Every season, the Drama After Dark team gathers ‘round the (currently virtual) conference room table to watch the latest and greatest in British dramas. This month, our colleagues at MASTERPIECE delivered a deluge of new dramas, including Miss Scarlet & The Duke, a feminist detective series set in Victorian London. I’m here to recap all the mysteries (and the romance) of the season as it happens (and we’re also covering the show on Drama After Dark).
Do you think those frosted glass doors with one’s name on the outside are the sole purview of the detective? Because I won’t lie to you, reader: I kind of want one. Why am I speculating on doors? Well, episode three is off to a whimper of a start: Victoria Mars sits in her office for hours in the vain hope that someone will come by. Finally, she detects the pitter patter of grownup, hopefully-in-need-of-a-detective-feet outside her door. Is it a citizen in need of help? No, it’s Duke Silver, and he doesn’t look very happy to be here.
Duke Silver: Hi, sorry I’m late, I’ve been on a case.
Victoria Mars, leaning out of the reach of his malodorous breath: Ugh, a case of whiskey?
Duke Silver: Are you always this rude?
Victoria Mars: Only to clients who show up two hours late.
Duke Silver: I’m sorry, I haven’t been home tonight, I was rude.
Victoria Mars: Fine, tell me what you want to talk about.
Duke Silver, regretting this already: Scotland Yard wants to hire you. Starting today.
Victoria Mars: YAY! So exciting! This will be great for business!
Duke Silver, thinks he’s funny: Well, you’re the best man for the job. Anyway, there are some troubling political groups in the city, and I want you to infiltrate one and tell me what you find.
Which group? We may never know, because the details are on one of a multitude of crumpled, suspiciously stained papers squirreled away in the various pockets on Duke Silver’s drunken person. Finally, he extracts the page he was looking for.
Victoria Mars: And what have they done that’s illegal?
Duke Silver: Nothing yet, but they’re getting super duper radical. This is a good opportunity for you, don’t let it slip through your fingers.
The group? You guessed it: it’s those pesky suffragettes. Students of history might recall that yes, women’s suffrage groups in the UK did absolutely get up to a bit of violence, but given the righteousness of their cause, all this recapper can say is vive la résistance.
Back at home, our pal Victoria Mars prepares for her undercover stint by putting on her nicest dress AND her mother’s wedding ring, for that “I’m a married upper-class white lady and I wanna be first in line to vote” authenticity. Ivy, coming home with the shopping, is a little puzzled by this fashion statement.
Ivy: Uh, did you get secretly married while I was out? What gives?
Victoria Mars: Oh, this old thing? No, it’s for a case. I’m going undercover.
Ivy: Whatever floats your boat. What’s this flyer say?
Victoria Mars: It says we should have the same rights as men!
Ivy: Ugh, who cares, I’m too tired to be into politics.
Victoria Mars:
If we can’t vote we have no say, and the whole system stinks. For instance, if you were a man, you’d have been taught how to read that flyer yourself.
Ivy: Well if you like these ladies so much why don’t you just marry them?
Victoria Mars: Stop pointing out when I’m being ridiculous! But if you must know, today I’ve decided to update my alignment from Chaotic to Lawful: I’m on their side, but they should follow the rules. And if they’re on the up and up I won’t have anything to report to Duke Silver and the boys!
Ivy, sarcastic: Oh, sure, and we all know the cops don’t lock up anyone who’s innocent.
Victoria Mars: Whatever, I’m leaving. Love u, bye.
Over at the Women’s Suffrage meeting, Victoria Mars looks a little at sea.
Head Suffragette:
Victoria Mars: Sorry, I’m just a little nervous!
Head Suffragette: Don’t be! I’m Flora, treasurer.
