planktonrules

Watson is on vacation in the Lake District and he's corresponding with Holmes about his every little observation. In particular, Watson seems very preoccupied with the actions of a very progressive woman...one who seems to be quite the feminist. Watson thinks the woman might be in danger...and based on what Holmes reads in the letters, he, too, thinks the woman is not safe. So, when she disappears, Holmes rushes to help in the investigation.

While I think this case involves a LOT of guesswork and isn't among the best mysteries, it is interesting and the ending is pretty scary and eventful. Well worth seeing.

A professor at the local medical school has been beaten to death and much of the investigation centers around a most unusual woman, Beatrice. I say unusual because she clearly is on the Autism spectrum...and has a severe aversion to being touched and whose social skills are impaired. But she also will make a terrific researcher...though in light of the hostility she faces from the men at the school, this does seem in doubt. Phryne is there to ensure Beatrice's rights and to find the killer.

It's pretty obvious that the person who wrote this was making a statement about Autism...and it does point out that while a person might have deficits in some ways, they are gifted and quite normal in others. An interesting episode, though not among the very best.

I've reviewed all of the "Father Brown" episodes until now. I mention this, as I'm feeling very ambivalent towards watching any more of the shows. On one hand, I like the neat 1950s look and many of the characters. However, on the other, Inspector Mallory is simply the worst written police detective in the history of TV or movies. The episodes before this one-dimensional idiot was introduced on the show were definitely among the best. But Mallory has the exact M. O. each episode...he arrests the wrong person, refuses to allow Father Brown to assist AND when the Father solves the crimes, Mallory is sullen and nasty. He never varies...and this pattern simply makes no sense at all. There is zero growth with the Inspector and zero believability and it's hard to imagine him keeping his job! Once again, Mallory is true to form.

The episode is set at one of those old boys schools...the type that thinks torture is a rite of passage and a good beating is just part of being a good headmaster. A young woman from a nearby school is beaten with a cricket bat...and left for dead at this boys school. Later, there is an actual murder and the trail leads to a sadistic jerk...a trail that Mallory completely misses because he has hummus for a brain.

Overall, not a terrible episode but a tiresome one...with just one too many Mallory performances. I think replacing him with a rabit terrier would be an improvement.