‘Whitstable Pearl’ Recap: ‘Disappearance at Oare’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Whitstable Pearl’.
​
It is definitely safe to say that the holidays are a beloved time for a vast majority of people around the globe and understandably so. After all, this is a time of reflection. One where we are able to ponder upon our journey around the sun and everything we accomplished throughout the year, and we are also able to revel in the fact that we are quite lucky. For we have friends and family surrounding us, and we are able to express our gratitude for their existence by way of breaking bread and giving gifts and that really does make this a magical time of year. But there was mention of the fact that only a majority of people enjoy this season, not all of us, and it is in fact, important to recognize that for some individuals the holiday season is quite the sour time… for various reasons.

Because some people, had a tough year. The kind where nothing went their way and they might not have friends and family surrounding them during this special season. In fact, they might be missing those very people from their lives since they might have passed away. And what makes it so important to recognize their struggle during the holiday season… is because this is indeed a season of unity and giving and kindness and well, it would likely behoove us to pay attention when others are hurting during the season (and beyond) and perhaps step in and do some good to ease their pain and really, this is relevant to our discussion today, simply because that level of kindness was on full display in the next episode of Whitstable Pearl on AcornTV. For ‘Disappearance at Oare’ saw a creepy and cryptic note be dropped through the mailbox of a woman named Christina during the holiday season… one that opened up some old wounds.

For it informed her that her late husband Robert, didn’t commit suicide as believed and that immediately motivated her to call Pearl and have her investigate the matter and well, with it being the holidays alongside Pearl's inability to say no to an impossible case, she took on Christina’s unsolvable cold case and uncovered some interesting facts about Robert’s past. In that, there was someone he loved before Christina, someone that also disappeared around the same time he ‘committed suicide’ and that led Pearl to believe that foul play was involved in his end, and after some digging, she came to realize that she was right to assume to worst. For it turns out that Robert’s dad and his staunch Christian views led to an act of violence, one witnessed by Robert’s beloved Alice and that in turn, led to Robert's death and it was Pearl’s digging and promise to help that brought Alice out of hiding and brought the truth to fruition. Making justice and resolution the gifts that she provided to Christina and Alice for the holiday season. 

But while that was something of an expected and fitting plot line for the greater theme of this episode, it had more to offer in regard to how we can help those hurting during this time of year by showing us that DCI Mike McGuire was struggling. Because this was a fine reminder that his beloved was gone and that this holiday season was going to be spent with memories of their love affair hanging over his head and that made him despondent, to the point where he was avoiding everyone and everything. But thankfully, Pearl was there for him, and she didn’t offer to fix him or pour out advice, she simply supported him and let him now that he had someone to talk to if he needed to and that he didn’t have to be alone this holiday season, and that did wonders for him. Because it did ease the pain and it did get him out of the house and that hammered home the theme of the episode through and through and truly did a fine job of reminding us how much an act of kindness can help those in need.

If anything, this really was quite the powerful episode when all is said and done. Simply because you don’t see crime dramas really dive into the lasting impact of death in this manner nor do they offer up such a heartwarming and uplifting message. But this episode had no qualms with going this route storytelling wise and that made for some genuinely moving moments for certain. The kind that undoubtedly brought tears to the audience’s eyes, over the raw pain and beautiful kindness that was on display on this tale and really, this might be finest episode this series has offered to date in its inaugural run and that really is a wonderful thing. Because if this is what this show is bringing to the table four episodes in, imagine what kind of incredible tales await us as we close in one the season one finale. Until next time.

---