The Last Tango In Kembleford – The episode opens with Gillian Fletcham’s (Saskia Strallen) announcement that TV’s “Go Dancing” talent scout (Kevin Clifton) will be arriving in Kembleford in six weeks in search of contestants.

With just the days before the scout’s arrival dwindling, Brenda Palmer (Ruby-May Martinwood) has kicked her dance training into high gear. Having to yell over the radio, Mrs. Devine (Claudie Blakley) soon realizes why Canon Damian Fox’s (Roger May) calls have been going unanswered. Father Brown (Mark Williams) happily retreats to return the call when Brenda realizes she’s returned from dance rehearsals with a stranger’s bag.

Everyone at the studio, especially Derek Fletchman (Adam Rhys-Charles), is feeling the strain as they work to perfect their routines. Gillian has not only spent a fortune on a new dress, but she’s got a new star-studded partner Stallion Mario Cantoloni (Tom McCall).

At lunch, Brenda and Mrs. Devine’s discussion about Gillian’s new Italian partner inspires Father Brown to pay a visit to the studio.

Mario appears to be quite the performer and lady’s man before Father embarrasses him with an attempt at a conversation in French. After Mrs. Highbury attempts to explain Mario’s troubled past with his motherland, Father Brown inquires about Robert Highbury. A screech out of nowhere soon draws everyone’s attention.

While Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers) reluctantly orders Sergeant Goodfellow (John Burton) to question Derek about Gillian’s damaged dress, he attempts to apologize to Devine about a missed date. Brenda doesn’t make the task easier and Father Brown only manages to make the moment more awkward by inviting him to attend the dance tryouts.

Later that day, Father Brown learns that Gillian and Derek’s mother was a famous ballroom dancer who gave it all up to raise her children. The studio was Gillian’s dedication to her. As rehearsals end, Derek apologizes to Brenda for the unexpected interruption and offers to spend extra time on her routine if she comes in early tomorrow.  Upon doing so, she discovers Derek confused and covered in blood.

Father Brown notes several oddities while examining the murder scene. There’s not only a strange cabbage smell emanating from the body, but her mother’s bracelet is missing. Derek is found in possession of the item and arrested.

The mystery of the missing bracelet is solved when Father Brown questions Derek at the station. Derek’s mention of Gillian’s strange behavior inspires a search of the studio’s office.

Along with Brenda and Mrs. Devine, Father Brown discovers Mrs. Highbury canceling the competition due to a lack of teachers. Mrs. Devine offers her and Brenda’s assistance before Father Brown mentions Mario.

A hidden bank statement put Father Brown on Robert Highbury’s trail. The questioning that follows reveals that the studio was hemorrhaging money thanks to Gillian’s careless spending. Being the owner of the bank that financed the studio, Robert not only has a personal stake but a ledger suggests that Gillian was using her friendship with Mrs. Highbury for financial gain.

Father Brown returns to the dance studio with his discovery but finds that Mrs. Highbury has already left for St. Marys. He also learns that Mario has as little patience and Mrs. Highbury has forgotten to wax the dance floor.

Father Brown finds Mrs. Highbury completely lost in the church’s floral arrangements and thanks her for her dedication over the years before accusing her of destroying Gillian’s dress. She admits to the sabotage while also revealing that it was her idea to write to the “Go Dancing” producers.

The lack of progression in the case inspires a return visit to the police station where Father Brown learns that in spite of the absent name plague; Derek is being charged with murder. Sullivan contributes the charge to Derek’s fingerprints on the trophy along with a clear motive.

On his way to the studio, Father Brown is surprised to spot Brenda and Devine in search of Mario. A quick conversation reveals that Mario has checked out of his room early and left a huge mess of the sheets. The oddity of the remark inspires Father Brown to question Mrs. Devine about Gillian’s old school photograph she found earlier while searching the office. After a quick peek at the photograph, Father Brown races out to stop Mario’s departure.

Father Brown catches the cab in the nick of time. He later admits his deceit and shares the entire truth with Father Brown, Devine, and Brenda. He maintains his innocence throughout the conversation and admits that he and Gillian cut a deal to honor her silence. The remark causes Devine to remember the showcase and races off with Brenda right behind her.

While Brenda and Devine work to wrap up last-minute details for the showcase, Father Brown attempts to stop a confrontation between Sullivan and Mario from turning physical. Mario apologizes and attributes his flirtation with Devine to his Mario persona. After realizing the importance of Mario’s admission, Father Brown’s attention is drawn to a nearby garden. Several minutes later, Father Brown identifies the smell “cabbage-like” smell from the body as Yarrow Root. Along with its potent scent, Father Brown mentions that the root can also be used to force miscarriages.

Elsewhere, Devine has picked up “Go Dancing’s” scout and is racing back to the studio with him, while Brenda pleads with Mrs. Highbury to join her at the studio. Once Mrs. Highbury realizes Brenda has accidentally picked up her bag from the studio, she’s revealed as the perpetrator. By the time Father Brown and Sullivan arrive, she’s in tears. After several minutes of confession, Gillian’s murder is boiled down to Mrs. Highbury’s inability to conceive and Gillian’s forced miscarriage.

In spite of the day’s events, the competition goes on. Derek shows up in the nick of time to catch Brenda’s routine, which the scout loves, although he reminds her that “Go Dancing” is a show more tailored for ballroom dancing. While discussing the routine and the scout’s remarks with Derek, Brenda claims she’s only interested in dancing for fun. Derek vows to keep the studio open and run it with a similar attitude. The episode ends with Sullivan and Brenda professing their love for each other during a dance routine.

 

Father Brown Review

I cannot say the episode was horrible, but it was incredibly long-winded. The plot and twist, although not clever or original, did feel somewhat satisfying. I didn’t, however, appreciate the feel of agenda-pushing I got from the episode. It might be personal cynicism because the abortion was honestly only debated in terms of right and wrong through the public and church’s view. Despite that, it somehow felt like a political push to me. It could have been the natural distaste that Gillian exuded, but I couldn’t help feeling vindicated and somewhat satisfied with Mrs. Highbury’s “heat of the moment” attack. For that, I would give the episode a 5.4 out of 10.

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