'Miss Scarlet's Relationship Journeys via "Trafalgar Spring"

It’s odd how often Miss Scarlet comes off as a show at war with itself. Despite an initial premise revolving around the sexual tension between Eliza and William, the show often seemed reluctant to do anything that would move the romance forward. That hasn’t really changed in Season 6, even though it brought on a new leading man who’s basically been assembled in a lab to tick all the boxes necessary to be Eliza’s partner. It put them in a relationship after a single season, but Miss Scarlet somehow still seems incapable of showing us the facets of their lives that aren’t related to crime.

(Thirty seconds of him getting gooey over Eliza falling asleep in his daughter’s bedroom doesn’t count, no matter how genuinely sweet it was.)

Eliza and Blake keeping quiet about their dating doesn’t erase the difficulties that come with being in a romantic relationship with someone you work alongside. Blake, to his credit, seems mostly fine with the status quo of his and Eliza’s relationship. His hackles go up when he (incorrectly) assumes that poor dumb Detective Willows has figured out the truth, a fascinating and all too brief moment that’s literally our only glimpse into the fact that he might be touchier about it all than he lets on. (Or not, of course. God forbid Blake have a flaw.)

It’s left to Eliza to be the one blurring boundaries between the personal and professional, insisting she wants the safety of anonymity while still getting all the benefits of dating the head of Scotland Yard.

First, she’s annoyed to discover that Blake has hired another detective agency, Culpepper’s, to work this week’s case, which she assumed she had dibs on. When he (quite rightly) points out that he can’t give her every job or he’ll (again, correctly) be accused of favoritism, she’s immediately pissy, particularly when he notes that her expenses have run over. Her reaction immediately makes things awkward between them.

The show seems to have assumed that doing a speed run through the honeymoon phase was necessary to avoid a second failed ship launch, but that is already exhausting. It feels like these two never have a conversation that isn’t at least somehow tangentially connected to work. We’re likely meant to assume that happens offscreen, but… there’s already a lot we have to accept about these two that’s going on offscreen.

At least the case of the week is closer to an actual crime than some, with a missing racehorse and an aristocratic, divorced couple, Lord and Lady Roberts (David Verrey & Elisabeth Dermot Walsh), out to sabotage one another. But it’s the kind of story where it’s easy to tune out on the specifics, which involve a dead trainer (not actually killed by a human) and a third party out to make a quick buck.

Lord Roberts is a complete caricature who spends most of his time ranting about his bonafides, but his wife’s fun, as we’d likely expect from anyone who was once an acquaintance of Patrick Nash’s. Also, as always, she’s not interested in giving Eliza work out of anything resembling female solidarity. She’s hired through Clarence (Paul Bazely) – also a criminal, let’s not forget – who is helping her cook her books and move her assets out of reach of her ex’s grubby reach.

It doesn’t help matters that what we do get to see is Eliza at her most obnoxious, especially the insecurely snide comments about how she’s superior to Culpepper’s. There’s also her consistent willingness to use Blake to improve her odds of solving said case and claiming the hundred-pound reward Lady Roberts offered.

Eliza does draw a line at rifling through her boyfriend’s things in his own home, but his work desk is apparently fair game, given that she blatantly steals an autopsy report before he ever sees it. That she ultimately gives him credit and some good press during her big reveal of whodunnit, it’s not like it really makes the rest of her behavior okay.

There’s also a strange sense that the Roberts’ relationship is meant to be a cautionary tale, a warning about inextricably combining one’s professional and personal lives in ways that can’t be easily undone. Clarence’s meltdown when he realizes Eliza and Blake are dating would seem to at least kind of bear that out.

Meanwhile, Bazely really doesn’t get enough credit for turning a supporting character who probably should have been a joke into a character with real depth and layers. His ongoing loyalty to Nash, his genuine affection for Eliza, and his willingness to risk himself (physically and otherwise) to help keep the business afloat are all not just admirable qualities but deeply likable ones. There are moments where he feels like a more well-rounded, three-dimensional character than Blake does, as shocking as that might be to say out loud. 

And, according to everything the show has said, Clarence is not wrong to worry. There is potential for an enormous amount of conflict of interest here, and many of their… let’s say less than savory clients may not love the idea of hiring someone who’s dating a cop.

But this is Miss Scarlet, which means that Clarence almost immediately apologizes, citing Eliza’s happiness as the most important thing. It’s a nice window into the very real friendship that’s developed between the two, but it doesn’t do much to solve the problems he mentioned. But it’s fine, as Blake seems to think everyone’s going to figure out they’re dating anyway once he hears that Clarence knows. So you see, it’s an issue, but it’s also not, much like everything else.

Meanwhile, it’s another hour of Eliza being the one who’s insisting on these boundaries, but she’s also the one constantly disrespecting them. It’s very strange, and I have to admit this isn’t how I expected the season to tackle issues of work-life balance and professional versus personal goals. 

Miss Scarlet Season 6 continues with new episodes airing and streaming on local PBS stations and the PBS app on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET through mid-February 2026. All episodes are available to stream on PBS Passport for members and on the PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel.