41. Miss Scarlet & The Duke

 

Another exclusive to Alibi series I picked up on my radar was Miss Scarlet & The Duke. Now it must be pretty apparent by now, but I do love me a period mystery show and this one, although slightly B-list, is now officially in my favourites box.

For a channel a lot of people haven't heard of they don't half churn out some good programs! I watch Reef Break, Major Crimes, Father Brown, Stumptown, MS&TD and lord knows what else all on this seemingly unknown channel. Take a look if you like crime dramas!

A main theme this show battles is the place of women in Victorian England. Society is putting pressure on her to find a man in order to operate within her status or in fact just to live, all the while Eliza is solving mysteries and getting herself in trouble. The Duke is someone she has known since childhood and is an inspector of the police, he begrudgingly allows her to work alongside him but more to make sure she is safe than anything else. 

I find this awfully inspiring, especially in a world where society still pressures people to find a partner. Eliza has gone out of her way and against the odds in order to do something she loves even though it is frowned upon. At first I found Eliza a bit of a liability, she was too peppy, too full of herself, and it annoyed me. But the further we got through her story the more I came to admire her. She needs to be peppy or else she'd get trampled down by views and society, she's full of herself because she needs to maintain faith in herself and what she does, the second she says 'William' in that scornful tone of hers I just know we are onto a winning point even though Inspector Wellington usually does something against her wish.

I know on a lot of these shows I go into shipping but it's because the characters are MADE for each other, I cannot express enough the chemistry between Eliza and the Duke. I fully believe they will end up married and become a detecting duo for real, I cannot wait for it.

A nod to Renfield from Young Dracula is needed as the pathologist. It has been a long time since I've seen you in anything bar the BT advert. Alchemist to Pathologist isn't so different I guess...

I really like the historical accuracy. Those of you who know me personally will know I am quite into my history, I like the plot surrounding the suffragettes and the fight for women movement and how it impacts Eliza and the struggle she has against agreeing with that movement and having to do her job in order to go against it. Dramatic stuff. 

Also the episode regarding the abandoned prison, I have explored some places quite similar (legally) which are local to me and I love the spooky vibes, you just expect something sinister to happen and it doesn't disappoint, it was also a pivotal moment in Eliza and William's relationship.

I'll tell you what, for a Victorian crime drama it gives me actual chills and it deserved better than to be put on late on a Tuesday night. Sometimes we forget life historically was quite challenging and it's a great chance to put that into perspective while battling some of the same issues we still encounter today.

I would also just like to commend Kate Phillips and Stuart Martin for impeccable acting, I expected an almost Hallmark movie feel to this series and they saved that from happening. I want a MS&TD movie for christ sake, imagine that in a cinema, I would be in heaven. Also they would be a great duo to crossover with, that would be an epic episode.

I also want to mention, and I know I do it frequently, how much this show and these characters remind me of the Amelia Peabody series. These are a clique of books which center around Mrs Amelia Emerson Peabody, an Egyptologist/Archaeologist who solves murders with the help of her family. Eliza and Amelia are so similar. Technically they are/were both spinsters for that period who go on to shun the expectations of the female gender and achieve great things, more so than a man could have. This is such a lovely feminist boost, as let's face it, it is entirely accurate that historical women, fictional or fact, would have been as feisty as they are today. We didn't just decide one day to go against society, it took a lot of women to speak up and encourage the seed that was there all along. We are all equal as humans. That's as political as I am going to get, the point I was making was that despite the general themes of these two fictions that I love being so different, the similarities are striking and inspiring. I'd recommend both AP and MS&TD to anyone who will listen.

Overall then, I rate Miss Scarlet and The Duke ye olde 8\10. I was hooked from the first episode and so glad they have already renewed it for a second series. It is a nice way to enjoy your evening early to mid week, settle down and watch a Victorian crime drama. Bliss.

On that note my lovelies, enjoy the day, do something in line with Spring, and have fun, most importantly stay safe!