Father Brown Series 10 Episode 10 Recap

The Serpent Within – The episode opens with Chief Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers) and Sergeant Goodfellow (John Burton) waiting in the dark for petty criminal, George Kavanagh (Jay Taylor). Snickering, Goodfellow asks if Kavanagh’s nickname is really Gorgeous George. Sullivan suggests Kavanagh is no longer boyishly charming after a 10-year prison stint. Ricky “Crafty Taylor (Michael Akinsulire) and Martin Jackson (Claran Owens) celebrate when they crack the safe. Harry Davenport (Christian Ballantyne) seems a bit tense. Goodfellow questions the trustworthiness of Sullivan’s informant, Davenport. Sullivan describes him as “one of the best” before saying his position may be open soon.

Sullivan leads his men into the house to find a note, “Don’t believe everything you’re told” attached to an alarm clock. Goodfellow accuses Kavanagh of setting them up. Sullivan immediately points the finger at Davenport.

Davenport asks if the burglarized property is Oakley Manor. Martin says it’s the Westfield House when Kavanagh enters the room. He informs them of Oakley Manor being under police surveillance before shooting Davenport.

Brenda Palmer (Ruby-May Martinwood) and Isabel Devine (Claudie Blakley) are foraging when Father Brown (Mark Williams) approaches on his bike. They briefly discuss the upcoming Presbytery dinner to which Sullivan is invited. She admits to not wanting him to spend his birthday alone. Brenda suggests inviting him to her house. Isabel questions what others would think. Brenda says everyone who knows they like each other. They approach the Stevenson’s home to discover it has been burglarized while their visiting their daughter in Devon. Davenport’s body is lying on the living room floor.

Father Brown questions why the killer left Davenport’s body so Sullivan would find it. Sullivan vows to not stop until Kavanagh is executed.

Sullivan informs Kavanagh that Davenport put them onto the Highcliffe break-in. Kavanagh denies knowing Davenport before claiming to have been at home last night. Goodfellow informs Sullivan that a search of his vehicle and home turned up nothing.

Isabel is none too happy when Sullivan is a no-show for the Presbytery dinner. Sullivan is sulking alone over a bottle of whiskey.

Sullivan tells Goodfellow that London sent Sergeant Francis (Megan Placito) ahead of his likely return. She asks if he’ll be replacing Sullivan as the Chief Inspector. He says it depends on his passing the exam. Sullivan assures him that he’ll pass.

Sullivan pawns his great-grandfather’s watch. Father Brown watches as he counts his money.

Francis sends Goodfellow for a glass of water while she swipes a ring from Sullivan’s desk. He reenters the room to see her holding the ring. He tells her that a similar ring was reported stolen last week. When Sullivan returns, she informs him of the ring being in his desk drawer. Goodfellow suggests Kavanagh is trying to set him up. Francis requests to search his property. He assures her that he has nothing to hide. Loot from local robberies is discovered in his home. Sullivan agrees with Goodfellow. She asks him to empty his pockets.

Francis informs Sullivan that a London detective will over his investigation before arresting him. Father Brown visits him in jail. Goodfellow says two prints on the chest haven’t been identified. Father Brown admits to believing in his innocence before asking why he was at the pawnbroker. After saying his parent lost their home in a fire, he claims to have pawned nearly all his assets to help them. He cannot make the hearing in London to testify against his boss.

Brenda assures her that “he’ll pull a few strings and walk away.” Isabel vows to prove his innocence. Father Brown suggests they start with the fingerprints found in Sullivan’s home. He says Kavanagh is an avid poker player. Brenda informs them of Borstal’s hidden gambling den. He tells them that it’s being set up in Hambleton this week.

Isabel and Brenda dress in fashionable attire to visit the Floating Casino. Father Brown warns that Kavanagh is extremely dangerous. There safe work is “Hercules.”

Isabel identifies herself to Kavanagh as Adelaide and Brenda as Bess. He introduces them to Crafty and Martin. Isabel wins at poker when Martin recognizes her as a member of the Kembleford Players. She portrayed Adelaide in “Guys and Dolls.” Brenda warns Father Brown as Kavanagh and his men escort Isabel out of the casino. The men drive away with her in a blue car.

