Six Feet Under – The episode opens with Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips) asking Barnabus Potts (Simon Ludders) for information on a cadaver. Potts tells her that the details will only be provided to Detective William “The Duke” Wellington”. She says the information could put the assailant behind bars sooner than later but he continues to decline. She tells him that his relationship with Ivy (Cathy Belton) makes them practically kin. He scolds her for trying to bargain with their relationship. While standing in front of Turner’s Funeral Parlour, they see Theobald Turner’s bloody hand slide down the window. Frantic, he tries to open the door only to find it stuck. She gives it a good kick.

DS Charlie Phelps (Tim Chipping) asks if anyone was seen leaving the scene. Scarlet suggests the assailant fled out the back door. He sarcastically says his question was directed at Potts. Detective Black (Vukasin Randelovic) admits to feeling faint at the sight of blood. Scarlet tells them that Theobald was most likely dead before he hit the floor. Phelps says she has went from detective to amateur doctor. She rags him for running an inefficient investigation before showing him where Theobald was probably killed. Potts says he must have crawled to get help. She believes the cause of death is blunt force trauma to the head. She points out the empty cash drawer and missing brass coffin handles but doesn’t believe it is a robbery. Black opens the window to relieve his illness. Scarlet warns that the wind will destroy vital evidence. Phelps scolds Black.

When Scarlet returns to the office with a bouquet of flowers, Clarence (Paul Bazely) urges her to save her money. She claims The Duke is going to give them a case when he arrives. He informs her of the authorities’ decision to stop hiring private investigators to save money. Upset, she tosses the bouquet on the desk as he leaves. Days pass and no cases. Scarlet cleans her office. The bouquet is now wilted trash.

Anxious, Potts complains about the way the police are handling Theobald’s case. The Duke informs him that Black has assumed the investigation because Phelps went north on police business. Potts says Black is not fit to lead any case. Ivy refuses to let Potts’ blood pressure kill him before they are married. Later, they are hiring Scarlet to investigate Theobald’s case. Scarlet says it is doubtful Turner’s Funeral Parlour because it was in financial turmoil. He assures her that Theobald was an excellent undertaker. Ivy reminds him of Theobald’s estranged sister, Francesca Turner (Katherine Manners) of Bristol. Potts admits to being surprised when he learned Francesca is to inherit the funeral parlour.

At Theobald’s funeral, Francesca informs Scarlet of her plan to sell Theobald’s funeral parlour. She says a clause in the will prohibits her from selling the business to Hardcastle’s Funeral Home. Scarlet questions why Theobald would put the clause in his will. Francesca claims John Hardcastle (Jonathan Rhodes) was a family rival.

Intoxicated, Clarence boasts of convincing the Funeral Directors’ Guild’s clerk to tell him that Hardcastle’s Funeral Home is facing malpractice complaints. He says Albert Edmunds filed the last complaint.

Albert Edmunds (Theo Cowan) claims to have witnessed Hardcastle charge unaffordable prices for his service and hooked customers up with lenders and his thugs intimidated those who couldn’t pay. He tells Scarlet that the Funeral Director’s Guild favors Hardcastle. He says his termination was unwarranted. He urges her to look into Hardcastle as Theobald’s killer.

Francesca finds two invoices for window replacement in Theobald’s office. Scarlet says the same window was replaced twice in three weeks. She tells Francesca about Albert’s intimidation claim. Later, she receives a bouquet of flowers with a card that reads, “Eliza Scarlet RIP.”

Detective Fitzroy (Evan McCabe) informs The Duke of Black’s resignation. Phelps is leading the Haymarket investigation in Leeds. Frustrated, The Duke says he will assume Theobald’s case. Fitzroy tells him that he is considering applying for a positive with the New York Police Department. The Duke assures him that he will give him a recommendation.

Scarlet visits Hardcastle’s Funeral Home under the guise of being in need of funeral services for a deceased great-aunt. She convinces him to handle the funeral by claiming there is plenty of money to cover the fees. While browsing the caskets, she notices a card similar to the one she received earlier. The Duke enters the room and asks what she is doing there. Playing it off, she identifies herself as Miss Manners but Fitzroy gives her away. The Duke and Scarlet question Hardcastle about Albert’s claims. Hardcastle describes Albert as “useless”. The Duke asks if he has an alibi for the morning Theobald was killed. Hardcastle claims to have been returning from Eastbourne with his family. Scarlet shows him the threatening card that she received yesterday. He assures her that someone is trying to frame him.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       The Duke tells Scarlet that a witness saw a heavyset man leaving the scene after Theobald’s windows were broken. He voices concern about the threats made against her. She tells him that she receives threats all the time. Relieved to learn The Duke has assumed Theobald’s case, Potts tells Scarlet that her services are no longer needed. She minds him of their contractual agreement. Potts claims Theobald told him about Hardcastle’s threats. He says Theobald blamed Hardcastle for his business failure.

