Miss Scarlet and The Duke Season 4 Episode 1 Review: Elysium
After what feels like an eternity, Miss Scarlet and The Duke returns for a new season with quite a few changes for all our favorites and a sense of changes looming over the next six episodes. The season starts with a robbery at a brothel on Miss Scarlet and The Duke Season 4 Episode 1, “Elysium.”
We see some of our favorites return, and they’re up to bigger, busier things. Eliza’s running Nash & Sons as Chief Investigator while Patrick Nash is away. Unfortunately for Eliza, the minute Nash announces Eliza’s hiring, the entirety of the staff quit.
The only member of Nash’s staff to stick with her is the office accountant, Clarence.
With Moses in Paris and no planned return date, Eliza’s short on the list of people she can go to for help. However, it’s clear from her conversation with Ivy that the one person she can go to isn’t a choice.
Eliza: Things aren’t the same since Arabella.
Meanwhile, William is dealing with an expansion of Scotland Yard’s jurisdiction. As a result, he’s burning the candle at both ends, leaving him with little sleep, a lot of stress, and woefully understaffed.
What’s interesting about William’s role throughout the hour is that though he’s dealing with all the stress of managing the cops under him, there hasn’t been a formal promotion. However, that means that Phelps and Fitzroy introduce the case of the week, offering viewers a peek at the pair’s dynamic. It’s a logical development, given what happened in the second half of season 3, though it stays surprising.
With an initially intriguing mystery of a brothel by the name of Elysium being allegedly robbed with no willing witnesses, Scotland Yard is at a bit of a loss as to leads.
Eliza and William, at different points throughout the hour, turn to each other for help on the same case, leading to some fantastically angsty and tense moments. The first time they see each other gives viewers a clear idea of where things stand.
Eliza: You look tired.
William: You look beautiful.
That pause before the conversation continues says much about what’s standing between them and the easygoing banter from earlier in the series. Kate Phillips and Stuart Martin do a fantastic job conveying so much with the more expressive, quiet moments between Eliza and William.
But as quickly as we get this moment, Eliza awkwardly moves past it, explaining why she’s there.
William: I know you, Eliza. You neither ‘pass’ nor ‘pop.’ You premeditate.
The same subject comes up again: Eliza’s desire to succeed at all costs without caring for what it means for others around her. It’s a sticking point and something that you can clearly see the pattern in the pair’s dynamic since the first season.
The major shift, though, has been the reason for William’s reluctance to go along with Eliza’s plans.
By the end of the hour, they’ve seemingly buried the hatchet, and we get a moment where things may not entirely feel like they were before, but there is a new normal for Eliza and William and extensive progress on William’s end.
William: You are a good detective, Eliza. Very good. And whatever happens from here, you’ll find a way to make it work. You always do.
This moment may lack a lot of the ease they used to have with each other, but it is just as sweet and telling. Eliza doesn’t need validation from anyone, but to have that kind of acknowledgment from William of how good she is at her job feels like a critical moment, especially after his stance in the earlier seasons.
With almost everything tied up neatly by the end of the hour, “Elysium” is a fine start to the season. However, some aspects will linger as William’s feelings obviously haven’t gone away when they avoid each other, and the tension between the pair remains.
It does feel like something is going to have to give, surely.
Random Thoughts
- The inclusion of Barnabus throughout the hour is a solid choice and helps fill the comedic void in certain scenes.
- I love that we’ve seen Ivy grow so much and get a chance to see her nose stuck in a book (because it’s relatable). And she stays just as insightful as ever.
- Ivy is still the only emotionally intelligent member of the bunch, so her scenes are entertaining. Cathy Belton does a beautiful job adding that depth to Ivy’s moments with Eliza as she imparts some life advice to her close friend.
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 on 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.