‘Inspector Ellis’ Recap: ‘Callorwell’

​Written by John Edward Betancourt

Sharon D Clarke and Andrew Gower as DCI Ellis and DS Harper in Episode 102 of ‘Inspector Ellis’ – ‘Callorwell’. (Photo Courtesy of Acorn TV.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Inspector Ellis’. To revisit the Series Premiere, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say that crime dramas, tend to showcase the world in a supremely polarizing and stark manner. Wherein there is only good and only evil, and those two sides battle it out for all time, and of course… in a crime drama, the forces of good are the police officers in the story with the main character serving as their proverbial archangel of sorts. While evil is the criminal that’s crossed lines and they serve as that agent of darkness sent here to sow chaos, and we eat this up, simply because… it satisfies something deep in our brains. For it makes the world and its complexities, palatable and it gives us a sense of catharsis regarding injustice.
 
Because in reality, the world is supremely grey and good and evil are concepts that get lost in the mix, and justice isn’t always possible. Which is why it is always shocking to see a crime drama point that out, and well, this is top of mind today, simply because the next episode of Inspector Ellis showcases the grey via a harrowing and devastating case in ‘Callorwell’. Which this episode pulls off by having DCI Ellis and DS Harper head to that very town to figure out how things are going so wrong at the local precinct. For an officer has gone missing after a massive case involving a drug kingpin falls to pieces because of poor policework and well, before they can even investigate the shortcomings of that case, dark news washes over the town, when that missing officer’s body turns up.  

Which pushes this duo to understand how such things could happen here and that leads to a juicy case where even the officers in this town are suspects. For all Ellis and Harper uncover is ego and anger toward one another, and cops that are out to protect who they choose to protect within the walls of the precinct, and that makes it damn near impossible for this duo to uncover the truth. But eventually, they come to find that the now deceased officer immersed herself too deeply in the case in question and uncovered far too many injustices in this town, and that helped to end her life. But what matters more in this story, is the chaos that surrounds that final discovery, since it speaks… to a world exactly like our own.

Because this is the madness we see in our own world. For there are so many people out there in it for themselves. Both in the private sector and in police stations around the world. For ambition rules the day and that forces people to put blinders on and pervert the course of justice through ignorance. Which made for a frustrating but realistic tale. One that informed us that perhaps the Ellis’ of the world are far and few between and messy cops like the ones we saw here are the norm. Not to mention, that sense of ‘me, me, me’ in law enforcement is what helps to grow and sow chaos and crime in our world. Since attention spans are focused elsewhere and that allows for criminals to thrive with impunity and for justice to remain unserved.

All of which brings forth, a powerful story in the end. One that just holds a mirror up to the chaos and injustices of the world and showcases how they exist because of ego and selfishness in a field that is supposed to be selfless, and that is brilliant. Since we need to hear that more often and we need to think about who exactly applies when it comes to that age old slogan, ‘to serve and protect’. Plus, this episode also allowed for Sharon D Clarke to shine further as DCI Ellis. Since she is a tour de force in this story and provides us with the sense of justice and common sense we want in this world through her performance and well… all this does is leave us eager for more of this amazing tale. So, we can enjoy more bold storytelling from a series that is eager to just showcase the world as it is, and how the fight for justice is far harder than we know. Until next time.

To learn more about season one of ‘Inspector Ellis’ check out our interview with series lead Sharon D Clarke. 

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