling itself, there are some problems.
The future of the relationship between Eliza and William is predictable to say the least. What’s more, in that Eliza is so progressive yet that she and William are becoming closer, emotionally just seems very contradictory. This is just one of the problems from which the writing suffers. The all-too-familiar plot element involving the private detective outsmarting the official law enforcement which shows up here detracts from the writing, too. It has been done so many times in shows, such as Psych, Murder, She Wrote, and even Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? just to name a few shows that have used this approach. To that end, that the show’s writers would fall victim to that trapping is discouraging. The same applies to Eliza getting herself trapped in “Cell 99.” The detective getting into a dangerous situation has been done, too. Even with these negatives in place, the writing in reference to the stories is enough to make the writing of at least some interest. It is just one of the important items to note in examining this season of Miss Scarlet & The Duke. The work of the show’s cast is also worth noting in examining this series’ debut season.
The work of Scarlett & The Duke’s cast is entertaining in its own right. Kate Phillips and Stuart Martin do very well together onscreen as Eliza and William. The duo’s chemistry is on full display even as their characters come across just as similarly as so many onscreen romantic duos. It is obvious in watching them together, that as much as they argue, the connection is there. To that end, the progression of the couple’s relationship and the result of that progression – which will not be revealed here – should come as no surprise. Keeping that in mind, their acting will appeal to anyone who is already so familiar with so many similar on-screen romantic relationship stories.
On yet another note, Ansu Kabia is just as impressive as Moses. Moses becomes a key character in this season’s run. Odds are, his finale with William makes one wonder if (and even hope that) he will return in Season Two. It will not be a surprise if he does in fact become a regular in Season Two. Not to reveal too much, but his acting leaves audiences fittingly wondering throughout, about his loyalties. It leaves the final reveal that much more fulfilling. His work is just that subtle and impressive.
Speaking of unsuspecting, Danny Midwinter’s role as DS Frank Jenkins adds its own nice touch to the whole. As William’s partner, he and Martin bounce off of each other so well throughout the season. It makes the revelation of Jenkins’ truth that much more hard hitting, again, because at no point does he make it even possible to know what would come. To that end, credit where due with his acting, too.
Looking at all of the notable work put in by the cast of Miss Scarlet & The Duke, it builds on the slightly shaky foundation formed by the writing to help secure that foundation. That work is just one more notable aspect of the season’s presentation. The sets and costumes featured in this season add their own interest to the presentation. The sets that are used, including even the horse-drawn “taxis,” fully immerse audiences into Victorian-era England. The sound of the horses’ hoofs against the cobblestone streets (yes, there are even cobblestone streets) is a minor aesthetic element, but adds so much to the believability in terms of the backdrop. At the same time, the cast’s attire – from the men’s suits and tuxedos to the women’s hairstyles, dresses, and hats – is period appropriate, too. It serves to show the show runners’ dedication to making the show’s look just as appealing as its acting and writing. That ensures the program’s engagement and entertainment even more. When this is considered along with the program’s writing and acting, that whole makes this lead season of Miss Scarlet & The Duke a presentation that the most die hard crime drama will find is worth watching at least once.
The debut season of A&E Networks International’s Miss Scarlet & The Duke will find appeal among most crime drama fans. That is due in part to its writing, imperfect as it is. The writing keeps the season moving, as it connects each of the season’s six episodes without making the connections too obvious. The way in which the season’s stories build on one another and ultimately bring everything together will generate appeal among audiences in hindsight. The problem with the writing rests more in the plot elements that are tied into the stories. They are all too familiar within the crime drama realm, and in turn become little more than tropes here. Luckily, they do not detract from the writing to the point that they completely negate the importance of the writing. The work of the series’ cast on camera adds its own touch to the whole. It proves even stronger than the show’s writing because of the professionalism in that presentation. The show’s look puts the finishing touch to its presentation. That is because the majority of the show’s look is era-appropriate. It shows the dedication that went into making the show believable even in that aspect. When it is considered along with the noted work of the writers and cast, the whole, again, makes this lead season of Miss Scarlet & The Duke a presentation that will appeal for the most part to most crime drama fans. It is available now on DVD. More information on this and other shows from A+E Networks International is available online at:
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