Move over Sherlock
Period dramas may not be everyone's cup of tea, but shows such as “Peaky Blinders,” “The Crown” and “Downton Abbey” have captivated millions in recent years. Now, fans of the genre can escape into the Victorian era as a female sleuth solves crimes in London.
Kate Phillips (“Wolf Hall”) stars as Eliza Scarlet, the daughter of a private detective who takes up her father's trade in Masterpiece Mystery's “Miss Scarlet and the Duke,” premiering Sunday, Jan. 17, on PBS. She enlists the help of her father's old protege, Duke Wellington (Stuart Martin, “Jamestown”), to help her navigate the male-dominated profession. Filmed in Dublin, the BritishIrish production consists of six episodes that will fly under PBS's “Masterpiece Mystery!” banner until the end of February.
While there are sure to be comparisons to yet another famous Victorian-era detective, don't worry, this isn't just another rehash of the Sherlock Holmes tale. Eliza Scarlet is her own woman, and that is part of what attracted Phillips to the role.
“What's so brilliant about Eliza is that she gives this appearance of being a very refined Victorian lady and, to some extent, she is that,” Phillips said in an interview with the U.K.'s Alibi Channel, the show's original home. “But she's as scrappy and feisty as any woman today and I totally love her for that.”
Eliza may not be based directly on Sherlock, but still, one wonders whether her surname is a nod to “A Study in Scarlet,” Doyle's first novel to feature the now legendary detective. One thing Sherlock and Eliza do have in common is that they are brilliant detectives, Eliza having learned the craft from her father, retired police officer Henry Scarlet (Kevin Doyle, “Downton Abbey”).
For his part, Duke Wellington is no stuffy Watson, nor is he just a mere sidekick to Eliza. A detective inspector with Scotland Yard, he is a roguish ladies' man who has known Eliza since childhood. In the beginning, he does not seem to think that a woman has any business doing detective work, but he agrees to work with her just the same and they end up tackling a number of cases throughout the miniseries.
Their world is populated by a host of other fascinating characters, including Duke's sergeant at Scotland Yard, Frank Jenkins (Danny Midwinter, “Casualty”), and Duke's boss, Superintendent Sterling (Nick Dunning, “The Tudors”). Meanwhile, shadowy underworld figure Moses (Ansu Kabia, “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw,” 2019) keeps the authorities on their toes, and the seemingly affable aristocrat, Rupert Parker (Andrew Gower, “Outlander”), is actually leading a double life. Eliza's allies include her loyal housekeeper Ivy (Cathy Belton, “Philomena,” 2013).
“Miss Scarlet and the Duke” creator Rachael New (“Grantchester”) imagined the diverse cast of characters, along with the premise, of course, and heavily researched the era in the process. In an interview with series star Gower, posted on his website andrew-gower.co.uk, she explained why she thinks the miniseries will stand out, calling it “quite a fresh take on the period genre.”
New continued, saying: “It's a drama but punctuated with lots of comedy. I think this is something that will feel quite new and exciting to watch.”
North American audiences may not be familiar with New's work, but she's had plenty of experience in comedy, drama and even period pieces for television across the pond. She was a writer and co-creator of ITV's comedy-drama “Monday Monday” and later gained recognition for her work on “The Mallorca Files” for BBC, which interestingly features a male and a female detective who often butted heads. She also worked on the ITV hit period drama “Grantchester,” a detective drama set in the 1950s.
It would appear that “Miss Scarlet and the Duke's” mix of period drama and sleuthing is tailor made for PBS, so it is no wonder the public broadcaster snatched it up in 2019.
“We are absolutely thrilled with the global momentum for this new series, built on a strong lineup of top-tier international broadcasters and kicking off under the auspices of the world renowned, multi-awardwinning Masterpiece franchise,” said Patrick Vien, an executive at A+E Networks International.
The show will air as part of “Masterpiece's” milestone 50th anniversary season. Over the years, “Masterpiece” has been awarded an astounding 83 Emmys, seven Golden Globes, 18 Peabody Awards and even two Academy Award nominations. The franchise has a track record for bringing some of the U.K.'s most successful series to North American audiences, and “Scarlet and the Duke” seems poised to draw in millions of new fans.
As PBS brings the drama to new viewers, fans on the other side of the Atlantic are eagerly awaiting news of a second season. There had been reports that a new season would begin filming in September 2020, but it seems as if plans have been put on hold due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and nothing had been confirmed as of press time.
For now, those craving a little period drama can relish in the newest “Masterpiece” acquisition. Watch as Phillips tries to break the Victorianera glass ceiling as prime time's latest noteworthy detective, Eliza Scarlet, in the premiere of Masterpiece Mystery's “Miss Scarlet and the Duke,” airing Sunday, Jan. 17, on PBS.