Victoria Mars, like a real first-timer, lays out her entire made up backstory as "Alice Morgan" (a fun easter egg for Luther fans?). Husband is a solicitor. Two dogs. Flora must be used to weirdos and/or spies, because she just lets that one go and welcomes “Alice” into the meeting, where their chairwoman Margaret is introduced. Margaret kind of owns. Her message: women are overworked, and the people at the meeting are the privileged ones who can take time off during the day to chat. Nothing has changed, because men won’t listen: the time for talk is over, it’s time to get radical.
Margaret: On Friday, a bill is going to be decided in parliament regarding our property rights. So we’re going to go down there and confront them!
Before she can further elucidate, a mustachioed stringbean of a police constable enters and interrupts: their carriages are blocking the street.
Margaret: What’s the big deal? This is a side street with no traffic.
PC Stringbean: Don’t make me ask you again, or I’m invoking kindergarten teacher rules. Move them.
Margaret: No. Don’t you have anything better to do with your time? Like your job?
PC Stringbean: Stop your back talk or I’ll take you down to the station.
Margaret: Then arrest me, nerd.
PC Stringbean, looking around for the first time and spotting Victoria Mars: Oh hey, don’t I know you?
Victoria Mars: Yes, I think you brought back my lost dog last week! Can we speak outside?
In the alley, she explains the situation, but unfortunately PC Stringbean isn’t buying it.
PC Stringbean: You? Undercover? LOL.
Victoria Mars: Dude, we’ve met before, why are you being like this?
PC Stringbean: Because I thought you were one of Duke Silver’s fancy ladies! Anyway, move, I gotta go do my job.
Victoria Mars, grabbing his arm: Well, since that would be interfering with an active investigation, I feel like it’s not really doing your job, is it?
PC Stringbean: Touching a cop is illegal! Though I guess you’ve probably touched a certain cop a few times, huh?
That’s too much for Victoria Mars, who hauls off and smacks PC Stringbean in his weasely little face, just in time for the rest of the suffragette squad to come outside and see. Cover solidified, our pal gets dragged off to jail.
Duke Silver:
Victoria Mars: Look, before you get all mad, let me explain.
Duke Silver: No! You stole fizzy lifting drinks, etc!
Victoria Mars: Well too bad, you gotta hear this! Your constable was a disgusting pig!
Duke Silver: You were only supposed to LISTEN TO THE MEETING, not get into FISTICUFFS with an OFFICER.
Victoria Mars: You should reprimand him.
Duke Silver: Oh, I get it, so you want me to be your knight in shining armor when you need it, and treat you like one of the guys the rest of the time? Are you a lady or a detective?
Victoria Mars:
I don’t ask you whether you’re a man or a detective, do I?
Duke Silver: Ah yes, because I seamlessly do both. I am a jedi master.
Victoria Mars: You’ve got ladies makeup on your collar and you’re drunk right now, Yoda!
Duke Silver: I’m also in charge, so.
Fight fought, Victoria Mars heads out of the precinct just to bump right into Margaret the Suffragette.
Margaret: So, looks like you just had to argue with either a man, or a spoiled bratty kid…
Victoria Mars: Same thing, am I right?
Margaret: They’re charging you, I assume. When’s your case?
Victoria Mars: Only got a caution.
Margaret: Damn girl, well done. Look, we’ve got a committee meeting this week, and I think you’re just the gal to join us.
Victoria Mars: Uh, can’t.
Margaret: Everyone else is so boring, dude, we need new people like you!
Victoria Mars:
Margaret: Problems with your husband? Worried what he’ll say?
Victoria Mars: Not quite.
Margaret: Well there’s always SOME man ruining things, believe me, I know. I wanted to go to university, but my dad said no, so I had to get myself through school. I’ve got a degree in chemistry, but no qualifications, because women aren’t even allowed to graduate. Things can change, but we have to make them.
Victoria Mars: I’m not who you think…
Margaret: Who cares, no one is. Come on Tuesday, we need ya.
Tuesday comes around and finds our pal Victoria Mars showing up slightly late to the committee meeting, where she’s not entirely welcomed with open arms.
Flora: Oh, it’s you.
