S05.E03: The Thames Reaper

[chitowngirl]

With a notorious serial killer on the loose Eliza is caught in the middle of a clash between Fleet Street and Scotland Yard.
 

Airs January 26, 2025 on PBS. Available for streaming on Passport December 8, 2024.

Edited November 26, 2024 by chitowngirl

[chitowngirl]

All episodes of season 5 are now available on Passport…possible episode chat below!

[chaifan]

OK, I can't help myself.  I'm watching one episode each night.  I have no willpower to space them out any more than that.  

I am really enjoying this season.  I liked Stuart Martin, but I am liking Tom Pritchard so much more.  Inspector Blake is a much more rounded, well written character than "the Duke" ever was.  I think they're building the relationship between Blake and Eliza very nicely.  And by relationship, I mean work relationship and personal non-romantic relationship.  Will they go in the "will they/won't they" direction?  eh, I'm seeing a small bit of it, but I don't feel we're being beaten over the head with it.  Who knows, maybe that will be the case in another episode or two.

Continuing the Ivy discussion from last episode...  Yeah!  Ivy!  Yep, Eliza went there, and Ivy held her ground.  Yeah!  I was surprised by Ivy's promotion.  I don't know if it really helps her that much.  She still has a full time job, just  not the overtime hours, but still has all the house responsibilities.  (OK, with Eliza and Mr. Potts help, maybe she's down to 90% of the house responsibilities.  They're not much help, probably cause her more work in the end.)  She's still going to be worn down in no time at all.  I thought she would go to part time work.  I'm hoping that Eliza's business improves and she can hire more house help to take things off Ivy's plate.

And Ivy's not rushing into marriage.  Hmmmm... wonder what will happen with that?  My guess is Mr. Potts will be released back into the wild by the end of the season.  

I liked this episode's plot, and the inclusion of the reporter.  Of course it sucks that any potential love interest for Eliza ends up being a rival or a crook.  This was a nice twist, though.  I also liked that Eliza was taking real action to go find work, going into the newspaper and proposing she work on the case for them.  We need more of that, less reliance on the police feeding her work.

 

 

 

[Driad]

Has Potts expressed an opinion on Ivy continuing to have a job if they marry?  

Now that Eliza and Ivy both have outside incomes, maybe they could hire someone to do the cooking.  It would be fair for Potts to contribute if he expects to eat there.

When Eliza agreed to go to dinner with the reporter that evening instead of postponing, I guessed she suspected something.

Edited December 12, 2024 by Driad

[Anothermi]

2 hours ago, chaifan said:

Continuing the Ivy discussion from last episode...  Yeah!  Ivy!  Yep, Eliza went there, and Ivy held her ground.

Yes! Happy for that surprise twist. I suppose— if I remembered Ivy's previous response to Eliza's moral dilemmas—I might have guessed that Ivy would not agree to use her insider knowledge for Eliza's benefit. But I didn't remember. Perhaps that is why her response to Eliza's request was so satisfying. 

It is refreshing to have a whole new dynamic between Eliza and the person who she thinks she needs to cultivate as her crime solving ally. Hoping this opens up a whole lot of "stories" in a variety of directions.  

I've really been enjoying getting to know the new - and some of the old - characters. 

My only disappointment to date was the reference to Clarence in the 1st episode and then.... nothing. 

 

[LisaM]

I love the storyline with Ivy working for Inspector Blake. I would not put money on the marriage between Ivy and Mr. Potts ever occurring. 

Seeing Blake's motherless daughter and her love of reading/school issues reminds me of Eliza's back story - which I am sure is the intent. How many more episodes until we see Eliza bonding with the daughter? 

I like the Eliza/Blake interactions much more than the Eliza/William ones already. 

[HoodlumSheep]

i'm enjoying the fact that eliza hasn't been bulldozing over these cases and the new inspector. she's having to put in the work to forge a stronger working relationship with the inspector. I like it.

glad ivy is dialing it back on the overtime (blake's personal assistant! woo!). She also keeps extending the engagement...Mr. Potts isn't without his flaws, but he doesn't deserve to be possibly lead on. If she doesn't want to marry him she needs to tell him and cut him loose. communication, people! They need to sit down and have a talk.

i thought mr. potts teaching eliza to cook was a sweet gesture. gosh the faces eliza made when she was taste-testing the food she had made had me laughing. That bad, huh.

[taanja]

11 hours ago, HoodlumSheep said:

i'm enjoying the fact that eliza hasn't been bulldozing over these cases and the new inspector. she's having to put in the work to forge a stronger working relationship with the inspector. I like it.

glad ivy is dialing it back on the overtime (blake's personal assistant! woo!). She also keeps extending the engagement...Mr. Potts isn't without his flaws, but he doesn't deserve to be possibly lead on. If she doesn't want to marry him she needs to tell him and cut him loose. communication, people! They need to sit down and have a talk.

i thought mr. potts teaching eliza to cook was a sweet gesture. gosh the faces eliza made when she was taste-testing the food she had made had me laughing. That bad, huh.

