When the show opens Sidney Chambers (James Norton), gets a visit from his sister, Jennifer (Fiona Button). Jennifer insists Sidney reply to Amanda’s (Morven Christie) engagement supper invitation. As they depart the chapel, Sidney is introduced to the famous Johnny Johnson (Ukweli Roach), who suggests Sidney liven up his services, with a bit of jazz. When they arrive, Sidney is reintroduced to Amanda, who admits to missing her trips to Grantchester. Lilian Calthorpe (Carolina Main) and the other girls poke fun at Sidney and claim they were in love with him, when they were younger.
After being accused of being a homosexual, Sidney is introduced to Guy Hopkins (Tom Austen). Guy insists Sidney is the one he is supposed to impress the most from Amanda’s group of friends. The engagement dinner gets awkward, when Sidney is questioned about his sexuality and potential sexual desires. After the supper, the group celebrates with fireworks, while Sidney questions Amanda’s reasons for getting married. She says, “because he asked”, before suggesting Sidney shouldn’t have come. Afterwards, the group passes around Amanda’s engagement ring and admire its beauty. An argument breaks out, when Jennifer feels insulted, Johnson spills a drink and they lose the ring.
The group suggests dumping out their pockets at the same time, but it turns into a witch hunt, which implicates Johnny. Finally, the dinner comes to an end and Sidney is seen at home the following morning, when he angrily breaks his music record. Geordie Keating (Robson Green) calls and informs Sidney a friend of his has reported his wife missing. When Sidney rendezvous with Geordie, he is made aware of Lilian’s death. William (Harry Hadden-Paton) walks them through the night’s events. He also discusses their previous attempt to have a baby. Sidney and Geordie inspect Lilian’s body and discover marks around her neck, as if someone bashed her, then grabbed her necklace. Sidney brings up the missing ring, before Geordie admits he doesn’t believe in god.
Sidney presides over Lilian’s service, where he is introduced to Leonard Finch (Al Weaver). He speaks about Miss Daphne Young (Pippa Nixon), who is often out and about with boys. Geordie pays a visit and informs Sidney everyone has stopped talking. The pair pay a visit to Amanda and question her and her father, Edward Kendall (Pip Torrens). Ewdard tells them that Lilian was a school mate of Amanda. The pair speak to each member of the party. Almost everyone points the blame at Johnny Johnson.
Geordie informs Sidney that Johnny has a conviction for burglary, but Sidney continues to defend him. Sidney reads The Cambridge Journal of Psychology, while reminiscing about the war. Amanda speaks with Sidney about his upcoming birthday, before admitting there were times, when she didn’t like Lilian. Amanda informs Sidney about her father’s friendship with Guy’s father, which put the pair together, before Sidney is called to stopped a fight involving Johnny. Johnny’s belongings are searched and Lilian’s jewelry is discovered inside.
The next day, Mrs. Maguire (Tessa Peake-Jones) insists Johnny looks like a criminal and has a criminal brow. Jennifer insists Johnny couldn’t have killed Lilian, because she was with him. Johnny tells Sidney about his father’s abuse against his mother and breaking into a house, when he was 14. He insists he has been clean ever since and admits he wasn’t with Jennifer the night of the murder. Johnny pleads with Sidney to get him out of the jail, before Sidney leaves.
Sidney meets with Edward, who insists it is time to move forward, since Johnny has been arrested. Despite Edward’s beliefs, Sidney suggests Amanda doesn’t seem very happy to be with Guy. After a meeting with Mrs. Maguire, Sidney remembers something about the interviews, which could potentially lead to the killer. Sidney and Geordie come to the conclusion that Lilian died elsewhere, before they speak with Edna (Beth Lilly), while the police investigate the stairs. Edna admits William ordered her to scrub the house, but she was unable to get rid of the evidence.
William tells them they argued on the way home, because he couldn’t afford the taxi fee and couldn’t give her a baby. He insists it was an accident, but denies taking Amanda’s engagement ring. Jennifer pays a visit to Johnny, but he cannot be released, since Edward is still pressing charges. Sidney remembers something and rushes over to Amanda’s place. When he arrives, he gets the kids to keep Edward busy, while he searches the house. Next, he takes the ring to Geordie and insists William lied.
Leonard visits Sidney and tells him he had references and an interest in Russian literature. Sidney requests help from Leonard, with something potentially illegal. With Leonard’s help, the trio search Miss Young’s apartments, until she enters and confronts them. Geordie and Sidney question her and accuse him of taking the ring. They suggests Miss Young was preventing Lilian from exposing her affair with William. They accuse Young of pushing and killing Lilian, before taking her jewelry and hiding it in Johnny’s bag. It is revealed that she hid the ring in the flashlight. William admits to the affair and insists Daphne made him feel alive, while Daphne admits she wound up pregnant, but got rid of it. She insists Jennifer is the only one, who got it right, since he doesn’t care what people think.
With Johnny released, everyone celebrates Sidney’s birthday. He receives a new record and the company of Leonard. The group has a good time, despite Geordie insisting Leonard is a pansy. Amanda shows up and gives Sidney a gift, which turns out to be a picture of a landscape. Sidney returns the ring and insists Guy will make a great husband and she will be a great wife. The episode ends, with Sidney preaching about love.
Review
Another excellent episode of Grantchester. The show is paced perfectly and gives the viewer a taste of old fashioned murder mysteries, which is charming, interesting and full of heart. Again, James Norton delivers an excellent performance, which is balanced by the brash Geordie Keating. The episode touched on a lot of social issues with the addition of Johnny Johnson. All in all, another good episode, which deserves an 8 out of 10.
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.
