As the second episode of Shardlake begins, Matthew Shardlake (Arthur Hughes) gets up in the middle of the night and tells Brother Guy (Irfan Shamji) he’s needed. Matthew asks why he came to the kitchen on the night of Singleton’s death. Guy explains he and Alice were tending to Brother August and he wanted to give him some warm milk. He says there is only one way in and one way out. The door was locked at the time. It’s kept locked to prevent the monks and servants from helping themselves. Guy shows Matthew where he slipped after stepping into a large pool of blood. The blood had not congealed. Matthew believes the killer would’ve been covered with blood. He says there would’ve been a trail of blood unless the swordsman remained inside the kitchen.

After finding the body, Brother Guy went to the Abbot leaving the door unlocked. Guy is adamant he is not the killer. Matthew says the killer spared him despite knowing he would raise the alarm. Master Bugge tells Brother Gabriel (Miles Barrow) that Simon is sick in the infirmary. Bugge thought he’d want to know that Simon spoke to Matthew since he’s so fond of the boy. Gabriel tells him to be careful of his words. Bugge thinks he should save his advice for Simon before they find themselves starving in the streets. Matthew goes looking for John Barak (Anthony Boyle) because there is work to be done. As Matthew heads outside, he tells Brother Jerome (Paul Kaye) he wishes to speak to him. In private, Jerome tells Simon Whelplay (Joe Barber) not to give Matthew what he wants. Outside, Matthew tells Abbot Fabian (Babou Ceesay) that Robin Singleton (Michael Rivers) was not welcomed there.

Matthew reminds him of what happened to Simon and how he was abused by them. Brother Mortimus (Brian Vernel) denies it. Brother Edwig (David Pearse) admits they were soldiers and killed men in battle. Once Jack joins them, Matthew asks Fabian about the trinket he lost. Fabian reveals the hand of the Penitent Thief who suffered with Christ was stolen on the night of the murder. Fabian claims he’s concerned that  Satan’s followers have it now. Doctor Goodhap (Matthew Steer) says Robin Singleton left his room a long time after midnight. Fabian believes Singleton was killed by followers of Satan in the kitchen. Matthew wonders if Master Singleton could’ve arranged a meeting. He is convinced someone within St Donatus falsely arranged to meet with King Henry’s commissioner and killed him. Matthew insists he will discover the truth and the house will close.

Jack joins Goodhap and Matthew inside a bit later. Goodhap heard that Cromwell pulled Jack from the gutter. Jack accuses Goodhap of drinking wine with the enemies of Lord Cromwell. They refuse to let Goodhap leave until their jobs are finished. When they’re alone, Jack Barak tells Matthew that the sword is gone. Matthew asks about the casket that housed the hand of the Penitent Thief. If they find the casket, the story of outsiders is proven false. Matthew has asked Brother Edwig to hand over the monastery accounts. Although Jack doesn’t think they’ll find the killer in the town, Matthew wants to go there together. Outside, Jack confronts Brother Gabriel (Miles Barrow) and questions what they do all day. Gabriel says they’re good men in the service of God.

Jack says children outside the walls go hungry while they pray. He accuses them of hiding. Jack catches up with Matthew and questions why they’re not searching for the casket or speaking to Simon or Jerome. Bugge yells for the guards to open the gates. Matthew tells Jack that Singleton investigated the monastery’s accounts and they will do the same. Once they arrive in town, Jack says it was once a thriving port and gave people a decent life. They speak to Copynger who tells them how he keeps the town loyal to Lord Cromwell and the King. Copynger (Tadhg Murphy) says the only complaint is the abolition of the saints’ day. He has informants and there is smuggling, but the papists remain in France. Matthew shows him Edwig’s book and explains he’s interested in the sale of lands.

He asks Copynger to compare the bills of sale with his own records and the receipts held by the purchasers of the land sold. Copynger can do that although he believes it will take multiple days. Jack says five days is too long. Crowe (Alex Bhat) has been listening to their conversation from another room. Copynger tells him he now has an account of Matthew’s progress. Crowe wants him to complete the task in no more than three days. Copygner will give him the information. On the fifth day, he will share that information with Matthew Shardlake. Outside, Jack tells Matthew they should visit each buyer and ensure the receipts are written exactly how they want them to be written. Matthew says they need the truth. Jack argues they want justice and that includes closing the monastery. Matthew says he will return to St Donatus and continue our search for the truth.

Jack steals coins and gives them to the children. He says that’s justice. When Matthew gets back, Goodhap takes him to see Brother Jerome who worries the books will be burned. Jerome tells Matthew he’s a cousin of Queen Jane Seymour. That’s why Cromwell saw him lengthened instead of murdered outright. As the queen’s cousin, he could never be executed as a traitor. Jack arrives as Jerome admits to swearing a new oath to the king and his church. Matthew believes Jerome is wasting his time. As he tries to leave, Jerome says Cromwell murdered Anne Boleyn. He claims the charge of adultery with the poor boy was an invention. Matthew witnessed her death and she was accepting of the evidence and her fate. Jerome says a musician was in a cell next to his when he was held in the tower.