Yeah. That's my face when I taste what I have cooked!

That was a cute scene. Mr. Potts equating cooking to chemistry/math. Perfect way to get through to the logical Eliza.

So when Inspector whatshisname asked Eliza -- very casually -- if she had any plans that evening or if she was just going home -- did anyone else catch the look on his face? when she said - yes - she had plans. And then later - was that a backhanded compliment when he commented on her dress? Is he flirting? Because he is super subtle if he is!

Ivy sure does NOT seem in a hurry to marry! What's up with that?

[libgirl2]

1 hour ago, taanja said:

So when Inspector whatshisname asked Eliza -- very casually -- if she had any plans that evening or if she was just going home -- did anyone else catch the look on his face? when she said - yes - she had plans. And then later - was that a backhanded compliment when he commented on her dress? Is he flirting? Because he is super subtle if he is!

 

I saw it last episode, he is interested in her. Unlike the Duke, that yes was interested in her, he doesn't seem to think she needs to be a wife and mother. 

[taanja]

1 hour ago, libgirl2 said:

I saw it last episode, he is interested in her. Unlike the Duke, that yes was interested in her, he doesn't seem to think she needs to be a wife and mother. 

We don't know enough about him to know what he likes.  At that time - and well into the 20th century - when a woman married - she quit her job (if she even had one) - period - and stayed home and cared for the house and children - period.

Women didn't have many choices. Old movies depict this well into the 50's and even the 60's. Men go to work and earn the money - and woman stay home.

They haven't shown this new dude being/thinking any different than any other man of his time. 

[libgirl2]

15 minutes ago, taanja said:

We don't know enough about him to know what he likes.  At that time - and well into the 20th century - when a woman married - she quit her job (if she even had one) - period - and stayed home and cared for the house and children - period.

Women didn't have many choices. Old movies depict this well into the 50's and even the 60's. Men go to work and earn the money - and woman stay home.

They haven't shown this new dude being/thinking any different than any other man of his time. 

I don't know. Unless I missed it,  has he ever said anything about her being in a man's world or profession? Has he asked if she is engaged? 

[surfgirl]

I'm just thrilled that NASH is BACK next week! 

[chaifan]

29 minutes ago, libgirl2 said:

Unless I missed it,  has he ever said anything about her being in a man's world or profession? Has he asked if she is engaged? 

As far as I know (and I've watched these episodes twice now) no, Blake hasn't made any comments like that.  I think this fits with his character.  He doesn't really care whether she's a "lady detective" or just a detective.  He doesn't like private detectives, period.  End of story.  I believe he was told about the "lady detective" before she even met him, so it's not like he was shocked when she walked in his office.  Oh, my!  A Lady Detective!  nope.  

And, no, he hasn't asked about whether she's engaged or not.  Again, it would be out of character for him to do so.  His relationship with her is strictly professional, and her relationship status doesn't matter for that.  He's a very "down to business" type of guy, we don't see him doing or saying anything extraneous with anyone. 

Blake is presented as extremely professional, uncorruptible, no-nonsense type of guy.  Even with hiring the secretaries - it was done to free up the detectives from paperwork so they'd have more time on the street/cases.  I found this whole plot line interesting, because this show is placed right around the time a secretary position started turning into "women's work".  Up until then, secretaries were almost always men, usually ones that wanted to learn the business.  It was almost an apprenticeship type of entry-level position for non-manual jobs.  Blake could have just as easily staffed the secretarial department with young men, ones interested in police/detective work but who didn't have the experience.  I had sort of hoped they would have explained his decision as a financial one - that he could hire women for about 1/3 of the salary that men would have received, which then allowed him to hire more (male) detectives.

 

 

 

[tootsie]

I'm probably in the minority, but I didn't like the Duke very much and consider  Blake a fine improvement. I also find this season's Eliza somewhat more vulnerable, more nuanced, and more aware of other people's feelings. Sometimes those kinds of changes come with age (and perhaps a little heartache?) so all in all this season is turning into a favorite. 

[libgirl2]

13 minutes ago, tootsie said:

I'm probably in the minority, but I didn't like the Duke very much and consider  Blake a fine improvement. I also find this season's Eliza somewhat more vulnerable, more nuanced, and more aware of other people's feelings. Sometimes those kinds of changes come with age (and perhaps a little heartache?) so all in all this season is turning into a favorite. 

My co-worker was just telling me the same this morning. 

[surfgirl]

Blake is growing on me as well. His interaction with Ivy showed his softer side.

