Miss Scarlet and the Duke Season 2 Finale

The Proposal – The show begins with William “The Duke” Wellington (Stuart Martin) practicing what he will to Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips) while she does the same thing. The Duke says he has no option but to depart for Glasgow by the week’s end. Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips) assures him the promotion is a “golden opportunity.” He tells her that Scotland isn’t too far away. She promises to visit him if ever she has an investigation in Glasgow. He vows to call upon her first whenever he visits London. Ivy (Cathy Belton) alerts her that she has a visitor.

Eliza reminds Patrick Nash (Felix Scott) of his trying to blackmail her when they last met. He disagrees it was blackmail, but persuasion. She assures him that any proposal from him will be declined. He suggests her income would double or triple if she was hired to work on his cases. When she pledges to never work for him, he claims to have sent her a case last month. She accuses him of lying. He points out that her caseload has recently increased. She tells him that his charity is not needed. He says when The Duke takes the Glasgow position, she will lose her Scotland Yard ally. She slams the door in his face.

Eliza describes Nash as “conniving.” Ivy tells her that his proposal would mean a higher rate for the same job. Eliza assumes she wants her to accept the proposal. Ivy says she wants her to get married to a good man. Eliza admits wanting to expand her firm and hire staff. Ivy warns her that overseeing a male staff would be challenging. After asking what is wrong with women being in charge, Eliza reminds her of the queen. Ivy suggests putting any changes on-hold while she deals with The Duke’s departure.

After giving The Duke embroidered handkerchiefs as a parting gift, Eliza extends a job offer. He complains about not comprehending her way of thinking. She assures him that she was only trying to help. He points out that it would mean he would work for her. She suggests his reputation would increase her caseload. He says the offer is about her being ambitious, not helping him.

The Duke tosses Eliza’s gift in the wastebasket. Superintendent Munro (Ian Pirie) informs him that the next case will be handled by Detective Fitzroy (Evan McCabe). The Duke warns him that it would be risky. Munro says his mind is made up. After Munro exits the room, Fitzroy informs him that the decision was his father’s. He admits being surprised by his decision to leave before suggesting a similar promotion would be available there soon.

Hattie Parker (Jessie Cave) warns Eliza that her aunt, Mrs. Parker (Helen Norton) is waiting to speak with her.

Mrs. Parker demands she fulfill the job she was paid for. Eliza assures her that background checks were completed as she asked. When Mrs. Parker hands her a new list, Eliza suggests Hattie has no interest in marrying any of her suitor recommendations but for love. After assuring her that Hattie will marry, Mrs. Parker says her plan for Hattie and her husband is to be her care provider until death. She claims to have rejected several marriage proposals to avoid being controlled by another man. Eliza declines to continue working for her. Before leaving, Mrs. Parker suggests her concern won’t secure her a financially comfortable old age.

Eliza informs Nash of her decision to accept a case of her choosing as a trial run. He agrees to give her a three-month advancement before shaking it. As they prepare to depart, someone shoots Nash in the leg before fleeing the scene. Nash passes out on the ground.

Eliza is at Nash’s bedside when he comes through. When she admits to seeing the perpetrator, he provides a brief description of the shooter. He pays her to find the shooter. She questions why he doesn’t get his men to do it. He stresses the importance of trust when it comes to his life. He tells her that people dislike him, but she is the only one who told him to his face. He claims the shooter looked at a picture before shooting him.

Fitzroy is waiting when she emerges from Nash’s hospital room. He voices his concern for her well-being. She claims to be fine. The Duke gives Fitzroy an emesis basin containing the bullets from Nash’s leg. After informing her of Fitzroy being the lead detective on Nash’s case, he asks her to not interfere with his investigation. Eliza wraps all the bullets except for one in Fitzroy’s handkerchief.

Eliza asks Moses (Ansu Kabia) to assist her in finding the gun that fired the bullet from Nash’s leg. Moses asks if she saw the shooter. She tells him that the man was possibly in his late 40s. He suggests the man was a “gun for hire.”

At Solomon’s Emporium, Eliza and Moses speak with Solomon (Brian Bovell) about the bullet. Solomon claims to have sold a box of the bullets to someone last week. Eliza gives him a coin to convince him to tell her more.

After handing her a paper, Moses says Nash’s shooter was released several weeks ago after serving 10 years in jail for armed robbery. He tells her that the paper contains the assailant’s address. When he refuses to accompany her there, he warns her that she may not survive.

The Duke removes Eliza’s gift from the wastebasket when Fitzroy approaches to ask for assistance. He suggests turning to his team for assistance.

A Rookery thug (Branko Perisic) and several other men try to intimidate Eliza. She warns them that she is with Scotland Yard when a shot rings out. Moses is standing on an upper ledge with a rifle. As they search through a room, he scolds her for ignoring his warning. After finding her photo among the shooter’s items, he suggests she was the target, not Nash.

Mr. Potts (Simon Ludders) talks to The Duke about Eliza accessing his mortuary. The Duke reminds him that women are prohibited from entering the mortuary. Mr. Potts suggests he talk to Eliza because she listens to him. The Duke laughs before excusing himself until Fitzroy approaches to say the ballistics report shows a cap and ball revolver was the weapon. He informs him of there being three bullets, one of which he believes Eliza took.  Mr. Potts says a cadaver from the Rookery Slums had a similar bullet in the right ventricle.

