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).
When last we saw our intrepid lady detective, she was meeting with potential murder suspect/frenemy Moses in the latest of her ongoing efforts to respect her own safety without getting unjustly benched for the crime of being a woman. Alas, before we can get an update on THAT situation, it’s time for a flashback starring Papa Mars, and let me tell you, it’s a doozy. An unknown assailant, again in the creepy gas mask, is sat across from Papa Mars in his offices. The man forces our Dadtective to drink a glass of (presumably) poison at gunpoint. If that wasn’t enough inducement, the murderer also tacitly threatens to harm Victoria Mars if Papa Mars doesn’t drink up.
Yikes! Also not great is the situation over at Scotland Yard, where Duke Silver is ripping into PC Stringbean for allowing their big witness Old Timey Abagnale to get murdered at the end of the last episode.
PC Stringbean: I don’t know what happened! I was just having a nice cuppa whilst guarding him, and then…
Duke Silver: You had TEA. On DUTY.
Frank, watching from the doorway: Get his ass, Duke!
PC Stringbean: And the next thing I knew I woke up on the floor! And I had an ouchie on my leg from the tea!
Duke Silver: No one cares about your leg! A man is dead!! Who gave you the tea?
PC Stringbean: A cute nurse. She also helped look at my leg.
Duke Silver: Say "leg" to me one more time. I dare you.
Frank: Ok, kid, get outta here. It’s time for the grownups to talk.
Once PC Stringbean is out of the danger zone, Frank backs him up: there was laudanum in his tea, and they’ve already questioned the cute nurse: she just made the tea, which anyone could have poisoned, and she is indeed cute. Duke Silver’s conclusion: there’s basically just one lead left, and it's Moses. While Frank follows up on that, Duke Silver heads over to Victoria Mars’ house to inform the officers on duty there that they’ve just started experimenting with intermittent fasting (hooray!) and that they'd better watch out for Victoria Mars, who isn’t as innocent as she looks. It’s almost as if he thinks that’s gonna stop her from dosing them with Laudanum later in the episode so she can escape, to which I say, good luck, pal. Inside, he lets her know about their newly deceased chief witness.
Duke Silver, peeved: Oh, I’m sorry, you clearly already heard?
Victoria Mars: Yeah buddy, I have nothing to do in the house all day other than eavesdropping on the guards, of course I know.
Duke Silver: I’m sorry, you heard that through the wall?
Victoria Mars: Uh. No? I heard when I brought them tea and cake!
Duke Silver: I told you to stay inside!!
Victoria Mars: Sit down, you must be tired.
Duke Silver: Don’t be nice to me, I’m mad at you. Also,
Victoria Mars: Distract yourself from the pain by telling me about the case!
Duke Silver: Yada yada yada, all the stuff we deduced last episode. Also, we tried to warn the banks but the forgers already cashed in the papers and made off with a LOT of gold. However, it was so much money that we know which banks were hit...
Victoria Mars: So we can talk to witnesses!
Duke Silver: And gold is so heavy that they can't have gone that far.
Victoria Mars: So they’ll hide it until they’re ready to escape. No names associated with the gang?
Duke Silver: Not yet. Anyway, I better go back to the office, but before I leave, you promise me you’ll stay inside.
Victoria Mars: Fine, I swear.
Duke Silver, trying and failing to be subtle: Oh, also: have you seen that Moses guy around recently?
Victoria Mars, a much better liar: Not for a while, no.
Just then, Ivy informs them that there’s someone here to visit Victoria Mars, but the officers won’t let him in. Duke Silver, not taking any chances, heads out to investigate, only to find Super Rooper, who I feel fairly sure ISN’T the murderer. Before Duke Silver can send him packing, however, Victoria Mars takes the situation in hand via an open window.
Victoria Mars: What’s up, Roops! Bad news, bro, you can’t come in, Duke Silver is being a real pill about my protective detail.
Super Rooper, yelling back: Oh, what a bummer, I have to talk to you about an urgent personal situation. But obviously I will follow the law, gotta respect our troops!
Victoria Mars, laying it on thick: Yes indeed, no one I respect more than Duke Silver! We all know this is just a chill hang, but we have to listen to the wise inspector!