Victoria Mars: Yeah, Margaret invited me!
Flora: Well she didn’t say anything about that to me. She also didn’t tell me where she is; I’m assuming you know?
Obviously, Victoria Mars doesn’t, but it seems like we might get an answer, because who should arrive but PC Stringbean and Duke Silver!
Duke Silver: So, do YOU know where Margaret is?
Flora: No, and also, who the hell are you?
Duke Silver, blowing Victoria Mars’ cover: I’m Detective Inspector Duke Silver and wait a second, what are YOU doing here, Victoria Mars?
Flora: She told us her name was ALICE!
So what’s the deal? There’s a body down at the morgue, and witnesses saw Margaret shoot him and then leg it.
Victoria Mars: So who is he?
Duke Silver: No clue. All I know is that your new friend is wanted for murder. The real question is where did she go?
Victoria Mars: No identity on the body? Nothing helpful? If I keep asking you questions are you going to stop ignoring me like a jerk?
Duke Silver: See, you were the last person to see my suspect, so I need to you just sit there and write your witness statement.
Victoria Mars: No thanks, I’m gonna Sherlock Holmes it up and look at the body. Chemical stains on his cuffs — might be a pharmacist?
Duke Silver: You’re the worst, you’re trying to sneak into the investigation!
Victoria Mars, lying: Am not! I just feel safer in your police presence!
Before they can resume bickering like annoying children, Morgue Bureaucrat from last week swans in and starts complaining about Victoria Mars’ female incursion.
Victoria Mars: Oh god, chill, I’ve been here before, and I’m just fine.
Duke Silver: Please, both of you, shut up so I can work.
Morgue Bureaucrat: If she’s gonna be here you have to sign a form.
Duke Silver:
And don’t look too smug, Victoria Mars, I meant you too.
Victoria Mars: Don’t be silly, I’m the only one who’s seen your suspect. You need me! You hired me, so you must trust me!
Duke Silver: Wrong again! I couldn’t go, since I’m a dude, and I figured you needed the work.
Victoria Mars: WHAT.
Duke Silver: I was being a friend!
Victoria Mars: Then fine, don’t expect help from me.
Duke Silver: Great, looking forward to it. Anyway, I can solve this case myself — the dead guy is obviously her lover, and this was a crime of passion.
Victoria Mars: Aw, Duke, you’re fine but you’re simple. That’s why you get mad at me, I think outside the box.
Duke Silver, done with this sh*t: Oh, Morgue Bureaucrat! Come kick this lady out of here!
Annoying, but what are you gonna do? Victoria Mars heads back to her office, but gets caught on the way in by neighbor/friend/undertaker Herr Hildegard.
Hildegard: Hey, Vic, do you have a second?
Victoria Mars: I have any number of seconds, which I’m assuming you’re about to comandeer. What’s up?
Hildegard: There’s a weird case in the paper this week. A parrot was found poisoned at the murder scene — why would that be?
Victoria Mars: Well, I haven’t read the paper yet, but I’m sure I’ll have some theories when I do. We can talk Wednesday.
Hildegard: It is Wednesday!
Victoria Mars: Righto, well sounds good, talk soon, bye!
She flees inside for an imagined convo with Papa Mars.
Papa Mars: Rude. And yes, Hildy will get over it, but Duke Silver might not, and you need his help.
Victoria Mars: Why can’t he just trust me? It’s not fair!
Papa Mars: Well that’s whiney and female. And don’t get mad, because you’re the one imagining this dialogue. Yes, it’s a double standard that women are considered hysterical when they get angry, but you’ll be able to win him over with the facts.
Not content to annoy only ONE of her male friends, Victoria Mars heads over to the saloon to chat with Moses, just in time to gather some blackmail on him in the form of “I saw you pickpocket that guy, pal.” Since this is their entire dynamic, he’s used to it at this point.
Moses: Alright, what do you need this time?
Victoria Mars: I’m on a murder case for Scotland Yard, and I need help.
