The Running Grave: Part 1 – The episode opens with Robin Ellacott (Holliday Grainger) meeting Cormoran Strike (Tom Burke) in a mall. He gives her a horse balloon for her birthday. She reminds him that he already gave her flowers. He tells her that he wants to buy her perfume because he should have done better. She asks if Ilsa Herbert (Caitlin Innes Edwards) told him that is what she wanted. A short time later at a restaurant, he recalls Charlotte’s stepmother getting into his bed one morning. She blames herself for her and Matthew’s failed marriage. He says it was Matthew who had an affair. She claims to have never wanted to get married. Upon leaving the restaurant, he leans over to kiss her but she pulls back. He assists her into the taxi and says goodnight. As the taxi drives away, she watches him through the rear window.
At a museum, Strike stares at the Ophelia painting when Legs (Madeleine Akua) and Groomer (Matt Rawle) approach. Legs describes what she sees. Edie Ledwell (Mirren Mack) arrives without an appointment and asks to see Robin. She is granted entrance. At the museum, Strike watches Legs and Groomer walk away. Pat Chauncey (Ruth Sheen) wakes Robin and asks if she wants to see Edie. Robin gradually pulls herself off the sofa. Strike pursues Legs and Groomer down a sidewalk. Sitting on a nearby bench, Midge Greenstreet (Tupele Dorgu) joins him and asks if they have kissed. He says they haven’t touched and leaves her in charge. Robin informs Edie that they aren’t currently accepting new clients. Edie hands her a file, offers to pay more, and pleads with her to at least tell her story. Robin offers her a seat. Declining, Edie says she and Josh Blay (Jacob Abraham) created The Ink Black Heart, a cartoon, that will soon be adapted into a film. Edie reluctantly agrees to let her smoke near the window. Edie claims a disgruntled fan “Anomie” has been stalking her for three years but the police will do nothing because their identity is unknown. Anomie made Drek’s Game based on The Ink Black Heart and turned Josh against her. Distraught, Edie says Anomie knows personal things about her and suggests it is Pez Pierce (James Nelson-Joyce). Robin jots down the names of cyber specialists. Edie expresses her desire for Robin to take her case. Seeing an abrasion on her neck, Robin asks what happened. Edie attributes it to her clumsiness.
Sam Barclay (Jack Greenless) is filling Pat in on his case when Robin escorts Edie to the door and apologizes for not taking her case. Later, Robin watches an episode of The Ink Black Heart. Midge says her ex was obsessed with the cartoon. Pat hands Robin Edie’s file that she found in the restroom. At Petheron Road, Robin stakes out a house while conducting a search for Anomie. AnomieGamemaster bashes Edie for permitting her cartoon to be adapted into a film. During an interview, Edie says Drek’s Game is not really a game in their cartoon. Robin spots a man emerging from the target house. She takes several photos. At the office, Pat tells Strike that Robin will help him with the antique job because her job may be finished. He says she and Barclay can work it while he takes over Barclay’s job.
Robin turns Edie’s file over to Allan Yeoman (Ben Caplan). He gives her an envelope from Edie. She pulls out a caricature that reads, “Always get a ghost to do your surveillance work.” She questions why Anomie detests Edie. He suggests it has something to do with her saying Drek’s Game didn’t understand Drek’s character. Later, Robin gives Ilsa a tour of a flat that she is buying. Ilsa asks what Strike thinks about it. Robin says he has no idea. Ilsa asks what is really going on between them. Robin admits to rejecting his kiss because she feared he would later regret it. When Ilsa asks if she is in love with him, Robin says she doesn’t want to be because it would ruin everything and the agency means a lot to her. At the office, Pat informs Robin of Edie’s murder. Robin is shocked and feels bad about not taking her case. DCI Richard Murphy (Stephen Hagan) and Angela Darwish (Badria Timimi) arrive to question Robin about Edie. Robin tells them everything Edie told her during their meeting and about the fingertip bruising on her neck. Murphy says Edie and Josh met at Highgate Cemetery and both of them were attacked. He suggests Edie was killed before Josh arrived. Josh has undergone surgery and Edie’s phone is missing. After they leave, Strike tells Robin that Darwish is probably MI5. She questions how Edie would be a target for terrorists. He reminds her that they inquired about her politics. Edie terminated Wally Cardew (Kevin Bishop), a voice actor for The Ink Black Heart, because he was alt-right.
