Viewers understandably still have hesitations about Miss Scarlet Season 5 and the changes from William’s departure. Will there be a romance between Eliza Scarlet and Alexander Blake, or is this all merely a game we’ll continue to play season after season? No one can say for sure; however, the finale isn’t without its hints and soft moments that showcase where the show can go.
First, and perhaps most importantly, there’s something to be said about how Eliza is more open this season than she was before, and a large part of it has to do with the fact that she isn’t tiptoeing around rules. The history between William and Eliza is rich and wonderful and undoubtedly profound, but they’re both two characters set firmly in their ways, which would be a detriment to them as individuals if one had to change fully. Therefore, it’s understandable that if the series wants to include a romance in the narrative, it would be between two people who are a bit more alike in their viewpoints.
If Nothing Else, There’s Certainly Interest Between Eliza and Inspector Blake
There’s no denying the fact that both Eliza and Inspector Blake are fond of each other. In Miss Scarlet Season 5, Episode 6, “Dangerous Liaisons,” the show proves this by delivering a class romantic comedy moment involving a closed door and the age-old will they won’t they question lingering in the air. The very same scene contrasts another moment between Eliza and William where the closed door didn’t open, perhaps marking the fears and hesitations they two rightfully had.
However, when Eliza goes over to Inspector Blake’s house to deliver some wedding cake because his daughter is sick, she makes it unmistakable to both the audience and Blake that she cares. She’s thinking of him, and she’s thinking of Sophia. The awkward and tender tension Kate Phillips and Tom Durant Pritchard play on stretches the beat between the characters to exhibit a bit more of that interest and, ultimately, what they’re going to do about. Here, Inspector Blake is the one who chooses the open door again, while Eliza decides not to leave quite yet when it’s shut.
Related Content: Scene Breakdown: Eliza Drops Off Cake for Inspector Blake in the Miss Scarlet Season 5 Finale
It’s the way her breath catches right as he opens the door, and it’s the giddy excitement in her voice that tells us she’s maybe ready for a relationship because the expectations aren’t what they used to be. There’s an ease in the air, around him perhaps, that makes it more effortless to share the space without any expectations.
In my review of the entire season, I’d addressed the elephant in the room by stating how neither Eliza nor William would likely compromise on their stance on children. It’d be prodigiously unfair to them both, yet if there is a romance between Inspector Blake and Eliza, she doesn’t have to bear his children. He already has Sophia. He might not even want to remarry, which in turn might allow Eliza to do something unconventional during the time period and—gasp—keep her last name.
A relationship should be an equal partnership. It should be between two people who not only understand each other, but who’d bring out the best without trying to change the parts of them that aren’t flawed. Eliza has every right not to want children—it’s her body and it’s her choice. William or any other person who wants a family has every right to their desire, too. Yet, it’s putting those longings on other people that would cause rifts and perils that even modern couples haven’t yet nailed down understanding, how could we expect it from people in the Victorian era?
With this in mind, it’s easy to see how Miss Scarlet Season 5, Episode 6, “Dangerous Liaisons,” proposes an alternate romance that could genuinely be beneficial to both parties. Blake’s softness is an admirable vulnerability that someone as unyielding as Eliza could use, and her fortitude could simultaneously be a safe space for him. By taking this moment for themselves, there’s much that can happen while the two of them get to know each other. Opening the door is symbolic of the interest that they’re both toying with, and I’m thoroughly excited to see where we might go from here.
Writers Update: As of February 19, Miss Scarlet is officially renewed for a sixth season.
Now playing on PBS: What are your thoughts on Eliza and Inspector Blake’s potential romance in Miss Scarlet Season 5? Let us know in the comments below.
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From their initial meeting, the chemistry and sexual tension between the Inspector and Eliza is incredible. While admiring her intelligence and superior detecting skills, he is also drawn to her as a woman, perhaps for the first time since the death of his wife. For her part, Eliza is experiencing the thrill of true longing for a man, in ways she never displayed with William. Although, I very much liked her childhood friend and Inspector, I am enjoying watching this new relationship.