Father Brown informs Sullivan of Kavanagh having Isabel. Sullivan assures him that this wouldn’t have happened if he wasn’t locked up. Father Brown says Kavanagh has a boss who utilizes a walking cane. Goodfellow opens the door for Detective Superintendent Alan Alford (Jonny Phillips) who utilizes a walking cane. Sullivan suggests he framed him to keep him from testifying against him. Francis questions him about his wire transfers. Sullivan claims to have wired his parents 200 pounds Alford says it doesn’t look good for him. Sullivan demands Isabel be released.

Alford orders Goodfellow to get a confession out of Sullivan. Goodfellow says the police are working on Isabel’s abduction and Davenport’s murder. Alford suggests she’s only playing games with Sullivan. When he walks away, Goodfellow accuses her and Alford of trying to frame Sullivan.

Martin compliments Isabel’s portrayal of Adelaide in “Guys and Dolls.” She pleads with him to come clean to the police about trying to frame Sullivan. He says she’s in love with Sullivan when Alford approaches. When Kavanagh threatens to expose Alford, he shoots him.

Alford releases Sullivan on bail. Crafty watches as he emerges from the police station. Isabel makes the sign of a cross as the car drives away.

Francis admits Alford sent her to Kembleford to find evidence of Sullivan’s corruption. Goodfellow suggests she planted the evidence. She says WPC Martha Boston who investigated the fire at Sullivan’s parent’s house was facing corruption charges. Alford let her go on a warning.

Crafty threatens to kill Isabel if Sullivan doesn’t confess to receiving stolen goods. Sullivan informs Father Brown of the threat. Father Brown questions if his confession is enough to convince them to release Isabel. He identifies a powder on Sullivan’s suit as flour from the Jenkins Mill.

Isabel asks Martin and Crafty who killed Davenport. They claim Kavanagh was following orders. Brenda, Father Brown, and Sullivan enter the Jenkins Mill. Father Brown bangs his walking cane on the floor. Martin and Crafty rush upstairs to find the place empty while they go to the basement where Alford has Isabel at gunpoint. Alford promises to free Isabel a few miles down the road. Isabel says he’s lying. Sullivan tells him that he’ll need to kill them all. After knocking the gun out of his hand, Isabel retrieves it. Alford tries to flee but gets as far as the steps when Sullivan arrests him.

Goodfellow informs Sullivan of his passing his exam. Sullivan says he’ll be returning to his former post in London tomorrow. He assures him that a  reference will secure him the Kembleford inspector position.

After speaking with Goodfellow, Sullivan invites Isabel, Father Brown, and Brenda to dinner at his Kembleford home next week. Brenda asks why he changed his mind. He admits to being less intrigued with chasing criminals in London. Father Brown accepts his dinner invitation. Sullivan drives away as the episode comes to an end.

 

Father Brown Review

Sullivan is conveniently framed as he prepares to testify against Detective Superintendent Alford in London. Police informant, Davenport tells Sullivan that Kavanagh is planning a heist at Oakley Manor. While police stake out the property, Davenport, Martin, and Crafty are burglarizing Westfield House. Career criminal, Kavanagh suspects Davenport is a police informant. Under the order of Alford, Kavanagh kills Davenport.

Alford orders Sergeant Francis to arrest Sullivan. Father Brown, Isabel, and Brenda strategize a plan to get Kavanagh’s fingerprints. They visit a Floating Casino which Kavanagh is known to frequent. Martin recognizes Isabel as a Kembleford Player actress who portrayed Adelaide in “Guys and Dolls.” She is taken hostage and interrogated.

Alford visits Sullivan in jail to convince him to confess to receiving stolen goods. He orders his release. Kavanagh threatens to kill Isabel if he doesn’t confess by 1pm. Father Brown identifies flour on his jacket as coming from Jenkins Mill where Isabel is being held at gunpoint by Alford. Sullivan is able to arrest him after Isabel dislodges his gun.

Sullivan is set to return to London but changes his mind. It seems he may be interested in pursuing a relationship with Isabel.

The revelation of Isabel and Sullivan’s personal connection secured a good ending for series 10. It’s questionable which direction their relationship will take since the show barely touched on it. Viewership must be decent enough for BBC to commission series 11.

My biggest qualm is Isabel’s reckless decision to inject herself into a murder case. The mere fact, it didn’t dawn on her that someone would recognize her as Adelaide is asinine. Even worse, Father Brown supported the idea.

Nothing about the show says “realism.” The writing is at times infantile.

The series 10 finale deserves a 6. Get more Father Brown recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Take advantage of our onsite advertising to boost your brand awareness.