Miss Scarlet and The Duke 4×06 “The Fugitive” Spoilers Ahead
With the blink of an eye, we have arrived at the Season 4 finale of Miss Scarlet and The Duke. Things appear to be going well for Eliza at Nash & Sons (not that he has any sons) until an unexpected visit from Scotland Yard has Eliza racing to find Nash. Filled with charm and mystery, “The Fugitive” explores the growing friendship between Eliza and Nash.
The episode opens with Eliza and Nash running through an abandoned building and dodging bullets. While hiding behind a door and waiting for the drugs Eliza slipped their attacker, Nash remembers the building was used to dye clothing. Their attacker eventually succumbs to the laudanum, but not before the remaining dye crashes and falls on the private detectives. Back at the office, it appears that things for Eliza at Nash & Sons are finally thriving. Addressing an office full of employees, Eliza proudly declares they’ve solved their highest profile case yet and would be busier than ever. Privately, Nash informs Eliza and Clarence that he is returning to Paris at the end of the week, signifying that he is reassured that Eliza is now capable of running the office on her own.
Of course, this celebration is short-lived. After taking Eliza out to the horses and returning to the office, Nash receives a telegram and unexpectedly dashes out the door. During dinner with Ivy and Mr. Potts, Oliver knocks on the door and informs Eliza that Scotland Yard is searching for Nash — he is connected with a murder, and a warrant is out for his arrest. Eliza is determined to figure out what is happening and begins investigating immediately; however, Nash secretly meets with Eliza at her residence and advises her to stay away from the case.
Eliza, as stubborn as she is, does not heed Patrick’s advice and eventually teams with Oliver and Detective Phelps (and some invaluable snooping from Clarence!) once she realizes that the mystery concerns the murder of Patrick Nash’s brother. She eventually finds Nash in the abandoned building from the previous case, where he has kidnapped his brother’s killer and appears ready to provide him with the same fate. Eliza is able to convince Patrick not to murder, if not for his own sake but hers, stating that Nash is the only one that had faith in her. Unfortunately, back at Scotland Yard, Nash still faces counts of kidnapping and obstruction of justice, meaning his license is suspended until his trial, forcing Eliza to resume solo work as a private investigator.
As a finale, Miss Scarlet and The Duke 4×06 “The Fugitive” does a splendid job of exploring the various relationships of the series. This is not the first time we’ve seen Patrick Nash and Eliza work together, but this is the first time personal stakes have been introduced. Of the two, Patrick has always seemed fond of Eliza and has expressed admiration for her skills, while she has not been so open. It’s great to see her place the same faith in him when he’s accused of murder, and she investigates the matter and teams up with Scotland Yard to help him.
It is also nice to see Eliza open up to Nash and tell him how much his faith in her means. But it is also more than that — Nash has been there at her side during investigations, he knows what she is capable of, gave her the job at Nash & Sons, and when things didn’t turn out how he expected, he chose to stay with her and show her the ropes rather than fire her. He’s not all words — he doesn’t just compliment her skills, but he also consistently demonstrates this belief through his actions.
Another relationship we see develop is the one between Clarence and Eliza. They now know each other’s quirks and have learned to rely on one another. Eliza recognizes Clarence’s ability to obtain information but also understands the internal struggle he endures when it comes to choosing loyalty between Eliza and Patrick. She acknowledges that he is a man true to his word but that he is also someone who can be convinced by reason. (And thus, we are delightfully provided the little jab of “threats” by Eliza to Clarence so he can tattle on Nash.)
But no character on this show has developed as much as Oliver Fitzroy. Typically, we have William guiding Fitzroy, often prodding him towards the right path or showing him how to navigate the other men at Scotland Yard and, on occasion, his father. Since William’s departure, it seems that Detective Phelps has reluctantly and unconsciously filled in William’s shoes. While he’s vying to be William’s replacement, the commissioner informs Fitzroy that the job has become political and all potential prospects have turned down the show. He informs Fitzroy that he has the job should he do well with Nash’s case.
During Miss Scarlet and The Duke 4×06 “The Fugitive,” we see Fitzroy struggle a bit. He initially appears motivated to do well on the case and motivated by the possible promotion, but it seems at the expense of the rest of the men at Scotland Yard. It becomes apparent that our young Fitzroy is still inexperienced in leading the men as he uses his temper to lash out and bark orders. Another nice moment occurs between Fiztroy and Eliza, during which Eliza advises him not to try to be like William, that he is his own person, and that he will eventually figure out what works best for him. It also demonstrates that Eliza has reflected on her own mistakes while running Nash & Sons and realized that yelling at her workers did more harm than good.
We ultimately see Fitzroy flourish in two ways. First, he registers that he is not suited to be in charge and declines the job when he is offered it. Instead, he recognizes that Phelps is best suited for the job and recommends him at the expense of his father’s disappointment. Second, he finally stands up to his father — he is no longer vying for his father’s approval. Fitzroy dismisses the commissioner’s comments that he lacks ambition and, quite assertively, informs his father that he does not care about his father’s notions or concerns that he may have. Through this, he is no longer bound by the expectations of his father and is free to explore his independence.
“The Fugitive” successfully solidifies some changes in Eliza’s life. At the end of the Season 4 finale, we see her return to her father’s office, except now, she has changed the sign to her name. Of all the frames in the show, there’s something exponentially powerful about this shot of Eliza. It’s a culmination of all her hard work and a step in the right direction, even when there are still plenty of storylines to explore. She may be going back to working on her own, but it’s easy to doubt things will be the same as before. And, of course, there is so much set in store for another season.
I’m curious to see what you all think — what will happen if William returns? And how will Eliza’s relationship fare once he arrives home from New York? At the very least, she’s responding to his letters, still looking to him for guidance even though he isn’t in the room with her. The minute growth we get in this episode tells us much about why he needed to leave. And while this isn’t an overnight fix, it’s a huge step in the right direction where she could understand that careers and love can go hand in hand.
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Now streaming on PBS: What are your thoughts on Miss Scarlet and The Duke 4×06 “The Fugitive?” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Courtesy of MASTERPIECE