Duke Silver, knows when he’s beaten: UGH FINE. Let Super Rooper in, but nobody else, ya hear?
Playdate secured, Super Rooper skips up the steps whilst Victoria Mars withdraws from the window, both barely managing to hide their giggles.
Victoria Mars: Wow, great cover story!
Super Rooper: That wasn’t a cover story! I’m having an awful time and it’s Hildegard’s niece’s fault.
Victoria Mars:
Oh. Um. That’s a bummer… but do you have a message for me?
Super Rooper, pressing on: I’ve only known Tilly for a few days, but she PROPOSED TO ME. WHAT? IS? HAPPENING!? I had a plan: I was going to court her for her whole stay, and then when she went back to Germany I was gonna do a long distance long engagement proposal! My plans are ruined!
Victoria Mars: Well, Roops, maybe she doesn’t want to go live in a boring German village when she could be financially secure here in the exciting city. It could be convenient for her too, you know.
Super Rooper: Wait, so it could be convenient for BOTH of us?
Victoria Mars: Yeah. Exactly. Now: do you have my note from Moses?
He does, and whatever’s in that note is clearly cause for some concern. For Victoria Mars, at least: Super Rooper is still stuck on the Tilly situation.
Super Rooper: See, the thing is, clearly her English is better than I thought. And when I said I needed some time to think she stamped her foot at me! Do I want a pushy wife?
Victoria Mars: I wouldn’t. So tell her no.
Super Rooper:
Victoria Mars: Yeah. No. But before you do that, I need your help. You’re gonna go out there and faint, and while they’re helping you, I will sneak out the back door.
Super Rooper: Why do I always have to faint?
Victoria Mars: Ugh, honestly with the men on this show and their fragile masculinity. Dudes faint too, Roops.
Super Rooper: Yes, but it’s super dramatic! What if I pretend to choke instead?
Victoria Mars: LOL, whatever you say. Now let’s do this thing!
Super Rooper: Cool, good luck! Huh, that’s weird — the cops are gone!
Victoria Mars: Crap dammit. That’s not good. Get out of here, this house isn’t safe.
Across town, Frank and Duke Silver investigate Moses’ place. I’m sure they think he might be inside, but he’s not: he’s watching from across the road, one step ahead as usual. Inside, they find a cute lil lockbox of weapons, a trashcan with some notes inside (at least one written by Victoria Mars, if Duke Silver’s pissy expression is anything to go off), and a bag containing something that makes even the fairly unflappable Frank a tiny bit, well, flapped. Slightly later, Victoria Mars hangs out in an alley, clearly waiting to meet with Moses. Unfortunately for her, he doesn’t show up, and she gets an irate Duke Silver instead.
Duke Silver: Aw, did you get stood up? Saw your note in Moses’ room, cute of you to not listen to me.
Victoria Mars: Well why would I hang out at my house if you’re gonna go ahead and dismiss the guards anyway?
Duke Silver: I’m sorry, what now?
Victoria Mars: They left, dude, don’t know what to tell you.
Duke Silver: Did you see who sent them off?
Victoria Mars: Nope. Why are you tracking Moses anyway?
Duke Silver: Well, fun fact: he’s part of the gang that killed your dad. We found this big ol bag of fake money in his stuff.
Victoria Mars:
Good question! Duke Silver wonders the same thing at his boss: why did Superintendent Silmy remove the protective detail?
Superintendent Slimy: Because it was silly to put them there in the first place. They’re trying to flee the country — why would they take the time to assassinate the daughter of some drunk! It’s preposterous.
Duke Silver: Well it doesn’t seem worth the risk if you’re wrong.
Superintendent Slimy:
Duke Silver: No I don’t, shut up! I’m just doing my job! I know you don’t like me, but don’t put someone in danger on my account.
Superintendent Slimy: I’m your boss, kid, respect me. Go out and do your job, or I’ll replace you.
Clearly this isn’t ideal, but I don’t much like Superintendent Slimy anyway (if the recap name hadn’t tipped you off) so Duke Silver losing his good opinion doesn’t seem like a huge loss, tbh: he’s no Mr. Darcy. Anyway, Duke Silver takes Victoria Mars’ safety into his own hands by locking her in a cell at the station.
