Diane and I enjoyed Season One of Miss Scarlet and The Duke, you can read my review here. This PBS series stars Kate Phillips and Stuart Martin as a pair of Victorian investigators. Phillips plays Eliza Scarlett whose father was a private investigator in 1882 London. After her father’s death leaves Eliza nearly penniless, she decides to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a private investigator.
Of course, a woman working in Victorian England was frowned upon. Eliza constantly deals with male chauvinism and sexual harassment as she tries to investigate her cases. Because of the social conditions at that time, Eliza frequently calls on her old friend William Wellington (Duke), a gruff, womanising Detective Inspector of Scotland Yard, to aid her investigations. But, the relationship borders on hostility as Eliza bends the social conventions to solve her mysteries…to The Duke’s annoyance. Eliza uses an underworld contact named Moses to assist her in her pursuits.
We’ve only seen the first episode of Season Two, a missing persons case, but the format of the series and the interaction between the stars is unchanged. If you haven’t tried Miss Scarlet and The Duke you might give it a try. Entertaining and occasionally humorous. GRADE: B+
I watched the first season and the first show in the 2nd season. I like it, don’t love it. She’s an interested woman well ahead of her time, but is very foolhardy and rushes in to unsafe situations.
Maggie, I like the Moses character who helps Miss Scarlett out on her cases.
I didn’t like it, dropped out after a couple of episodes. Jackie watched them all and plans to watch Season Two, though she hasn’t watched the first episode yet.
Jeff, Diane and I enjoy the series. But we set the bar low.
I gave up after a couple eps. I have to admit, historical dramas are not my thing, especially with detective fiction.
So true, Patti. That’s why all those things that critics like set in the late 19th C. leave me cold.
Jeff, I think the 19th Century settings are popular because the costs are lower: no cars, no trucks, no cell phones, etc.
The Knick was the show I meant.
THE KNICK was also about obsession. Easy to not love.
Patti, Diane loves all things Victorian so the setting agreed with her tastes.