Moses: LOL, so ask them!
Victoria Mars: You know it’s not that simple.
Moses: It never is. You’re fun.
Apparently, their errand, whatever it is, is successful, because Victoria Mars heads down to Scotland Yard to share some info with Duke Silver, even if he isn’t too keen to hear it. Here’s the deal: Margaret has been pawning off her stuff over the last few years to make ends meet. She’s been living under an assumed name, and recently had a falling out with her brother, who may have more info. Victoria Mars also has the address where the brother can be found, and she isn’t here to rub Duke Silver’s nose in it: she just wants his respect.
Victoria Mars: So, he’s a barrister: we’re gonna have to get our stories straight before we go in there.
Duke Silver: Not to be a broken record, but it’s a gentleman’s club: you won’t be allowed in.
Victoria Mars: Yeah, but I’m with you, right?
Duke Silver: Wrong. If I bring you in, it’s gonna turn into a whole ruckus, and I won’t be able to interrogate him.
Victoria Mars, begrudgingly: You’re right.
Duke Silver, also begrudgingly: And you did a good job. I’ll come over later with an update.
At the club, Duke Silver sidles up to the aforementioned brother.
Duke Silver: Hey there — care to chat about your sister?
Brother: No.
Duke Silver: Sorry, but it’s super urgent, so…
Brother: Haven’t seen her in years, don’t know where she is, don’t want to talk about her. Bye!
Duke Silver, looming over and stealing his paper: Well, here’s the deal. We can either talk here, or I can have my guys arrest you, in the most publicly embarrassing way possible.
Cornered, Margaret’s brother finally spills the tea (well, the brandy): she’s a disgrace, using all the family money to fund the suffrage movement and suing institutions like this very club for discrimination! He blames Margaret’s organizing for their father’s death, and explains that he cut off her allowance. He knows nothing about her personal life, just that she is “a fanatic” who won’t hesitate to attack people who get in her way.
That news isn’t great for Victoria Mars, who comes back to the office only to be greeted at gunpoint by the woman in question.
Margaret: A spy? I’m annoyed. And impressed.
Victoria Mars: Well, speaking of which, Duke Silver will be here soon.
Margaret: Guess again, pal — he’s getting sauced with my brother at the club.
Victoria Mars: Yeah, and then coming here after; I couldn’t go along since women are banned.
Margaret: And he couldn’t get you in if he wanted?
Victoria Mars: Let’s talk about you for a minute — who was the dead guy?
Margaret: Just another abusive jerk. I’m gonna turn myself in, eventually. But first I need your help, that’s why I’m here. I’m impressed by you, but you won’t get as far as you should unless women gain equal rights. I don’t mind dying for what I did, but I’m going out in a blaze of glory for the cause. Men need to know what I have to say, and they’ll hear it at that protest.
Victoria Mars: You’re still gonna go? No one else from the group will be there!
Margaret: I don’t need them. But you can come. Join me!
Victoria Mars: Yeah, I can’t.
Margaret: At least let me have a chance to do something good before I go to jail. Don’t tell anyone the plan!
Later, Duke Silver does actually stop by with updates: the siblings do hate each other, hence Margaret changing her last name. Victoria Mars, however, is a little preoccupied, and Duke Silver notices.
Duke Silver: What the heck, dude — I’m only here because this was your lead. What’s up?
Victoria Mars: Nothing.
Duke Silver, interpreting: Ok, so something, but you won’t tell me. Got it. Anyway, Margaret’s been angry for a long time: she hated that she wasn’t allowed in the club. Brother thinks she’s unhinged. No idea who the dead guy is, but I’m still convinced it’s a lover.
Victoria Mars: Well, could you tell if HE was unhinged?
Duke Silver: How would I be able to tell that? What aren’t you telling me?
Victoria Mars: Nothing.
Duke Silver: Fine, but I need your help to interview the ladies of the committee.
Victoria Mars: Do I have to?
