‘The Madame Blanc Mysteries’ Recap: ‘Kidnap’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Robin Askwith, Steve Edge, Lisa Maxwell, Sue Holderness, Sally Lindsay, and Julie Graham as Jeremy, Dom Hayes, Nancy, Judith, Jean White, and Delphine in Episode 305 of ‘The Madame Blanc Mysteries’ – ‘Kidnap’. (Photo Courtesy of Darrin Zammit Lupi/Acorn TV.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 306 of ‘The Madame Blanc Mysteries’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
​
For those of us who grew up with siblings, the phrase ‘sibling rivalry’ carries a lot of weight. Because we lived through it. For now, and again we would indeed battle with our siblings over who would and could race down the hill the fastest or who could have the cooler toys when we were at our youngest, and that might have spilled over into our teenage years. Especially if we all got into competitive sports or found opportunities to shine. But thankfully, this is something that eventually burns out in adulthood because adulthood tends to bring with it an appreciation of family and a desire for all to get along.

But that’s not the case in every family. For sometimes, that rivalry continues into adulthood and the stakes get higher with the freedom that adulthood brings. To the point where the rivalry can be a bit scary in nature. In fact, sometimes it goes way too far, as evidenced by the next episode of The Madame Blanc Mysteries on Acorn TV. For ‘Kidnap’ explored how far a sibling rivalry can go, in the most unique manner of course. Because that’s how this series operates, and it surprised us with this particular concept by having Judith’s birthday celebration go to pot. For while the celebration was underway, an old friend named Nancy suddenly went missing and soon it became clear… she was kidnapped. 

Which of course meant that Jean was going to be on the case, especially since Nancy’s sister Delphine hadn’t a clue who might want to harm her. But Jeremy had some ideas that Jean and Dom were eager to explore and well… those leads sadly went nowhere. Instead, they merely revealed that a local gangster that was looking for love, ended up exposing a lothario in town. Who in turn ended up having his life rightfully ruined for being exposed as a cheater. Because he had a kid, and a wife that loved him. Well, no longer since we saw her toss his clothes to the curb down the line and well… the lack of solid leads left Jean beside herself.

But another look at the videos that were being sent in, flagged a clue in Jean’s mind. Because the kidnapper was wearing a familiar watch, one that led Jean to uncover that there was a hidden room in the restaurant where Nancy went missing. Wherein the police found Nancy, and the waiter that served the group at the birthday party, for it was he who was wearing that watch on that fateful day. But he wasn’t working alone, because that watch was a gift from Delphine, as part of payment to kidnap and shake down her sister and her rich friends. Because Delphine was deeply jealous of the path that Nancy took and wanted a slice, no matter the cost. 

All of which informed us, that when sibling rivalry goes too long and goes too far, it can get dangerous and dark and harmful. Giving rise to the reality that we need to let it go if it persists, so we can enjoy the wonder of family, and not resent it. Which was definitely a heavy lesson to learn here, one that was counterbalanced by Gloria’s lovely attempts, with Charlie’s help, to get back into the dating game and find what she needs in this life. For that sequence was simply sweet through and through and helped to bring together another great episode. One that once again featured a unique case for Jean to take part in, and it does leave us wondering, what kind of unique case awaits us in the season three finale of this magnificent series. Until next time.

---

Watch ‘The Madame Blanc Mysteries’

Powered by JustWatch