Miss Scarlet and The Duke 4×05 “The Calling” Spoilers Ahead
It’s a new week, a new episode, and a new(ish) partner dynamic in Miss Scarlet and The Duke Season 4, Episode 4, “The Calling.” With Inspector Wellington off in New York, the episode explores the growing friendship between Eliza and Nash as they work together to solve two deaths involving the Britannia Telephone Company. Any episode with Eliza and Nash working together involves some clashes — what else can you expect from two people who work completely differently? Nevertheless, the two gel quite harmoniously when needed. And sometimes, Patrick Nash surprises us all with some tidbits of reason now and then.
William’s departure has left Eliza sulking, as Nash describes it. (Or brooding, as Eliza prefers it.) She is snappy and more defensive than usual. Ivy reveals that William has reached out to her after he’s sent three unanswered letters to Eliza. Based on quick glimpses of said letters, he has been taking the time to write lengthy descriptions of his time in New York. Eliza appears offended that Ivy has seemingly taken William’s side and even storms off during dinner.
Things are no better during work, either. We often see Eliza thriving in her element as a private detective, even if her business as a private detective is struggling or her personal life is in flames. But in this instance, she can’t seem to shake off her mood while simultaneously adjusting to the changes prompted by Nash’s return. Suddenly, Eliza has a superior to turn to, and unfortunately for her, she and Nash disagree nearly on everything. They can’t agree on who to interview from the piles of applicants who’ve applied to work at Nash & Sons (not that he has any sons), despite Eliza arguing that she should be able to select who’s hired at the agency since she will be the one working with them. They can’t agree on how to approach the client of their case and what to focus on. And they can’t agree on how to interact with Detective Phelps, who has replaced William as Inspector of Scotland Yard in all but name.
Eliza is keen on solving the crime, no matter what she uncovers as she investigates — that’s how she has always been. We’ve seen how charismatic and charming Patrick Nash can be, and as such, it can be easy to overlook his qualities and skill as a businessman. Not only do we notice that he can be a pretty capable private investigator on his own, but there is also a reason why Nash & Sons thrived under his reign. For example, Eliza does not hold Phelps in high regard, so she is quick to dismiss him and question why he’d be taking over after William’s departure. This belief immediately backfires as Phelps denies Eliza and Patrick access to the crime scene. Nash, on the other hand, understands that Phelps needs his ego fluffed. Eliza wants the recognition of solving a case, but Nash promises Phelps he can claim credit for solving the case. Nash understands that building and maintaining a network is a useful arsenal in the business — Nash forgoing the credit not only allows them access to the crime scene but also establishes a working relationship later down the line for future cases.
Nash does deliver Eliza some needed hard truths, but he also ensures that he is aware of her skill. For one, Nash is driven to earn Eliza’s respect in the same regard he has for her. He doesn’t doubt her abilities and appreciates that she is more adept than most investigators. He pushes her to learn how to play the game, reminding her that “her Inspector” is no longer there to make it easier for Eliza. But he also knows how to push her to her most productive state. After Eliza begins to suspect the murders may be executed by their client, Nash warns Eliza not to interrogate him and focus on another suspect. After her argument with Ivy, Eliza, fueled by her emotions and the desire to prove that she doesn’t need people to tell her what to do, does exactly what Nash tells her not to do.
It does briefly cause them to lose their client in Miss Scarlet and The Duke 4×05 “The Calling,” but Nash is able to smooth things over, inferring that he had to shift the blame on Eliza. However, he reveals to Eliza that he described her as “a talented detective with the utmost integrity.” He is able to guide her by showing her that it is not prudent to run a business and act rashly while acknowledging and praising her commitment to doing her job. He also demonstrates to her that a good leader listens to their employees and entrusts them with doing their job when he reveals to her she can interview the applicants as she will be the one working with the new employees.
Similarly, on a personal note, Eliza apologizes to Ivy after their spat about William. She admits that she is “angry” at William for leaving but listens as Ivy explains to her that William chose to go for both of their sakes, knowing that they both needed time to figure out what they wanted or needed. She advises Eliza that she will feel better by simply writing back to William. Eliza may not fully understand why she is angry or how she feels about William, but Ivy is astute enough to realize that one of the reasons why Eliza has reacted negatively is because William isn’t there to talk to her. There is a comfort in knowing that the person you need to talk to, whether it’s about the mundane or the exciting, is always there. It’s a loss that’s not easily replaced and one that Eliza will have to navigate on her own.
She may have been in the private detective game for a while, but Eliza still has much to learn. Even so, she’s still a top-notch detective with a group of people rooting for her at every turn. Do you think Eliza will be able to finally find her footing as a successful private detective? There’s only one episode left in the season, so…
Now streaming on PBS: What are your thoughts on Miss Scarlet and The Duke 4×05 “The Calling?” Let us know in the comments below.
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