It was the young boy Mark Smeaton who was her supposed lover. Jerome says he wept for Anne Boleyn. He suffered on the rack and confessed to the monster Cromwell. Like Jerome, he was full of regret and remorse as his weakness. Jerome has written Smeaton’s story down. He died believing he had betrayed his queen when the real traitors were Cromwell and his king. Jerome tells Matthew it is his to burn along with the other books. When they’re alone, Jack admits he’s worried that Doctor Goodhap heard Jerome’s lies. He tells Matthew to burn it. Matthew thought Mark was a sweet-natured boy when he met him. In a flashback, Mark Smeaton (Louis Goodwin) suggests his lies will have killed Anne Boleyn. Simon jumps out of bed and runs out of the room.

Alice and Guy chase after him. Matthew finds his cross in the water outside before Simon shows up behind him. Matthew tries to speak to him, but Simon turns around and flees. Simon runs into a building and up some stairs before finding himself cornered. Matthew insists he is there to help and listen. Guy and Alice arrive in time to see Simon fall to his death. Later, Matthew stands alone and remembers telling Simon he could protect him. Matthew ends up falling into a muddy hole and yelling for help. Alice arrives and tries to pull him to safety. Once she pulls him out of the hole, Matthew admits he thought that was his last breath. Jack approaches Alice later and asks what she can offer him. She says solitude. Alice takes Matthew something to warm him.

Alice tells him she was out there because there is peace out in the marsh. She imagines the ships sailing to France and what France must be like. Matthew claims he was there for the same reason and it allows the mind to think clearly. He asks how she came to be at St Donatus. She says there was a swain at one time but no more. Alice asks him about Lord Cromwell and whether he’s as fearsome as they say. Matthew says he can be. Alice can see Singleton working for Cromwell because he would bark and shout, but she thinks Matthew is different. Matthew is glad to be thought of as different from Singleton. Jack and Matthew speak to Guy about Simon’s behavior before his death. Guy gave him broth and some warm mead. Simon spoke to the Abbot and Mortimus briefly.

A short time later, Simon complained about feeling ill. Then, he became very distressed and fled. Jack believes this house is rotten to the core so they will tear it down. Matthew tells Guy he thought Simon was mocking him before he fell. It was as though Simon was tormented. Guy was certain the fever had subsided. He reveals that Brother Gabriel and Edwig also came to pray. Matthew wonders why so many people came to see Simon. He goes outside and speaks with Jack about Simon’s death. Jack reminds him that Cromwell isn’t interested in the truth unless it suits him and they’re there to close this house. Jack doesn’t care how they do that. Goodhap complains about being kept there against his will. Matthew thinks they’re still at the beginning. Jack argues they should decide upon their own truth.

He asks Matthew to decide but not in five days. Guy checks on Simon’s body when no one is looking. He cuts him down the chest. Someone keeps an eye on Matthew when he’s in his room. Goodhap packs his stuff in a hurry. Jack watches him from a distance. He approaches Goodhap who makes an excuse about riding the horse. Jack suspects he is trying to run away though. Goodhap refuses to return to his room. He pulls out a weapon and warns Jack not to test his skill. When Goodhap comes toward him, Jack ends up stabbing him in the stomach. He tells Goodhap that his death will not be wasted. He’ll let them find him because St Donatus must surrender. It won’t matter whether it’s a lie or the truth.

 

Shardlake Review

The second episode of Shardlake was pretty much on par with the first. Matthew and Jack aren’t seeing eye to eye since Jack would prefer to bend the truth to get the desired results. As for Matthew, he is only interested in the truth. Their dynamic relationship helps maintain interest even though the episodes are a little slow at times.

The characters are great as well with Matthew and Jack leading the way. In this episode, Simon was likely poisoned to the point that he ended up killing himself. Jack caught Goodhap trying to escape. When Goodhap pulled a weapon, Jack killed him. Crowe and possibly someone else seem to be keeping an eye on Matthew and his progress.

The investigation hasn’t progressed a lot although Brother Jerome has revealed more about Cromwell and his past actions. It seems Cromwell isn’t afraid of fabricating evidence to get what he wants either. If the casting was more authentic, this would easily be much stronger. Thankfully, the characters that actually matter are well-casted and well-acted.

The second episode scores a 6.5 out of 10. Recaps of Shardlake can be found on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Learn more about advertising with us here. Discuss Shardlake with others at the Reel Mockery Forum.