Duke Silver: Yeah, if you want to get PAID.
Ivy, interrupting: Hey, bro, you have a messenger here.
Duke Silver, on his way out: Do the job, or I won’t pay you.
Out in the hall, the plot thickens. There’s a guy here, but he’s not a messenger; he’s here to see Victoria Mars, but Ivy doesn’t trust him and wants Duke Silver to vet him. Et tu, Ivy? We all know (and are annoyed by) where this is going, right? It’s Moses, and Duke Silver is happy to lightly interrogate him.
Moses: Hi, I’m here to see Victoria Mars.
Duke Silver: Why?
Moses: She owes me money.
Duke Silver: Why?
Moses: For a job.
Duke Silver: Why?
Moses: Look guy, if you’re trying to impersonate an annoying baby you’re doing a great job. I’ll come back later.
Duke Silver: Not so fast. I’m gonna pay you double so you’ll never come back here again.
Moses: Yeah, I don’t think she’s gonna like this.
Duke Silver: I don’t care what you think; it’s hard enough to be a lady detective without someone like you dragging her down: I know about your criminal record.
Moses: Super cute that you’ve taken an interest in me.
Duke Silver, leaning in for a menacing close talk: You should go.
Duke Silver, did you really think your close-range brandy-mouth was enough to intimate Moses? Or that anyone bought your “I’m not racist, I just don’t like your background” act? Wrong on both counts. Moses leaves, but not without deliberately placing the “don’t come back here” bribe on the kitchen table.
At Suffragette interrogation hour, Victoria Mars grudgingly interviews the group.
Flora:
Victoria Mars: Yes, yes, but let’s stay on task: any idea where Margaret is?
Flora: No. But her behavior is unacceptable — we’re all about following the law, not violence!
Victoria Mars: Sure, gotcha.
Flora: So you agree? But you act like that?? And lie about your name???
Victoria Mars: Did she ever mention owning any other property?
Flora: No. But if she did, I’d only tell a cop. A real cop.
PC Stringbean, in the background:
Victoria Mars: What about any romantic relationships?
Flora: What did I just say, dude?
PC Stringbean:
Victoria Mars: Some kind of sinus issue, Stringbean? I bet Duke Silver would be happy to reassign you to the country where the air is cleaner.
Anyway, Flora: if you don’t help out, I won’t hesitate to have you kept in a cell overnight. And yes, I am intimidating you.
Apparently, it works. Victoria Mars tells Duke Silver that no one knows where Margaret is, but they do know she disagreed with Flora over which charity should get the group’s donations.
Victoria Mars: So, that’s all settled. Pay me, please, I want to be taken off this case.
Duke Silver, musing to himself: Smart and violent is a dangerous combo.
Victoria Mars: I don’t know if I’d say violent: they’ve been fighting for equality for 15 years.
Duke Silver: Don’t be fooled; Margaret is a wealthy woman, she probably just didn’t get enough attention or discipline growing up.
Victoria Mars: How would you know that?
Duke Silver: Because I know a lot of spoiled rich girls who could have used more spankings.
Victoria Mars: My dad never hit me.
Duke Silver: Exactly. Anyway, apparently Margaret was always erratic: she got expelled from college!
Victoria Mars: Wait, hold up, the women’s faculty at that school is where Margaret wanted to give the money.
Duke Silver: And why give money to people that kicked you out?
Unfortunately, we’re not about to get the weirdest 21 Jump Street spinoff of all time, but let’s take a second to imagine it, shall we? Anyway, the duo heads over to the school to talk to a grumpy old professor about Margaret.
Professor: Yeah, I remember her, she was the worst. No offense, but women in colleges are more trouble than they’re worth. We sent her home for immoral conduct.
Duke Silver: Get specific, guy.
Professor: She had an affair with a professor. The head of the chemistry department.
Victoria Mars: So, she got sent home, and he kept his job?
Duke Silver, ignoring that: We need to talk to him.