I'm still not sure I want Ivy to marry Barnabus, I feel like she's settling to not be an old maid.

 

Edited Monday at 08:18 PM by surfgirl

[libgirl2]

23 minutes ago, surfgirl said:

Blake is growing on me as well. His interaction with Ivy showed his softer side.

I'm still not sure I want Ivy to marry Barnabus, I feel like she's settling to not be an old maid.

 

I think initially, Ivy was very satisfied with her relationship with Barnabas and looking forward to marriage, but now she is looking for more and that doesn't necessarily entail marrying him. 

Edited Monday at 08:41 PM by libgirl2

[taanja]

1 hour ago, tootsie said:

I'm probably in the minority, but I didn't like the Duke very much and consider  Blake a fine improvement. I also find this season's Eliza somewhat more vulnerable, more nuanced, and more aware of other people's feelings. Sometimes those kinds of changes come with age (and perhaps a little heartache?) so all in all this season is turning into a favorite. 

As someone who really enjoyed William and Eliza's banter and rich relationship, I too am enjoying this new detective. Mainly because I felt like they wrote the William character into a corner with the will-they-won't-they nonsense.

[libgirl2]

4 minutes ago, taanja said:

As someone who really enjoyed William and Eliza's banter and rich relationship, I too am enjoying this new detective. Mainly because I felt like they wrote the William character into a corner with the will-they-won't-they nonsense.

William and her also had a long history and knew each other very well. With Blake, there are new things to discover, things in common or not. I like both, though I think the Duke ran his course as he  made it perfectly clear what he expected from Eliza. 

[chaifan]

6 minutes ago, taanja said:

As someone who really enjoyed William and Eliza's banter and rich relationship, I too am enjoying this new detective. Mainly because I felt like they wrote the William character into a corner with the will-they-won't-they nonsense.

I totally agree.  As I said above, I think Blake is a much more well written character, and was given personality characteristics and plot right off the bat that far exceed William.  They 100% wrote William into a corner - that's a great way to put it.  There was no realistic way for them to back him out of it.  Either he would have had to fully cutt off any potential relationship with Eliza (like by marrying someone else), which would have broken her to the point they could no longer have a working relationship.  Or they'd have to put them together, which in no 1880's realistic way could Eliza have continued working.  Either way, we would have ended up with either no Duke or no Scarlett, and there goes the show.  I think the actor did them a great favor by not wanting to continue in the role.

 

[alias1]

I agree with all of the above, and just wanted to mention that I loved the going out to dinner outfit that Eliza wore.  The dress was beautiful, but so was the coat that went over it.  Kudos to the wardrobe dept.  No wonder Blake noticed!

[Calvada]

Although they have made a point of showing that Inspector Blake has an outside life and thus doesn't spend all hours at the office, I do wonder how becoming the personal assistant to such an important person will allow Ivy to be a 9 to 5 worker.  I think her original job, as one of many clerks, would have been better for that.  She was the one who chose to go in early and work hours beyond her normal quitting time.  I didn't see anyone in authority directing her to do so.  In fact, when Blake became aware of her doing so, he told her she should not be working all the extra hours.

I think Ivy needs to decide whether she wants to be married.  She and Barnabas should have a discussion about what that means.  Does he expect her to quit her job?  Is she reluctant to leave Eliza to live on her own?  Could the three of them live in one household?  I don't think either Eliza or Barnabas would wish to live in the same house.  Maybe they need to live in a connected type of household (a duplex in modern terms) with the ability for them to go between their respective living spaces.  They could have meals together if they wish, but they could also retain the privacy I think each wants.  And whatever is decided, if Ivy is going to work at Scotland Yard, hire someone to do the household chores.  Why should she have two full-time jobs?  But it all comes back to the primary point: does Ivy want to marry Barnabas?  

I felt from the start it was the reporter, doing it to keep his job, preventing the newspaper from going under by making it the sole source of sensational stories about letters from a murderer.  (And it reminded me a little of a novel in a mystery series - does anyone read Michael Connelly?)  They threw me with the arrest of his boss, then I realized how much time remained so I assumed the reporter would slip up in some way at the dinner.  

I was reluctant to continue watching this show but I'm glad I did.  I find I am liking this Miss Scarlet much more.  I don't miss William; I do miss Moses and I hope we get more Detective Fitzroy.  

[Dowel Jones]

I hope Eliza and the reporter didn't get around to ordering any food.  Eliza would get stuck with the bill unless Inspector Blake steps in.  🤨

[taanja]

23 hours ago, alias1 said:

I agree with all of the above, and just wanted to mention that I loved the going out to dinner outfit that Eliza wore.  The dress was beautiful, but so was the coat that went over it.  Kudos to the wardrobe dept.  No wonder Blake noticed!

He DID notice - right! It was subtle. And he added a kind of a backhanded compliment.