Just as Eliza seems to find hope and happiness, things take a turn in Miss Scarlet season 5, episode 3. Let’s take a look at the events of the episode.
Caution: This post contains SPOILERS from Miss Scarlet season 5, episode 3.
The episode title gives away the case that Eliza and Blake end up working together on. It’s all about “The Thames Reaper,” which is front-page news. Mr. Potts shares how it unnerves him that there’s another killer.
Well, it turns out that this case takes a complete turn we didn’t expect. The good news for Eliza is that she proves to Blake that she is one of the good private detectives.
Eliza finds out a string of murders in Miss Scarlet season 5, episode 3
The episode starts with Ivy rushing out of the door. It was great to see Mr. Potts on the backfoot, finding out that breakfast is canceled again. It’s not like he hasn’t done this to Ivy in the past. However, this does come up later in the episode, as it’s clear that Ivy is overworking.
Back to the case, though. Mr. Potts tells Eliza about the front page news. I have to say that I’m surprised Eliza doesn’t pay attention to the front page news. Why didn’t she already know about the Thames Reaper?
Eliza ends up on the case with the newspaper at first. A journalist called Bailey has been getting letters a couple of days after each murder. This allowed the newspaper to get the names of the victims first, and it seemed like the Reaper was letting everyone know about his activities. It wouldn’t be the only time a murderer has wanted his actions known about. Look at the Zodiac Killer!
Well, when there’s another death that isn’t by drowning, things take a turn. Blake and Eliza initially think that this is just an accident, and the person decided to make it look like it was another Reaper case. Only, it’s the mortuary assistant, which suggests something more suspicious is going on.
When Mr. Potts shares that his assistant got the name of the previous victim wrong. This wrong name was given to the newspaper, which told Blake and Eliza (who were now officially working together on the case) that the assistant was in on it. Now the connection to the safe deposit box made a lot more sense.
The assistant was selling the names of drowning victims to the paper. When he wanted more, he started blackmailing whoever it was at the paper. Naturally, the editor was pulled in for questioning.
Eliza potentially finds love in a journalist in Miss Scarlet
Throughout the episode, Eliza found herself being potentially courted by the journalist Bailey. However, it wasn’t meant to be.
It turned out that it wasn’t the editor who was buying the names. It was Bailey. The newspaper was on the verge of closing, and he needed to make sure he still had a job. By buying the names, he was able to help the newspaper gain more readers, and this would help to keep it open.
Eliza figured it all out when she saw a key on Bailey’s keychain. It matched that at the safe deposit box. And so, Eliza did the right thing and called Blake to have Bailey arrested while at dinner.
Seeing Blake and Eliza work together and then Blake invite Eliza into question Bailey was a beautiful touch to the episode. Eliza is able to prove that she’s not like all the other private detectives out there. It also shows that Blake is willing to accept he’s wrong at times, and that’s important considering how unlike other men he already is. We need to see it in all ways.
Ivy struggles to balance work in Miss Scarlet
After becoming a secretary at Scotland Yard, Ivy was quick to prove her worth. She was older than all the rest, and she needed to prove that she deserved to be there. Only, she started to burn out, and Alexander Blake could see it.
When Ivy was still there late another night, he asked her about it. He made it clear that she couldn’t keep going like this. Alexander Blake is a modern man and modern employer.
Don’t worry; Ivy isn’t losing her job! He decided that she needed to become his personal secretary since she could be trusted so much with the information. It will mean better balance, and Blake continues to have a secretary he knows is looking out for him.
That certainly made Mr. Potts happy. What he isn’t happy about is that Ivy still doesn’t want to set a date for the wedding. Will they ever get married, or will Ivy realize that marriage isn’t what she wants after all? As she becomes more of a modern woman and sees what Eliza is able to accomplish, I do hope that she decides that marriage to Mr. Potts isn’t going to make her happy after all. She doesn’t need to marry anyone.
Miss Scarlet airs on Sundays at 8/7c on PBS.
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