Victoria Mars: Must we, seriously?
Duke Silver: If you could be trusted not to sneak out of my office, you could wait in there. Your actions have consequences, my dude.
Victoria Mars:
Look, we gotta talk about Moses. I don’t think he’s a part of this.
Duke Silver: He’s a career criminal, so what’s your evidence?
Victoria Mars: He’s my friend, and I trust him.
Duke Silver: Neat, so nothing. Catch ya later, byeee!
Victoria Mars: Please let me help with the case at least?
Duke Silver: No :)
Probably a mistake, pal. Duke Silver has a mountain of files on local forgers to compare against a very sketchy description of the man witnesses saw at the bank, and a bunch of prisoners who overlapped with Old Timey Abagnale while he was in jail, any of whom might have recruited him. In short, there’s a LOT of evidence to sort through, and not enough guys to do it, which Frank helpfully points out. Unfortunately for Frank, the only other available “guy” is Victoria Mars, who is willing to help, and also to nag him about his sloppy organizational skills. She also has the advantage of being right, meaning that Frank has to suck it up and deal with her filing system AND her smug attitude.
After hours of work, the group only finds a few tenuous connections (none leading to Moses, btw). It’s not a lot, but at least it’s something, and they agree to show mugshots to the bank employees the next day.
Duke Silver: Anyway, it’s been a long day; you need rest.
Victoria Mars: Not as much rest as YOU need.
Duke Silver: Geez, Annie Oakley, why are you like this? Fine, we both need rest, and will you please come stay at my house so I know you’re safe?
Victoria Mars: Excuse me, sir, I am a lady, I am not staying over at your house.
Duke Silver: You’ve never cared about your reputation before, why are you starting now? I’ll stay in a chair and everything!
Victoria Mars: Absolutely not; I know what happens when two people with chemistry like ours overnight in a place with only one bed. You'll stay at my house, where there are multiple rooms.
Duke Silver: FINE. I’ll just tell the desk sergeant your address so they know where to find me.
And while he does that (which I’m sure won’t cause ANY questions about her reputation, definitely not, no siree) the Padre, who you might remember from all the way back in episode 1, gets brought in for the night. He rants. He raves. He nicely shakes Victoria Mars’ hand and definitely doesn’t pass her a note in the process. The note that’s not: "Meet me at your place at midnight. Best, Moses"
Back at the house, Duke Silver checks on the outside guards. He claims he convinced Superintendent Slimy to reinstate them, but we all know he actually paid them to be there himself. Before Victoria Mars can tease him too much about it, they decide to try to eat dinner. Try being the operative word: Victoria Mars has attempted to provide, but is clearly a truly rotten cook without the guiding hand of Ivy, whom they’ve stashed at Super Rooper's for safety.
Victoria Mars: I keep meaning to learn how to cook but there’s always something so much more interesting to do!
Duke Silver: Well do you have eggs? Boil some!
Victoria Mars:
Duke Silver: Oh my god, you don’t even know how to boil eggs?
Lucky for her, Duke Silver is either a) hungry enough, b) nice enough, or c) all of the above to teach her how to make eggs. While they wait, they have their first flirty conversation that ISN’T solely predicated on disparaging each other, and it’s... kind of cute? What is this feeling? Is someone suddenly and begrudgingly getting on board with this ship?
Unfortunately for Duke Silver, I’m not so sure Victoria Mars is feeling this new vibe as much of the rest of us. Before anyone can access their emotions (or even their libidos) she declares the eggs finished and sets off to deal with the much less confusing task of plating. Later that night, while Duke Silver snoozes in the drawing room, gun in hand, Victoria Mars heads into the dining room for her meeting.
Victoria Mars: What the hell, dude, you’re in deep sh*t!
Moses: Yeah man, that’s kind of par for the course.
Victoria Mars: Why did you have that counterfeit money in your room?
Moses: The cops probably planted it! Speaking of whom, shall I go kill Duke Silver while I have the upper hand?
Victoria Mars: Don’t be ridiculous, you wouldn’t do that.
Moses: You don’t know my life!
