‘The Chelsea Detective’ Recap: ‘The Wages of Sin’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘The Chelsea Detective’.
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It is definitely safe to say, that the modern crime drama on television, has transformed our perception of murder. Because those shows are slick these days and really hammer home a message that murder is a concept grounded in complex evil, the kind that is born out of darkness and revenge and a need to harm others, and while there is merit to that… it definitely has helped us to view murder in a different light, to the point where we now obsess over the details and motivations of the crime to find meaning and understanding. Which is unfortunate because murder truly is the greatest crime we commit, and it doesn’t always harbor complex motivations and depth. Sometimes it is just an act of cruelty or a mistake and by obsessing over its genesis, we lose sight of what matters the most, that a life is lost.

But thankfully, there are shows coming out left and right that are looking to change that perception and bring real meaning back to lives lost and the impact that comes with taking one, and one such show that is leading the charge in that message, is The Chelsea Detective on Acorn TV. A feat that the series premiere of this show accomplishes, in two ways. First and foremost, by giving Detective Inspector Max Arnold and Detective Sergeant Priya Shamsie a very different kind of murder investigation to handle in ‘The Wages of Sin’. For they are tasked with figuring out why an everyday man with no real ties to trouble… was pushed off of a subway platform to his doom. Because murder does indeed have to have a motive and early on in this case, there appears to be none whatsoever.

But as these intrepid detectives dig deeper into the death of Andrew Knightley, the more they learn about his sordid and broken past, one that involved an accidental death that Andrew and his late wife worked to cover up and one that the killer never forgot. Which in turn, motivated Erin Murphy to plan a long and winding revenge upon Andrew. The kind that involved breaking his mind and his soul before finally committing the greatest sin of all, simply because she felt that an eye for an eye was the only way to properly handle such matters and well, this made for a powerful case for certain. One that spoke to how trauma and grief can transform us and motivate us to do terrible things and the show also deserves credit for giving us an intimate reason for this crime to be committed, instead of some grand and wild scheme involving outlandish philosophical notions.

However, there was mention of another way in which this show grounds the crime drama and adds gravity and depth back to it and that was accomplished… by way of the characters themselves. Because Max and Priya don’t feel as though they are manufactured detectives designed to wow us with their prowess. They’re everyday people, with their own struggles and problems in life and they’re not out to use the solving of crimes to heal their souls… they just want to do good in the world. Which is a supremely refreshing angle to take in this story and it really does allow for the viewer to latch onto and relate to these characters and their respective journeys. Because they really are great people working to do genuine good in the world and that truly gives what they do meaning, and it brings this genre back down to earth.

Which makes this, a brilliant premiere when all is said and done. Simply because it is the crime drama at its purest and it genuinely engages the viewer by way of a fascinating and intricate case that manages to surprise at every turn and… it also features some phenomenal performances. For Adrian Scarborough brings Max Arnold to life in a manner that makes him feel as real as can be, and Sonita Henry does a phenomenal job as Priya, since she brings to light some genuine conflicts for the modern-day woman in her performance and well, this one is an outright must see for certain. Simply because it is the most refreshing crime drama to hit the airwaves in years and it will be incredible to see what other meaningful and complex cases await us, as season one rolls along. Until next time.

To learn more about the show and its main characters, and the actors that play them, check out our interviews with Adrian Scarborough and Sonita Henry.

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