‘The Madame Blanc Mysteries’ Recap: ‘Season 2, Episode 4’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Steve Edge and Sally Lindsay as Dom Hayes and Jean White in Episode 204 of ‘The Madame Blanc Mysteries’. (Photo Courtesy of Acorn TV.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 204 of ‘The Madame Blanc Mysteries’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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It has often been said that money is the root of all evil, and with good reason. Because time and time again, we’ve seen money do incredible things to people. For instance, we’ve seen it transform humble people into arrogant ones since they feel their newfound wealth makes them better than others, and we’ve seen it prompt people to indulge in dark desires. The kind that prompt them to harm others to acquire more money or take part in acts that they normally would not for that fat paycheck and well, the power and ugliness of money is top of mind today, simply because… the next episode of The Madame Blanc Mysteries on Acorn TV, opted to put it on full display, and explore how some in this world are ready to fight back against its power. 
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A feat the story accomplished by having disaster strike at a lovely home that Jeremy and Judith purchased. Wherein murder most foul took place, forcing Jean and Dom to hit the scene to figure out who would kill the wealthy owner of this home, who was still there, waiting to hand over the key. All because there was no rhyme or reason or motive immediately present. But through digging, it quickly became clear… that murder here related to money. Because the owner’s son was being denied the fortune via a Last Will and Testament, and that made it seem as though… he was the guilty party. Because he wanted that fortune and was indeed the type of aggressive man that would go after it, and killing his dad and hiding the will, could have made his dreams come true. All because money was what mattered most to him.

But shockingly, he was not the killer. For the evidence simply didn’t add up, and the person that Caron and Jean originally thought committed to the kill, was also absolved of any wrongdoing. Well, that is… outside of shooting a corpse and being a greedy jerk. Because it was a neighbor that pulled the trigger because she was sleeping with the owner’s son and wanted to help him get the fortune and share in it. Reminding us again of money’s power and how far folks will go to acquire it. But again, she shot a dead man, because in reality… it was the housekeeper that poisoned the victim’s dinner the night before that gunshot rang out. But she didn’t kill out of greed or want, but out of a need for freedom. Because money made that man insufferable and bitter, and he wanted his housekeeper to come live with him in his new abode and well… rather than spend her days dealing with a man that had grown mad over money… she opted to be free.

A move that spoke to the current disdain the world has for the rich and their out of touch attitudes and machinations, and that was fascinating to see play out since it captured the zeitgeist of the times nicely. But this story explored far more than just that, since this story also pondered upon how money can make folks do stupid things in the name of relief. Because Jeremy and Judith had a renter ready to move in, so they asked Dom to take photos of the place and measure it for a handsome sum of money, so they could get the place ready for the renter in record time once the case was closed. And since business was light, and since a competitor came into town to set up shop… he took the money. Which put him in bad standing with Jean since he violated all the rules in going this route and made her look the fool and well… all of these problems came forth because of a need for money, reminding us in a direct manner… how it is indeed the root of all evil.

In the end however, this was quite the brilliant tale when all is said and done. Simply because one could view this as an evolution of the show. Since to date, it really hasn’t offered up any social commentary. But here it was present in spades and really reflected how people feel about the rich in this day and age and how money really has caused great harm in our modern world because of how we prize it. Not to mention, we are vested in the lesson here, largely because of the fact that Jean was hurt deeply in this tale, in a manner that will change the dynamic of her budding love with Dom. And well, now that this fascinating case has come to a close, one can only wonder what comes next for Dom and Jean, now that he’s burned someone he cares deeply for in the name of a quick buck. Until next time.

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