Victoria Mars: Yeah I do buddy, you’re not a murder. But you are an opportunist, so I have to ask: did you have anything to do with the guys who killed my dad?
Moses: No. I didn’t.
Victoria Mars: Ok then. I believe you. But why would Duke Silver plant those bills in your room; he wants to find the truth, and he wouldn’t put me in danger just to frame you.
Moses: Have you MET the cops? I’ve been framed before.
Victoria Mars: Well I trust Duke Silver, and he wouldn’t do that.
Moses: Rethink your trust in the institution, pal: here’s Old Timey Abagnale’s brother’s address. “Oh, but his records say he didn’t have a brother” you say? Yeah, exactly: someone altered those records. And this brother, Benjamin? Who knows how long he’ll stay alive; he’s been threatened not to talk. By Scotland Yard.
The next morning, it’s time for eggs (again) and a confession. Victoria Mars tells her dining companion the results of her late night confab with Moses. As you might expect, Duke Silver is super understanding, immediately believes her, and invents internal affairs so he can quickly investigate these serious allegations.
Sure, Duke Silver’s pride is wounded, but he’s not a total doofus, so he after he locks Victoria Mars in a cell at the office, he follows her lead to Brother Benjamin’s room, getting there just in time to ask some questions.
Brother Benjamin: I don’t want any trouble! No cops threatened me, just that Moses guy!
Duke Silver, threateningly: Look here, pal: I’m only gonna ask you one more time. And if you lie, I’m gonna get angry, and you won’t like me when I’m angry. What actually happened?
Brother Benjamin: Fine, ok. My brother didn’t come home, so I went to report him missing. I never heard anything about the investigation, so I went back. They put me in a room, and some cop came in and told me I don’t have a brother, and if I didn’t shut up I’d end up in the river.
Duke Silver: And who was this guy?
Brother Benjamin: Some fancy man… said his name was Slimy?
Duke Silver, armed with that incendiary bit of information, heads back to the office, where “incendiary” turns out to be the word of the day: there’s been a “small” “accidental” fire in one of the offices, which just happens to have burned up all the missing persons files for the last six months. This isn’t time to mess around, so Duke Silver immediately loops in Victoria Mars.
Victoria Mars: Well this is real bad. Except it does prove Moses didn’t do this.
Duke Silver: More pressingly: if Superintendent Slimy is linked to the forgers, he wouldn’t have gone into the banks himself.
Victoria Mars: You’re right. But we still have the mugshots for the gangs, let’s show them to the banks.
Duke Silver: Definitely. But we can’t do it here.
So Duke Silver, Victoria Mars, and Frank all adjourn to her office, where the first bankman pretty quickly fingers a couple of the gang members: the Cartwright Brothers.
Frank: Tell us everything they said.
Mr. Banks: They said they were businessmen — investors; they’d had accounts open for a few months, and they were always very polite.
Duke Silver: And yesterday?
Mr. Banks: They said they’d done several big deals, and been paid with those notes. Came to exchange them for gold. Lots of gold. Said they were going up to Newcastle to set up a new company.
Frank: Was there anything else about them that was unusual?
Mr. Banks: Actually, yes! They were super well dressed, and they always wore way too much cologne, but it didn’t cover up the smell completely… they smelled like sh*t.
Victoria Mars: And they tried to disguise it with the cologne?
Frank: You know, my uncle worked in a tannery. He always wore too much cologne too, to cover up the smell of what they use to soften the leather. Dog sh*t.
Duke Silver: Great. Well, thanks for coming in Mr. Banks, we’re done with you.
Frank: Should I get the next one?
Duke Silver: Nah, we’re low on time, and he was pretty sure of his answers.
Victoria Mars: I have a plan: we need a map.
Map procured, the dynamic trio quickly land on an abandoned tannery that’s close enough to the bank that it would be possible to transport the gold there, and head off to investigate. Duke Silver and Frank quietly fan out inside the exceedingly creepy building, followed soon after by Victoria Mars and PC Stringbean, who was supposed to keep her in the cab (hilariously misguided assignment, Duke Silver).
PC Stringbean: The only way I could keep her there was to use force, and last time we fought, she won!
