‘Dalgliesh’ Recap: ‘Cover Her Face’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Bertie Carvel as Commander Adam Dalgliesh in Episodes 303 & 304 of ‘Dalgliesh’ – ‘Cover Her Face’. (Photo Courtesy of Acorn TV.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episodes 303 & 304 of ‘Dalgliesh’. To revisit the Season Three Premiere, click here.
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In this modern age of crime dramas, cases are solved through a multitude of options. For instance, there’s forensic evidence to work with, the kind that easily ties someone to the crime in question and that allows for so many investigators to bring bad people to justice. Not to mention, there’s digital evidence abound as well, courtesy of CCTV cameras and social media and the very devices that are now parts of our lives. Which has made crime dramas so vastly different from a storytelling perspective, in a manner that is now exciting and intense, and well… we love these tools so, and love to see how criminals try to evade them in these stories. Since it further adds to the drama and intensity. 

But what we often forget, is that crime dramas weren’t always like this. For this technology is new and there was a time, not that long ago, where investigators had to handle such matters differently. In fact, they relied solely on clues and detailed investigations and interrogations to piece together the crime and the whereabouts of others. Which some might see as an impossibility to getting anything done case wise. But this did work, and while it was not 100%, many a criminal was brought to justice in this manner. If anything, the old school nature of criminal investigations is top of mind today, simply because it was put on display in the next episode of Dalgliesh on Acorn TV. A feat that ‘Cover Her Face’ accomplished by way of a complex case for Adam to handle.

For a wealthy and influential family came to discover one fine morning that their live-in maid, Sally, had passed away in the middle of the night and well, it looked like murder. After all, there was a sleeping agent in her bedtime drink, and it became clear that someone smothered her in her sleep. So, it was up to Adam to uncover the truth and well, that was no easy task. Because there were no fingerprints on the glass outside of Sally’s and well, there was just no forensic evidence to be found at all. That meant, Adam had to dig deep into every person’s life and their doings, and basically work out a confession from someone regarding this or hope that clues appeared along the way and that led… to a sorrowful and brutal pair of episodes.

Wherein we were reminded of the horrors of the world and how so many suffer in silence, since Sally had some unique secrets of her own in her life. Plus, we were also reminded of the out-of-touch nature of the wealthy. Since everyone in the family harbored awful and close-minded views on Sally and well, those beliefs helped to bring forth the reveal that the matriarch of this family committed the dark act in question, out of the belief that Sally embarrassed her family’s precious standing. But the effort it took to get there is what made this episode of note. Since Adam left no stone unturned and truly had to use every ounce of trust and skill, and bit of knowledge regarding people… along with a smidge of guile… to bring out the truth. Which made for an incredible tale.

For it really has been a long time since we’ve seen a police serial go this route investigation wise. But it was indeed engaging and powerful. Since it spoke to the secrets we keep and how murder is indeed a complex act that often harbors multiple factors. Plus, it was just simply cool to enjoy some old school police work. For interrogations now in these stories end quick because of the digital and forensic evidence in hand. But here, it was all about the art of the conversation and the power words have over people and that was a real treat to watch, and it does leave us wondering, what other surprises and unique moments await us, in the season three finale of this magnificent and wondrous show. Until next time.

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