At Fast Break, Robin watches a video of Katya Upcott’s (Emma Fielding) interviewing Josh and Edie from three years ago. At the office, Strike watches a video of Wally complaining about being fired and accusing Edie of having sex with other people’s boyfriends and stealing other people’s ideas. He says ask Kea Niven. Edie explains how they got the idea for their cartoon. A disgruntled Wally continues to strike out against Edie on social media. He speaks out against reparations for slavery. In a comment below, LepinesDisciple praises Edie’s death and asks who is next. In the interview video, Katya says LepinesDisciple wants to know if they are dating. Josh says yes. The next day, Murphy informs Robin that The Halvening, an alt-right group, is claiming responsibility for Edie’s murder. He says it is doubtful the group created the Drek Game to go after her. A Taser was utilized to attack Josh and Edie. The Halvening bought latex disguises and bomb supplies from the dark web with Bitcoin. Later, Robin and Strike meet Allan, Grant Ledwell (David Westhead), and Richard Elgar (Joseph Mydell) of Mavericker Films, the production company that acquired the rights to adapt Edie’s cartoon. They suggest The Halvening killed Edie in retaliation to Wally’s termination. Allan tells them that Josh was left partially paralyzed from the attack. Grant argues that Josh is left to benefit from it all. Allan says the attack nearly killed him and doubts he had anything to do with Edie’s murder. Richard asks them to identify Anomie. Robin says Morehouse also helped create the game. He says Morehouse has never been a problem and Josh will hold out on the film deal while Anomie is still active. Anomie is now going after Grant. Richard voices concern about how it will impact the brand. Grant points out that Josh has never been the target. Edie’s fiancé, Phillip Ormond (Luke Norris) is demanding to be paid for a script. Strike and Robin agree to take their case. Richard explains their plan to turn Anomie from hunter to hunted.
Robin goes over the case with Midge, Barclay, and Strike. She insists Anomie is an insider. In a video, Josh introduces Nils De Jung (Ewan Bailey), their cameraman and landlord. Robin tells them that Edie believed Pez was Anomie who plays Magspie. Katya is Josh and Edie’s former agent. Wally is a suspect in Edie’s murder. Strike says comments on Wally’s social media promote the Brotherhood of Ultima Thule, an alt-right organization. Robin announces her enrollment in North Grove art classes with Mariam (Liza Sadovy), Nils’ wife. Josh broke up with Kea Niven when Edie terminated their PA, Yasmin Weatherhead who is writing a book about being a fan of Ink Black Heart. Phillip was living with Edie at the time of her death. Robin tells them about the bruising on Edie’s neck. She tries to enroll in Drek’s Game, but it is currently not accepting new players. She asks Midge if Beth would agree to let them sign in with her account. Midge says it has been years since they last spoke.
Strike follows Wally from Great Portland Street to Regent’s Park where he records a video for social media. Robin appears in a disguise. Barclay notifies Strike that he is watching Phillip and gives him his Twitter ID, Tartan Rizla. Wally harasses a visitor at the park. In disguise, Robin arrives at Park Grove to see a small memorial for Edie. She identifies herself as Jessica. Pez stares at her while removing his robe and lies down on a lounge in the buff. At the park, Strike takes photos of Wally talking to a man before following them. Robin admires Mariam’s painting with a scripture – “A State of Anomie is possible.” Pez says the people are her friends. Lia (Eloise Thomas) points out that Josh and Edie are in it. Robin pretends to not know them. Pez scolds her for gossiping. Robin notices the scripture. He invites her out for a drink. She agrees to go out with him next week. At a pub, Strike eavesdrops on Wally’s conversation. Robin returns to the office to find Midge waiting with Beth’s username, Buffypaws95037. Midge leads her through the process. Robin snaps photos of the homepage. At a pub, Strike falls. Several people help him to his feet. In the game, Anomie asks Buffypaws95037 what her favorite dog breed is. Midge says Beth likes cats. Robin types in cat. Anomie says welcome back and follow me.
In the pub restroom, Strike rubs his paining leg. As he opens the door, a man attacks him. He hits the man and hobbles out the exit and across the street. The man knocks him down. Strike pretends to call in the suspect’s description. The man flees. At the office, Anomie confesses to killing Edie and tells Buffypaws95037 that she is welcome.
C.B. Strike Review
Series six starts out with an interesting side story about the murder of a famous cartoonist. This all changes when the alt-right movement becomes the key focus of the plot. For most people, TV shows and movies are a respite from their daily grind. Politics are not generally part of the equation.
The episode drags on for what seems like forever. Robin and Strike are better colleagues. She is upbeat while he is drab to the point of lifeless. Quit trying to throw them together, the chemistry just isn’t there.
C.B. Strike is no longer set apart. It is laden with clichés, stereotypes, and political agendas. The episode deserves a 4 out of 10.
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Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.
