Sleep While I Sing – As the episode opens Gibsons Chief of Police Karl Alberg (Rossif Sutherland) explains what happened that led to Jane Doe’s death. He shows Sid Sokolowski (Aaron Douglas) where the killer placed and posed the body. At the police station, Edwina Yen (Mya Lowe), Sid, and Karl stare at Tommy Cummins’ (Noah Reid) painting of Jane Doe. She says it seems as if she is breathing. Karl tells her to send a photo of the painting to media outlets and social media. At Cummins’ art exhibition, Karl thanks him for the portrait. He admires a painting of a woman. Cummins knows his mother, Shirley Alberg’s work. Devon Travis (Alisha Newton) apologizes to Cummins for being late.

At Molly’s Reach – Phyllis Diaz (Fiona Vroom), Cassandra Lee (Kristin Kreuk), and Roger Galbraith (Lucas Bryant) watch Karl’s press conference on the local news. Cummins’ portrait of the victim is displayed on the screen. At the police station, Isabella Harbud (Savonna Spracklin) informs Karl that a Los Angeles talent agent, Robert Cross (David Attar), claims the victim is Sally Dublin (Claire Friesen), an actress. He says she called him a week ago and said she may get in touch with an old friend, Roger. Cross recently dropped Roger as a client. Elsewhere, Roger calls Cassandra in a state of panic due to his connection to Sally. He asks for an alibi on the night Sally was murdered. At the art gallery, Devon embraces Cummins and immediately apologizes. She asks him about a painting of a woman. He says it is a long story. At the police station, Cassandra tells Karl about Roger asking her for an alibi on the night Sally was killed. He asks her to close her eyes and think about what she heard while on the phone with Roger. At the art gallery, Devon is texting someone when she learns about Jane Doe being identified. Cummins says Karl asked him to paint the victim. He offers to take her home. At the police station, Yen shows Karl a crime scene photo of a posed victim from six years ago in Seattle. Another woman was killed and posed in Baton Rouge years before. He believes Sally and the two women are the victims of the same killer.

A distraught Devon is alone in a remote area. While driving down a lone road, Roger is promising someone on the phone that he will be there. He appears to run over something and stops his vehicle. The next day, Darren Gustafson (Jason Asuncion) is collecting cans on the side of the road when he discovers something behind a tree. Bronwen Travis (Tammy Gillis) is worried about Devon because she didn’t come home last night. Andy Kendrick (Fritzy-Levans Destine) is parked outside Cassandra’s house in case Roger shows up. She brings him some coffee and realizes her car is damaged. He says it was parked there when he arrived at 2am. Callum Hingle (Gardiner Millar) arrives to find his deceased dog, Clyde, covered with a blanket. Darren suggests he was struck by a truck. At the police station, Sid and Yen believe the killer strikes every six years. Karl assures them that there could be more victims. Someone reports seeing a green SUV parked past Wilson Creek on Saturday night.

Holly Alberg (Dakota Guppy) wakes up to find Karl already gone. She asks Devon if plans to file a complaint against Cummins. Devon claims Cummins panicked when she made an advance at him. She got out and walked there. Devon refuses to answer Bronwen’s call but Holly answers and tells her that she is there. At the library, Cassandra is on the phone with Karl. She tells him that Roger must have damaged her car but refuses police surveillance. Isabella alerts him of Roger’s arrival. Elsewhere, a distraught Mary is scrubbing down the side of a building when Callum arrives with Clyde. He insists it is murder. At the police station, Roger denies knowing Sally was coming to visit him. He hasn’t seen her in years. Karl asks where he was living in May 2012. Roger was on a film shoot in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He claims to have been at Gail’s on Saturday night. Karl confronts him about how he asked Cassandra for an alibi. Roger accuses Karl of wanting to pin Sally’s murder on him because of his close relationship with Cassandra. Karl asks if he stole and crashed Cassandra’s car. Yen verified Roger’s alibi for May 2012.

