‘Miss Scarlet and the Duke’ 4×03 Review: “Origins”

I think a good flashback episode can do a lot for a series. It can strengthen characters and their relationships with backstory, show the audience things they want to see outside of the present-day narrative, and bring back fun supporting characters. Miss Scarlet and the Duke 4×03 does all that and more. It’s one of the best episodes of the entire series, and it’s certainly one of my favorites.

From the beginning, viewers have known that Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips) and William Wellington (Stuart Martin) have a long history. Her father was William’s mentor at Scotland Yard before he left and became a private investigator. We’ve seen the way they care about each other, starting with William supporting Eliza through her father’s death in the first episode. They’ve worked on cases together almost constantly. But William has always been more than Eliza’s police contact. They are friends, with the potential for more always under the surface. Every time their unspoken sexual tension comes close to being spoken, circumstances sidetrack them.

Miss Scarlet and the Duke 4×03 fills in deep background for these two characters, and it’s a joy to watch. The same goes for the two young actors playing their younger counterparts. The feels resonate on so many levels for this episode that it’s hard to measure.

“Do you always ask this many questions?”

Let’s start with that ending from the previous episode. William is seriously wounded from being shot in the line of duty. Now, Eliza comes to sit by William’s bedside while he is unconscious. She makes a joke that he’s caused a stir among the nurses. But she’s not upbeat a few moments later when she begs him to wake up. There is real pain and desperation in Eliza’s voice, and it’s heartbreaking. Eliza tells William she’s been visiting him for days. Think about what that means. Nash and Sons has been floundering and she is risking the business going under if she is not there to work for clients. But Eliza is not there, she is by William’s side because he is clinging to life.

I think that is proof that Eliza’s heart has made her choice about how important William is to her. He is more important than her career. Her head just hasn’t caught up yet. But the clarity that will surely come at some point for Eliza is already there, as she grabs his hand and says his name. We can see it and someday she will too. It’s inevitable. More evidence is there at the end of the episode, when William wakes up. Her relief is palpable. The tears in her eyes now are from joy instead of fear. Kudos to Kate Phillips’ performance in these scenes. Anyone watching will understand that this is the most significant relationship in Eliza’s life.

“It’s the rest of the world that’s the problem.”

But that’s only two scenes! This is a flashback episode, where we gain insight into William and Eliza’s relationship through seeing how they first met. It’s 12 years earlier and William is sleeping on the streets after arriving in London and not being able to find work. Eliza, meanwhile, has been “sent down” from her training college. Translation: she was expelled. I love that the core of these characters is recognizable in their younger selves. What we love about them– like Eliza being headstrong or William’s grouchy attitude– was always there. It’s part of who they are.

Young William, played by Matt Olsen, meets Eliza’s father when he is a witness to a murder. Inspector Scarlet (Tim Downie) brings the young man home for a meal to aid his cooperation. That’s when William and Eliza, played by Laura Marcus, meet. The attraction between them is evident from the beginning. Eliza pauses in the middle of speaking when she gets her first look at William, and that hesitation speaks volumes. Eliza is NOT shy about saying what she thinks, even at the age of 16. She also already knows she wants to be a detective. Of course, she manages to insert herself into the murder investigation that has brought William and her father together. William’s identification of the suspect and Eliza’s navigation of society unite quite beautifully to help solve this case.

“I guess I’m just going to have to trust you.”

It is sweet to see a bit of Eliza’s relationship with her father, such as him being so proud of her when she puts the pieces of the motive together. However, this flashback is about adding foundation to Eliza’s connection with William. And boy, does it ever. To begin with, Olsen and Marcus are perfectly cast as the young versions of the characters. Both excellently capture the mannerisms of the older actors’ performances. Olsen especially seems to have studied Stuart Martin’s physicality and expressions throughout the series. That’s how accurately he conveys William. The two also have the same level of chemistry that Phillips and Martin do. It’s astounding. I can’t praise this casting enough.

Beyond that, the writing of this episode is a shipper’s paradise. It’s like fanfic. William sees Eliza in an evening gown for the first time and the look on his face is priceless. Later, we see Olsen as William in a dress suit and it’s just as effective as when we’ve seen Martin in one. The way they banter with each other was there from the beginning. Best of all, fans have been hoping to see that kiss William and Eliza mentioned happening years ago…and it’s here…and it is glorious! It begins as a moment of comfort. Eliza is upset that she can’t join the police like William plans to. But then attraction takes over. It’s everything fans could’ve wanted. I have never had any doubt that William and Eliza are endgame. Miss Scarlet and the Duke 4×03 is a gift to shippers that proves it. Their past helps make their future clear in this amazing episode.

Miss Scarlet and the Duke airs at 8 PM on Sundays on PBS.