At the mortuary, Mr. Potts provides them with a description of the deceased man’s clothing. Fitzroy points out that it matches the description provided by Eliza. As Mr. Potts explains his autopsy findings, The Duke jerks the file out of his hands. He informs Fitzroy that Marshal was recently received from jail.

At Scotland Yard, Fitzroy searches for a criminal record for Marshal. The Duke suggests giving his men two names to research. When Fitzroy promises to ask them to do it, the Duke demands he tell them to do it.

Eliza questions if Joseph Simms (Aidan McArdle) hired Marshal to kill her. After reminding her of how she prevented Simms from inheriting a fortune, Moses says he has only been out of jail since last week.

Fitzroy questions him when he claims Elisa poisoned Simms. The Duke tells him that he is taking over his case. When Fitzroy tries to defend himself, The Duke forcibly grabs him before explaining why he is being forced to take the Glasgow position.

Eliza is with Clementine (Laura Rollins) when Moses bursts through the door. He informs her that Marshal died from a gunshot to the heart. She asks what he thinks about Simms being responsible for Marshal’s death. He says it is positively him before ordering Clementine to wait at Eliza’s office in case The Duke shows up there.

Fitzroy accepts a telegram for The Duke.

As The Duke escorts Ivy into a carriage, she asks if Eliza is safe. Moses assures her that she is safe. As the carriage pulls away, Moses assumes his telegram was never received.

At the Rookery Slums, Simms shoots Fitzroy in the shoulder when he tries to him. The Duke fires his weapon as Simms flees the scene.

Simms enters Eliza’s office to find Clementine sitting at her desk. Identifying himself as Detective Wellington, Simms asks to speak with Eliza.

Eliza is pacing the room when Simms enters with his weapon raised. She questions how he know where she was at. He claims Clementine told him before demanding an apology for stopping his inheritance. She offers him cash to cover his passage to a destination of his choice. As he retrieves the money, she asks if he would get her a drink. He accuses her of trying to delay him from leaving. She claims to have poisoned the money, not his drink. When he lunges toward her, she jumps out of the way, sending him to the floor.

Simms is arrested while Moses and Eliza watch. The Duke stops to say goodbye.

Hattie informs Eliza that she is engaged to be married. Eliza suggests they talk it over first. She assures her that there is nothing to discuss because her engagement party is to be tonight. Eliza promises to attend as Hattie rushes away.

Eliza informs Nash that she was the shooter’s target, not him. When she tries to return his money, he refuses to accept it because it was poisoned. She agrees to keep it as a down payment for her next case.

Mr. Potts voices his concern about not being worthy enough to attend Hattie’s engagement party. Hattie introduces her fiancé, Ludwig Peters (Pavle Cemerikic) to Eliza.

The Duke sits at his desk. Eliza looks over at Hattie and Peter followed by Mr. Potts and Ivy. The Duke packs up his belongings when Munro informs him that Police Commissioner Fitzroy (Michael Simkins) requests a meeting.

Police Commissioner Fitzroy scolds The Duke for Fitzroy’s injury. The Duke tells him that he is responsible for his injury, not him. He demands Munro to arrest The Duke when Fitzroy orders him to stop. Fitzroy threatens to resign from Scotland Yard if The Duke is forced to leave. When he tells him to do it, Fitzroy informs him that the detectives have voted to resign if The Duke leaves. Each of the detectives agrees with Fitzroy.

Mr. Parker toasts Hattie and Ludwig. When The Duke arrives at the party, Eliza enters his office to find it empty.

Eliza arrives home to find The Duke waiting on her. He informs her that Police Commissioner has been persuaded to permit him to keep his position. As he reaches out to touch her hand, Mr. Potts and Ivy arrive home. Ivy voices concern for her safety as Mr. Potts suggests she needs to be more considerate. They go for a nightcap as the episode comes to end.

 

Miss Scarlet and the Duke Review

Not an extraordinary finale, just so-so. It felt bloated with way too much going on for a 45-minute episode. The rushed pace covered each scene too quickly and left a lot to be desired.

Fitzroy reminds me of Gomer Pyle, “Gomer Pyle: USMC,” who was the only Marine to truly admire Sergeant Carter. In this case, Fitzroy appeared to be the only detective who truly admired The Duke. After watching the finale, you may agree the vote was uncompelling. Otherwise, the outcome would’ve been the complete opposite.

Eliza, Mr. Potts, and Fitzroy were constantly persecuted by The Duke. I was hoping he would tone it down, but it only heightened by two-fold up to the final five minutes. I wasn’t hoping for an intense love connection, only a respectful friendship, which ended on a cliffhanger.

I question why they made The Duke so hostile. I found him intolerable and unlikeable. Fitzroy and Mr. Potts, on the other hand, were gentlemen, rightfully so. I had my fingers crossed he would go to Glasgow, so Elisa could focus her attention on a more deserving man.

The finale wasn’t a major disappointment but not fully satisfying. I rate it a 6. Get more Miss Scarlet and the Duke recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking on the link to learn more.