Fans of Miss Scarlet and the Duke have cause to celebrate: the PBS Masterpiece period mystery series is coming back for season 4!
The adventures Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips) has with Detective Inspector William Wellington (Stuart Martin) as she forges her career as a private detective in Victorian London have thoroughly entertained me from the beginning. The first two seasons were full of episodes that were very rewatchable. Intriguing cases drew the audience in while Eliza and William’s slow burn, will-they-or-won’t-they romantic tension simmered just under the surface. Though season 3 had some disappointing storytelling choices, the season finale recaptured what this show does best. It left viewers eager for season 4.
When the fourth season of Miss Scarlet and the Duke does hit our screens, there are certain things that fans want to see. Things that would make the viewing experience satisfying and worthwhile. Here’s what we hope creator and writer Rachael New and the other writers have in store for Miss Scarlet and the Duke season 4.
More Interesting Mysteries
Most of the cases that Eliza and William solve in each episode, usually with the help of one or more of the appealing supporting characters, are a pleasure to watch unfold. The story often has things to say about the situation of women at the time, such as the case in 2×05 in which a female author is convinced to let her brother takes credit for her work because a man will sell better. This adds a fabulous layer to the writing. Sometimes a case can be memorably tense or fun. Like the episode when Eliza outsmarts the same dangerous con man for a second time! Since the core premise of this show is the mysteries, they take up the most screen time. Let’s hope the writers continue to succeed with this aspect of the scripts. Give us cases that thrill us and maybe touch our emotions.
More Time with Beloved Supporting Characters
The world of this show would not be complete without the secondary characters we love, like Ivy (Cathy Belton), Moses (Ansu Kabia), and Detective Fitzroy (Evan McCabe). Ivy is such a significant mother figure to Eliza, despite being her housekeeper, that she provides a necessary presence. Plus, she got engaged to coroner Mr. Potts (Simon Ludders) during season 3, so we need to see that wedding! Moses indicated in the season 3 finale that he could possibly leave to work in Paris because his past in Jamaica might catch up with him. Fans don’t want Moses to leave! His interaction with Eliza is a valuable one as a colleague and friend so we very much hope he stays. The way William mentored Detective Fitzroy was a great addition to season 2. The character continued to mature in season 3. We’d love to see more of this sweet guy coming into his own, especially as a detective.
More Solo Business Success for Eliza
The whole catalyst for the plot of this series was Eliza taking over her father’s private detective business after he died. At first, she kept his name above the door to help draw in clients so she could survive. Now she is making a living as the only female private investigator in the city and it’s clear her own name over the door would mean a lot to her. Patrick Nash (Felix Scott), a fellow private detective with a large agency, has been asking her to work for him for quite a while. In the third season finale, he made his most persuasive offer yet. He said she could run the London office. He even put her name on an office door and everything. I really want Eliza to achieve her goal of putting her own name on her father’s business. Nash has never been trustworthy, and it would undermine the feminist themes of the show if Eliza just goes to work for a man. We want to see her flourish on her own!
More of Eliza and William
This is the most important thing viewers are looking forward to in season 4. The first two seasons clearly established unspoken feelings between the two title characters. The almost unbearable angst of season 3, while William courted Arabella (Sophie Robertson), didn’t change shippers’ conviction that William and Eliza belong together. The chemistry between Phillips and Martin is just that strong. Now is the time for positive progress toward these two becoming a couple, Hopefully the moment they get together will come during season 4. TV writers need to be aware that there is such a thing as making fans wait too long for payoff. There IS story to tell for a couple after they get together. Give us what we emotionally invested in! Show us the happiness after they get together!
Of course, it remains to be seen if season 4 of Miss Scarlet and the Duke will fulfill all of these wishes but it has been filmed. Let the anticipation begin!
Miss Scarlet and the Duke airs Sundays at 8 PM on PBS and is streaming on PBS Passport for subscribers.
You REALLY covered it all when you listed what fans want for Season 4 with Eliza and the Duke! Nothing left to say! LOL