Blood at the Wheel

Phryne is backing an all-woman race team. When the team's driver is killed in a seemingly simple crash just days before the big race, Phryne suspects foul play. Jack, not realizing the driver wasn't Phryne, is horribly grief stricken - more so than he likes. He decides that his relationship with Phryne has to change.

Earlier today when writing about the film Checkpoint (coincidentally, another race themed film), I wrote that I considered it underrated. I feel the opposite about Blood at the Wheel. To me, this fan-favorite is overrated. I have a number of problems (Dot's impersonating a Russian driver, an unrealistic looking race, and the annoying women vs men theme) but the biggest issue to me is the manner in which the final reveal is handled. I hate it when a murderer, with very little prompting or reason, just starts spilling their guts and confesses to everything. Who does that? It feels so unnatural and lets the detectives off the hook without actually having to solve anything. It bothers me in books, TV shows, and movies. It's a huge cheat I cannot stomach. And to me, it really hurts the episode.

As for the developments in the Jack - Phryne relationship. I'll just say it's all heartbreaking. While I can certainly understand some of where Jack is coming from, it seems little like overkill. Hopefully, he (and the writers) will have a change of heart.

"Blood at the Wheel" begins with a lady driving a racing car and one of the wheels falls off! Obviously, someone tampered with it and the car hits a tree. But she SHOULD have survived the accident...but didn't. The autopsy explains this...someone strangled her AFTER the accident! However, unlike most mysteries, Phryne has two unusual problems...Jack is very distant and uninvolved compared to most cases AND there is a LOT of sexism. Apparently many of the men in the racing business think women cannot race...as if their wombs will be ejected due to the high speeds!

This is a very good but not an outstanding episode...well worth seeing but not one that is a standout among others. An unusual mystery...and a chance to actually see Dot pretending to be a Russian race car driver!!