The Last Supper – Episode 4 opens with Father Brown (Mark Williams) and Isobel Devine (Claudie Blakley) welcoming Harriet Sykes (Sarah Alexander) and her husband David (Geoffrey Lumb) to Kembleford. After quick introductions, Father Brown learns that Harriet is there to oversee the inaugural food fayre dubbed “Kemblefood” while David hopes to promote Harriet’s new book.

Along with most of Kembleford, Father Brown and Brenda Palmer (Ruby-May Martinwood) arrive for the opening of the fayre where Devine already appears stressed and ragged. The absence of Chef Rafi Faridi (Nav Siddhu) sous-chef only makes matters worse. After introducing Yen (Jasmine Chiu) and Rafi to the crowd, Harriet meets Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers). Elsewhere, Brenda takes advantage of Rafi’s missing sous-chef.

Father Brown is seated with the crowd when he’s joined by Devine and her moping about tomorrow’s dinner with Mayfair’s special guest, Hugo Pearl-Blythe (Tim Hudson). After Devine departure, Father Brown’s interest is drawn to the unique design of the Lei’s Wok pan. While trying to learn more about the pan, Chester Gates (Dominic Rowan) makes an illustrious entrance. After a few condescending remarks, it becomes easy to see why his presence puts everyone on edge.

While being introduced to a new dish of lentils and garlic (Dhal Tarka), Father Brown learns that Chester and Rafi once had plans to open a restaurant together. Apparently, it was Rafi who inexplicably backed out of the arrangement. Chester unsuccessfully attempts to get Rafi to include his Chingril Malai on tomorrow’s menu before turning his attention to Lei’s Prawns and Chop Suey. He makes matters worse when he tells Lei that she’s just as thin-skinned as her father.

Horrified that the extremely public demeaning will lead to Lei’s early departure, Harriet assigns her the additional task of babysitting Chester. Elsewhere, Father Brown catches the very end of what appears to be an argument between Chester and David. Although the conversation is abrupt, David mentions Chester’s review of Lei’s father as particularly vicious. Father Brown’s return to the fayre is interrupted by Devine with more moping about her new babysitting role. Divine immediately takes him up on his offer to help by having him accompany her the following morning.

Chester’s absence at his 8 o’clock meeting with Devine leads to the discovery of his body. Sullivan attributes the death to a cheese sandwich laced with rat poison. Sullivan notes that the poison was likely added in the kitchen, but doesn’t entirely dismiss that a visitor could have done it. Father Brown appears to be drawn by the oddity of the order for such a high-end food critic. Several other key items are discussed as possible evidence before Sergeant Goodfellow (John Burton) joins with his report that rat poison is missing from the kitchen. The landlady also notes hearing a female voice in the room while delivering the sandwich just after 10, which was against the rules.

Returning to the fayre, Devine and Father Brown deliver the bad news to Rafi who, in turn, vows to add his Chingril Malai dish to tonight’s menu in Chester’s honor.

Goodfellow’s discovery of a missing chapter from Chester’s memoir leads to Lei’s arrest.

Father Brown questions Lei at the station in hopes of refuting the evidence but learning that Lei was the female voice the landlady overheard only makes her look guiltier. The questioning also reveals that Lei saw Chester leaving a pot outside Rafi’s room.                                                             When later questioned about the pot, Rafi says it’s a Bihari masala powder and a huge ingredient in Chester’s favorite dish, Chingril Malai. Father Brown also questions him about his backing out of the restaurant deal with Chester, which he contributes to Chester’s father. Rafi feels that as the British Governor, he could have done much more to stop the riots and massacres between the Hindus and Muslims in Bihari.

Overseeing Harriet sign copies of her book, Devine makes the startling discovery that David’s pen has the same defect that was found earlier on Chester’s fayre invitation. After sharing the news with Father Brown,  David openly admits to sending him the tickets and invitation. According to him, he was hoping it would lead to him becoming Chester’s memoir publisher. Harriet’s book isn’t doing as well as alluded to and it was the dropping sales that forced the closure of her cooking school.

Taking his new evidence to the jail, Father Brown returns to the station to question Lei. She admits that she was romantically involved with Chester. Her father not only found out, but he was openly against the relationship, although he was the only member of the family who knew. This would change when the memoir went public. Before leaving the station, Father Brown convinces Goodfellow to grant him another look at Chester’s memoir. It turns out that Chester was writing about many scandals.

Harriet’s excitement over David’s finding a new chef is lost with the arrival of Hugo Pearl-Blythe.

Elsewhere at the fyre, Father Brown learns that Rafi had a much bigger role in the riots than he originally claimed. It was his mother’s death and mixed-up emotions that inspired his role. He even claims to have blood on his hands at one point and attributes that to his fleeing to England. It would be through his father’s death and inheritance that Chester learned of all this. Out of fear that the news would come out in Chester’s memoir, Rafi felt he was left with no other option than to silence him.

Devine loses her temper and verbally assaults Harriet when she makes a scene of protest during Rafi’s arrest. After some back-and-forth arguing, Father Brown interjects and offers Brenda’s assistance with finishing Rafi’s curry. Harriet reluctantly agrees but says the real problem will be preventing Blythe from leaving. Father Brown assures her that he will handle that task. He is later shown doing just that by discussing the design of the Wok cooking pan. Blythe isn’t very amused and admits to knowing that Father Brown is only stalling him.

The food manages to arrive right before Blythe leaves and Harriet later announces that she’s got a meeting on the books next week. As the event wraps up and tents are broken down, Harriet not only apologizes to Devine but admits to looking up to her.

 

Father Brown Review

I can’t but find myself astonished that people would choose to watch this show. I won’t go as far as saying that it is pure rubbish, but it is so elementary, that I feel like it’s something I would have been forced to watch in grade school. Despite the plot twists and “feel good” atmosphere, the show is horrendous. I wouldn’t even say that there is any acting in the series; both Brenda and Father Brown make such annoying facial mannerisms. All that’s missing is the tilt of a head and a puddle of drool. In lieu of the harsh stance, I would give this episode a 4.0 out of 10.

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