How did Miss Scarlet season 5 write out The Duke?

William, The Duke of Wellington, didn't return to London after the events of Miss Scarlet and The Duke season 4. Where is he, and how did the series write him out?

MASTERPIECE
“Miss Scarlet & The Duke”

Episode Four
Sunday, February 7, 2021; 8 - 9pm ET on PBS
A photographer specializing in post-mortem portraits gets menacing
messages from beyond the grave. Eliza’s investigation takes her into the
spirit world.

Shown: Stuart Martin as William Wellington

For editorial use only.

Courtesy of MASTERPIECE
MASTERPIECE “Miss Scarlet & The Duke” Episode Four Sunday, February 7, 2021; 8 - 9pm ET on PBS A photographer specializing in post-mortem portraits gets menacing messages from beyond the grave. Eliza’s investigation takes her into the spirit world. Shown: Stuart Martin as William Wellington For editorial use only. Courtesy of MASTERPIECE

We were certainly disappointed to learn that Stuart Martin wouldn’t return to Miss Scarlet and The Duke after season 4. It led to a lot of questions about how William, Duke of Wellington, would be written out of the series.

Caution: This post contains SPOILERS from the Miss Scarlet season 5 premiere

The premiere episode brought us all the answers that we needed. Renamed just Miss Scarlet with the departure of The Duke, we learned that William had remained in New York. Everything was done through a letter.

William got an opportunity he couldn’t pass in Miss Scarlet

We learn that the letter shared that William had been given a permanent job opportunity with the New York Police Department. This opportunity came with a potential promotion to superintendent, something that he wouldn’t get in London.

Of course, Eliza understood why he made that decision. Part of her was happy for him to be able to get such a promotion, but that didn’t mean she was happy overall. He had left, and now her heart was broken.

MSATD_EP3_1
MASTERPIECE “Miss Scarlet & The Duke” Episode Three Sunday, January 31, 2021; 8 - 9pm ET on PBS The Duke hires Eliza to spy on suffragettes. Going beyond her instructions, she gets involved in Britain’s biggest plot since Guy Fawkes. Shown from left to right: Kate Phillips as Eliza Scarlet and Stuart Martin as William Wellington For editorial use only. Courtesy of MASTERPIECE

Eliza had the opportunity to go with him in the Miss Scarlet season 5 premiere

However, William didn’t just leave Eliza behind without a thought. He wanted her to come with him. He wanted to marry her, but Eliza knew what this would mean.

If Eliza became his wife, she couldn’t continue her practice as a private detective. While this wasn’t initially a career she saw herself having, she enjoyed the work, and she couldn’t leave it behind. There was a purpose to her life, and she couldn’t go to another country and be a superintendent’s wife. William would understand that, as well.

So, we’re left with Eliza and William being separated by an ocean, with neither of them willing to give up their careers for the other. And as Alexander Blake made it clear that he didn’t need the use of a private detective, Eliza was left wondering what was next. If she was going to live life as a spinster, she needed her career to be a success. She needed it all to be worth it.

Miss Scarlet season 5 airs on Sundays at 9/8c on PBS.

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