Professor: You can see a picture of him on the mantle, but he’s been MIA the last few days.
And, in a surprise to no one, on closer inspection of the picture it’s clear that the professor is currently in residence at the morgue. Duke Silver and Victoria Mars head over to his rooms to investigate, and quickly find a home lab full of bomb-making supplies.
Where’s the bomb headed? We know the answer to that as well: the vote at parliament. Duke Silver deputizes a bunch of men to search the area, and Victoria Mars tries to apologize for keeping her convo with Margaret on the DL.
Duke Silver:
Victoria Mars: Wait, are you not gonna yell at me? You’re freaking me out. I had to follow my conscience.
Duke Silver: I deal with moral dilemmas ALL THE TIME! Grow up!
Victoria Mars: She knew exactly how I was feeling; she gets what it’s like to be a woman in this era. I trusted her!
Duke Silver: And you don’t trust me, huh?
Victoria Mars: Of course I do!
Duke Silver: Yeah, except you picked her over me, like a gullible goober.
Victoria Mars: Holy shit, I am gullible.
Duke Silver: Yup. Now get out.
Victoria Mars: No, I mean, she knew I’d tell you.
Across town, a very well-dressed man walks a new maid through a gorgeous old building, explaining her duties. You guessed it: that new maid is Margaret, they’re in the club that won’t let her in. Once she’s left alone, she gets to work placing the bomb hidden in her cleaning supplies basket. Mission accomplished, she gets up to leave, only to be caught by Duke Silver and taken in for questioning.
Margaret: See, I knew you’d tell him: you’re SO desperate for his approval.
Duke Silver:
Victoria Mars: I am not! We’re partners!
Margaret: Sure, except you couldn’t come arrest me since women aren’t allowed in the club.
Duke Silver: Moving on. You wanted all the members of parliament to have to leave mid-session, and head to the club, where they’d be blown up, right?
Margaret: Really a bummer no one got to see those bombs in action.
Victoria Mars: And those bruises were fake, right? The professor didn’t hurt you?
Margaret: Yup! He was actually a real sweetie, but he chickened out, and I couldn’t have a loose end.
Victoria Mars: Wow, that’s really not cool.
Margaret: No, what’s not cool is people like you who betray the cause. You’re not a trailblazer; you work for men, and hope that eventually they’ll treat you well. I don’t need your pity, you’re selfish.
Once Margaret is led off in cuffs, Duke Silver tries to cheer up Victoria Mars, telling her she shouldn’t put too much stock in what Margaret says, since you can’t change people’s minds by killing them. Kind of a bold statement from a man who works in law enforcement for a country that gained a world-wide empire through violence, but sure, whatever!
Later, Duke Silver meets with his boss, whom I immediately dislike. First, the guy lumps suffragettes, the Irish, and socialists into one category, i.e. dangerous and bad groups to be destroyed.
Then, he praises Duke Silver for his work on this case, and implies that if he keeps on ruining lives in this manner he’ll be up for a promotion. Duke Silver also makes my list of crappy humans again, having completely omitted the work Victoria Mars did on the case. Not cool, guys!
Separately, Victoria Mars finds Ivy hard at work doing laundry, a thankless and era-appropriately horrible task involving an actual washboard. But it’s time for a break, and for Victoria Mars to take matters into her own hands, by teaching Ivy how to read. I know the takeaway here is supposed to be that it’s good that Victoria Mars is working on helping people within her own sphere, but I can’t help being bummed out by this episode. Women in England didn’t get the right to vote until 1918, and even then it was only property owners over the age of 30, and this was partly achieved through the work of sometimes dangerous radicals like Margaret. Which historical events will be snuck into next week’s case? And will the show be able to convince me that Duke Silver isn’t just a worthless, boorish, pretty face? We’ll have to watch episode 4 to find out!
Episode 1 Recap: I Wanna Be Sedated
Episode 2 Recap: Pocketful of Sunshine