Duke Silver: Get it together, Stringbean! Frank needs me!
He runs off, and in no surprise to anyone, she follows. Down in the basement they find something... interesting.
It’s Superintendent Slimy, and he’s super dead. Obviously there will be a full investigation, but the working theory is that the gangster brothers double crossed him and are by now long gone.
Victoria Mars: This doesn’t make sense though: he was rich, why would he get involved in something like this?
Duke Silver: People will do crazy things for money, my dude.
Me: Don’t fall for it, there’s still at least 10 minutes in the episode!
Frank: Just got a note from our colleagues in Liverpool — two men matching the gangster brothers’ got on a boat bound for the old US of A. It’s gonna be Banditmania.
Duke Silver: Cute joke! Anyway, send a message to the NYPD, tell them to keep an eye out.
Victoria Mars: This is bad; my dad’s murderers might get away with it!
Duke Silver: Now, you don’t know that they were the murderers. It might have been Superintendent Slimy. Look, I want to catch your dad’s killer too, but let me take you home. We can pick up Ivy too; if someone here was working with Slimy they’ll be more worried about having killed their boss than hunting you.
Victoria Mars: You’re really pretty cool. How can I thank you?
Duke Silver:
Victoria Mars: Ok, sure. But first find Moses: Slimy set him up, and he deserves an apology from you.
Duke Silver: You’re ridiculous, I will not! He only helped us to help himself.
Victoria Mars: YOU’RE the ridiculous one, he was instrumental in solving the case, you just don’t like him!
Duke Silver: Well if you think he’s so instrumental, date him!
Victoria Mars: Maybe I will. I’m going home!
Hilarious. Way to ruin your own chances, my guy. Instead of having a nice dinner, Duke Silver elects to drown his sorrows at the cop bar with his buddies.
Frank, sarcastic: Well, everyone’s suuuuuuuper sad about our dead boss. LOL. We did good today though, let’s get drunk!
Duke Silver: I guess :(
Frank: Oh, so you’re sulking about Victoria Mars, huh? Wanna know the secret to a happy marriage? My wife and I go out dancing every week. On different days!
Duke Silver politely laughs at this very bad joke, which prompts some honesty from Frank: his wife has left him. Rather than actually deal with his feelings, they shrug it off and keep drinking. Meanwhile, across town, Victoria Mars receives a late night visitor: Super Rooper.
Super Rooper: Tilly is on her way, and she’s mad as hell.
Victoria Mars: Why is she mad at you?
Super Rooper: Oh, she’s not mad at me, she’s mad at you! You told me to turn her down!
Victoria Mars: Roop, you have GOT to stop throwing me under the bus! You did this with your mom too!
Super Rooper: Well Mom hates you way more than Tilly does, so… silver lining?
Speaking of silver linings, the silver lining of the dissolution of Frank’s marriage is that when Duke Silver drags his buddy's drunk ass back home in the middle of the night he doesn’t have to contend with a disappointed spouse.
Back at Victoria Mars’ house, a disappointed would-be-spouse appears. It’s Tilly, and as predicted, she’s pissed.
Tilly: Don’t take my boyfriend!
Victoria Mars: Look, it’s super rude to bust into people's houses late at night.
Tilly: Don’t be superior with me! And why are you trying to take Super Rooper when you have that cop boyfriend? I saw him sneaking up your stairs this morning when I stopped by to try and have this fight the first time!
Victoria Mars: You saw Duke Silver lurking in my stairwell?
Tilly: No, not the hot one, the other guy!
Victoria Mars: What other guy?
Catch up, Victoria Mars, it’s obviously Frank, who’s currently pulling a gun on our pal Duke Silver.
Duke Silver: Seriously dude? Did you kill Papa Mars too?
Frank: Yes, dummy, and that would have been the extent of my crimes if you’d been able to control his INFURIATING daughter.
Duke Silver: Don’t blame her for your bad behavior, man. You killed those gangsters, didn’t you?
Frank: Sure did. I framed our boss, but it all got complicated once you found the forger; now I have to kill you too! I'm sorry about that, btw.
Before he can take the shot, there’s a knock at the door. You guessed it, it’s Victoria Mars, here to save the day. How she’s planning to do that when Frank has two guns to their zero, I’m not sure.