While going through Theobald’s files, Scarlet and Ivy discover a photo of the broken windows, they discover bricks with initials, S. P. Later, Scarlet visits the brick maker, Sergel Petrov’s business. The brick factory foreman (Jovan Jovanovic) tells her that Petrov is taking care of his daughter after the death of his wife. She asks if he knows a customer with a scar on his cheek. The foreman refuses to talk until she threatens to report it to the police. After identifying the man as Thomasz Mazelli (Ivan Tomic), he claims Petrov owes him for his wife’s funeral. He says Mazelli collects payment and helps himself to a box bricks.

Scarlet asks The Duke to accompany her to Long Acre to quest Mazelli. He tells her that Theobald’s case will have to wait. She assures him that she will be perfectly safe to visit Mazelli who probably threatened her life. He follows her to Mazelli’s & Co. where they find him beating up a Albert. The Duke arrests Mazelli. Albert refuses to make a statement. A constable hands Scarlet a message from Potts. Later, she visits his office to find him upset with Francesca’s decision to sell Theobald’s funeral parlour to Hardcastle.

Mazelli denies any knowledge of Theobald. He claims to have been having a drink at the Broad Street Hotel when Theobald was killed. After reminding him of tax invasion carrying a hefty prison sentence, The Duke orders his accounts frozen. Relenting, Mazelli claims Hardcastle sent him to deal with a woman that he had an affair with in 402. Later, he arrives at the hotel to find Scarlet asking the clerk for Francesca’s room. He informs her of Hardcastle and Francesca’s affair. The clerk says Francesca checked out earlier. They confront Hardcastle with the new information. Hardcastle claims Francesca threatened to tell his wife about their affair 20 years ago if he didn’t give her money. He admits to sending Mazelli to deal with her.

Fitzroy informs Scarlet that Francesca’s husband, Peter Edmunds, passed away earlier this year. At Turner’s Funeral Parlour, she tells Francesca that she and Hardcastle are Albert’s parents. Scarlet suggests after she got pregnant by a rival of her father’s, she left London. Francesca admits to shoving Theobald during an verbal disagreement. She claims Theobald’s death was an accident. She insists on going to Scotland Yard but Scarlet searches the funeral parlour. Albert flees but gets as far as the door. The Duke orders the constables to apprehend Albert.

Albert admits to being relieved to learn Peter wasn’t his biological father because he had a drinking problem. He says Francesca hated him. He claims Hardcastle rejected him as his son when he told him. He admits to shoving Theobald during an argument.

The Duke invites Scarlet out to dinner. She reminds him that they just had their monthly dinner. He agrees to overlook it. She accepts the offer.

Potts pays Scarlet for solving Theobald’s case. She asks for a review of how she handled the case. Looking up to see Ivy staring at him, he says she did a capable job. Ivy urges him to permit Scarlet access to his mortuary from here on out. He reluctantly agrees but only under police supervision.

The Duke prepares to make an arrest in the another case when he gets news of a diamond heist. With no backup, Phelps urges him to carry out the raid. Fitzroy advises against it. The Duke says it is on. Fitzroy and The Duke bust through the door. A shootout ensues.

Fitzroy informs Scarlet of The Duke being shot. He says they do not believe he will survive the surgery. She looks shocked as the episode ends.

 

Miss Scarlet & The Duke Review

The writing has remained consistent since the series debuted. The set is consistent with 1882 Victorian London. There is little to not like about the series. At one point, it was easy to become annoyed with The Duke’s arrogance but he has toned it down this season.

The show is exemplary and could easily be utilized as an example to other producers and writers. This is the first and only series that truly deserves another season.

The acting, writing, cinematography, and setting are beautifully done. The episode deserves a 7.5 out of 10. Get more Miss Scarlet & The Duke recaps here. Support our independent site by donating. Ask about our onsite advertising to build your brand. Join our newly established forum to discuss the show and many other topics. We would like to hear from you.