Eliza’s Mettle Is No Longer in Doubt

This is rather sad news, but was certainly expected at some point: PBS-TV’s Masterpiece umbrella series has announced that the upcoming Season 7 of Miss Scarlet will bring an end to that well-written Victorian-era mystery drama. Filming of the six episodes to comprise this final run has already begun in Belgrade, Serbia.

Miss Scarlet, you will recall, debuted in Great Britain in March 2020 as Miss Scarlet and the Duke (and made its way to Masterpiece early the following year). It starred Kate Phillips as Eliza Scarlet, London’s resourceful first female private detective, with Stuart Martin cast as her childhood friend and reluctant Scotland Yard ally, Inspector William “the Duke” Wellington. But Martin left the show after Season 4, Tom Durant-Pritchard joined the ensemble as Inspector Alexander Blake, and the drama’s title was necessarily shortened.

So what might we expect to see in Miss Scarlet’s concluding installments? According to a news release, “Eliza Scarlet has found love, but with it comes a new set of challenges, both on a professional and personal level. As she faces mounting pressures both at work and at home, she is reunited with familiar friendly faces, as well as a powerful new crime boss who has arrived in town—and it’s not who you might expect. Meanwhile, Blake’s promotion brings its own complications, as he finds himself answering to a surprising new boss with whom he shares a complicated history. Season 7 raises the stakes, deepens the drama, and brings Eliza and Blake’s journey to a thrilling and satisfying close.”

“What a journey this has been,” Kate Phillips is quoted as saying. “Miss Scarlet has been one of the greatest joys of my career, and I will forever be grateful to Rachael New for creating such a witty, sharp, and delightful character in Eliza. It’s been a privilege to work on a show crafted with so much love and dedication and as we prepare to say goodbye, I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved and the memories we’ve made. Thank you to everyone who has supported us—I can’t wait to share the farewell Miss Scarlet deserves.”

Despite a bit of unevenness in its early years, Miss Scarlet will be remembered as a delightful blend of whodunit, humor, and thoughtful character study. I, for one, will miss it greatly.