Karl speaks to the press about Sally’s case. A reporter (Kate Gajdosik) asks what Sally was doing in Gibsons. Devon challenges him. He returns to the police station. Sid tells him that Roger is asking for an attorney. Karl says he isn’t the killer. At Gibsons High School, Jesse (Quinten James) asks Cummins what was going through his mind when he saw Sally lying in the morgue. Cummins tries to walk away but Jesse stops him. Cummins shoves him. Jesse punches him. Elsewhere, Karl arrives at the Hingle house to find “RAPIST” spray painted on the shed. Mary says their neighbors believe Callum killed Sally. At 17, Callum was charged with statutory rape for dating a 15-year-old girl. Cummins brought them a painting of Clyde. At the police station, Karl is searching Cummins’ work when he comes across a painting of a woman in a shallow grave. At the high school, Holly tells Devon about Jesse hitting Cummins.  Devon leaves to look for Cummins.

Sid’s sister lost her life to drug addiction. Yen says he can’t save everyone. CCTV footage outside a gas station shows a woman inside Cassandra’s car and a man filling the tank. Isabella finds the crime scene photos of the posed victims missing. At the art gallery, Karl compares the photos to Cummins’ paintings. Sadie Whitaker (Vic Michaelis) tells him that the gallery has 11 of his paintings on display but there are dozens more. She believes Devon has a crush on Cummins. He leaves Holly a voicemail. Elsewhere, Yen searches Cassandra’s car and discovers a woman’s handbag. Cassandra denies it is hers. Outside Molly’s Reach, Cummins watches Holly and Devon. Yen and Sid find Roger and ask him about a call he received from Sally at 4:18pm last Tuesday. Roger says if he had answered, she would still be alive. Sid asks him about the woman in Cassandra’s car at the petrol station. Gail Galbraith (Paula Lindberg) approaches and asks what is going on. Roger pleads with them to not involve her.

Devon and Cummins are together in his car. She denies telling anyone about Sally’s painting. He promises to forgive her anyway. Elsewhere, Bronwen scolds Karl for not telling her about Devon staying at his house last night. He claims to have not known and asks to speak with Devon. She says Devon is with Cummins. Elsewhere, Gail tells Yen and Sid that they went to Madera Park to buy drugs. Sid urges Gail to get help. He receives a call from Karl saying he is en route to Cummins’ house. Cummins shows Devon his paintings of dead people. He invites her to share it with him. She shoves him and runs into the woods. He grabs a knife and pursues her. Karl arrives and finds Cummins holding Devon at knifepoint. Karl orders him to put the knife down. Cummins offers to tell him where Holly is if he puts his gun down. Sid and Andy surround him. He releases her, drops the knife, and sings an opera song. Karl punches him and demands to know what he did with Holly when his phone rings. She urges him to talk to Cassandra. He welcomes Andy back. They embrace. Bronwen races over to Devon and thanks Karl.

Cummins tells Karl that he found Clyde alive after he was hit by a car. He is shocked someone would leave him to die. He professes to love dogs. He says it is magic to watch the light leave their eyes. Upon leaving the library, Cassandra finds Roger waiting for her. He returns her spare car key and suggests she is in love with Karl. She denies it. He says genuine love is precious and urges her to not mess it up. At the police station, Sid credits Yen for solving the Jane Doe murder. Elsewhere, Cassandra tells Karl that she loves Gibsons and wants to live her life in peace. He says Steph will be there soon. She asks what he wants. He says, “You! What do you want?” She kisses him. He kisses her back as the episode ends.

 

Murder In A Small Town Review

Karl has a way of cracking murder cases but it seems too easy at times. The love for Gibsons gives the show charm which is strangely unique for a police procedural. The series has the same feel as Sullivan’s Crossing. Both shows are set and filmed in Canada.

Karl and Cassandra’s reconciliation felt rushed and disingenuous. The connection just isn’t there and never will be.

At one point, the writers explain away Callum’s statutory rape charge. It was almost as if they were justifying it and criticizing the criminal penalty.

The finale didn’t give viewers a reason to stick around for a season two if there happens to be one. It deserves a 5.2 out of 10.

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