Victoria Mars: I probably should have a gun, given my line of work, but I don’t. And I don’t need one; I’m gonna reason with him.
Duke Silver: Seriously?
Frank: LOL, you know I’m an unhinged murderer, right?
Victoria Mars: Just hear me out first?
Frank: NO! You’re so annoying!
Victoria Mars: You don’t know the half of it: I figured out where you hid the gold. And right now, PC Stringbean and the lads are off picking it up.
Frank: Sure. Prove it: tell me where I hid it.
Victoria Mars: Only after you let Duke Silver go!
Frank: That makes no sense though?
Duke Silver: I hate to agree with our would-be murderer, but it really doesn’t.
Victoria Mars: It kinda didn’t need to. I was just stalling.
And before Frank can process THAT, Moses rushes into the room and bops him on the head. Later, back at Victoria Mars’ house, Duke Silver begrudgingly says that he now knows that Frank set Moses up as a distraction so that Frank could frame Superintendent Slimy.
Moses: You’re welcome.
Duke Silver:
Moses:
Victoria Mars:
Moses: Well. I guess I’ll head out.
Victoria Mars, at Duke Silver:
Duke Silver: FINE. Thank you, Moses.
Victoria Mars: Good job. Moses, Duke Silver will give you a ride home.
Moses, enjoying this: That’s so nice of you, Duke Silver, thanks so much.
And after virtual high five between Moses and Victoria Mars, the guys head out. In the hall, they proverbially whip ‘em out and measure ‘em.
Moses: I don’t want a ride from you. But here’s the deal: I don’t like you. But I will get along with you for the sake of our mutual friend.
Duke Silver: Sounds good. But I’m watching you, and if you put one toe out of line, I’ll take ya down.
Moses: Sure, gotcha. Oh, and by the way, I think you dropped your wallet earlier. I definitely didn't pick your pocket. Don’t want to be losing that! Toodles!
Can’t wait to see more of that team of rivals if we get a season 2. But before we go, it’s time for one last conversation between Victoria Mars and her spectral papa.
Papa Mars: You did good, kid. You solved the case, and justice will prevail. Be satisfied!
Victoria Mars: No, I think I’d rather go the Angelica Schuyler route: I’ll never be ok with this, because you’re still dead.
Papa Mars: But you did your job, and you did it well; your career is about to take off.
Victoria Mars: That’s not why I did it!
Papa Mars: I know that. Now dry your eyes: you’re smart, confident, and have a bright future ahead of you. Sort yourself out, he’s here.
Victoria Mars: Who?
Duke Silver, entering the office: Hey, so I’ve been thinking.
Victoria Mars: A dangerous pastime.
Duke Silver: I know. Anyway, let’s get dinner. I apologized, so now we can go on that date!
Victoria Mars: Now?
Duke Silver: Yes, now: if we delay we’ll get into another ridiculous fight and postpone. Can’t keep doing that indefinitely, now can we?
Victoria Mars: Fair enough. Where are we going?
Duke Silver: Fancy place, around the corner.
Victoria Mars: You need a reservation there!
Duke Silver: You sure do! Good thing I came prepared.
Victoria Mars: Bold move.
Duke Silver: Now now, thems fighting words. Let’s see if we can get to the restaurant without an argument!
Victoria Mars: You’re the one who argues.
Duke Silver, determined to play nice: Yes, of course, whatever you say, Victoria Mars.
And so they walk into the sunset, off to a dinner which I’m sure will devolve into a fight the second they sit down (but points for effort, kids). And that’s our show! While we don’t yet have an official announcement regarding a second season of Miss Scarlet & The Duke, it’s looking likely, and I for one am very excited to see what an established detective agency run by a Victoria Mars who isn’t consumed with solving her father’s death might look like. We’ll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, check your tea for laudanum, and keep an eye out: I’ll be back recapping North and South in March.
Episode 1 Recap: I Wanna Be Sedated
Episode 2 Recap: Pocketful of Sunshine
Episode 3 Recap: It's A Man's Man's Man's World
Episode 4 Recap: You Oughta Know
Episode 5 Recap: 99 Problems
