‘Inspector Ellis’ Recap: ‘Brindleton’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Sharon D Clarke as DCI Ellis in Episode 103 of ‘Inspector Ellis’ – ‘Brindleton’. (Photo Courtesy of Acorn TV.)

​Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season One Finale of ‘Inspector Ellis’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past couple of weeks, we’ve talked at length about the refreshing nature of the new Acorn TV series, Inspector Ellis, and rightfully so. Because this has been an outright refreshing crime drama, courtesy of a supremely unique look at the crime world since this show has gone behind the scenes if you will, to explore the mistakes that police departments make and how ego and nonsense can lead to a slowdown in solving a critical case. Which has forced Ellis and Hardy to work hard to overcome such silliness to bring justice to the fallen. If anything, this is so well engrained in the show, that it is precisely what we expected to find during the show’s season one finale.

Because ‘Brindleton’ saw our dynamic duo descend on that very city to help with a perplexing case. One where a newlywed couple had gone missing near a river that had claimed many lives in the past. But of course, there was suspicion surrounding that, and worry that more infighting and nonsense was going to be the focus. But soon Ellis and Hardy came to learn, that wasn’t the kind of chaos they were going to encounter. For they were welcomed into the office with open arms and given everything they needed to solve the case. Which was refreshing for a change but did indeed bring about the different measure of chaos. The kind that involved the town itself. For this place was an ocean of secrets, and also a hotbed of activity for true crime enthusiasts and wannabe podcasters, and that made life difficult when the bodies of that couple were discovered.

In part because those true crime enthusiasts were jumping at every lead and pestering people around town. All while the department tried to lock down facts and uncover why a missing hand was part of this mess and that truly allowed for this finale to accomplish some wonders. In that, it suddenly became a classic procedural, one that required Ellis to dig deep and really use her skills to solve this case, and it also allowed for the show to shake things up and showcase that it isn’t a one-trick pony. It can be a wondrous standard crime show and well, this worked. Because it gave rise to an engaging case and entertaining story that saw our duo, cut through the nonsense of these enthusiasts and really dive into what caused three people to die in this town, and reveal the truth behind those many, many secrets.

Since two of the deceased hailed from this town and once spent time with others in a band together and did their best to hide, their tight connections, the things they learned about one another… and for one member of the band… the unhealthy love he harbored with the deceased bride. For she was his one and only in his mind and through the amazing digging that our heroes took part in, they came to learn this was a crime of passion. One where everything escalated far too quickly and that led to a mutilated death, and eventually, murder in the moment and a drowned bride who dove into rocky waters to save her badly wounded husband. All because someone could not let go of their heart’s desire and that made for a tragic case for certain. One that also spoke to one other unique storytelling element.

In that, sometimes cases don’t get solved because departments are overwhelmed, and their staffs are unprepared and not trained quite right. Since that did add to the chaos and allowed for our heroes to be mentors instead of enemies of the state and that truly gave rise to a compelling finale. One that felt like a classic crime story, with some wonderful updates to the formula, and of course, it once again let Sharon D Clarke shine as Ellis, since the good inspector really put her skill set on display here like never before and hopefully, we get more of this show. Because as of press time a second season has not been commissioned but it needs to be, because this show is a breath of fresh air and engaging as can be, and hopefully we get some good news regarding that soon. So, we can enjoy more incredible moments with one brilliant inspector. 

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