THE SHOW: Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries
THE PAIRING: Miss Phryne Fisher (Essie Davis) and DI Jack Robinson (Nathan Page)
THE EPISODE: “Death Comes Knocking” – (aired January 13, 2013)
THE MOMENT: Miss Fisher and Jack share a martini and their fortunes as Jack’s feelings come out, if only in subtext.
Who doesn’t love a good battle of the wits? From the very beginning of the series Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, the audience is given treat after treat of intelligent bantering between Lady Detective Phryne Fisher and Detective Inspector Jack Robinson.
Miss Fisher always knows how to work her way in on a case much to Jack’s (or so it would seem) chagrin. But even he couldn’t resist the charm of this modern woman for long, gradually making them unofficial partners more than anything else.
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The series one finale brought them even closer as he not only filed for divorce (married for years only in name) but helped Phryne put to rest the mystery of her missing and murdered sister (carrying her out in epic, grand style after being poisoned was just an extra bonus).
…the romantic teasing between the two leads just gets more dynamic with each passing episode.
In series two and only two episodes in Acorn’s online streaming event for this Australian import (one a week for 13 weeks), the chemistry and the romantic teasing between the two leads get more dynamic with each passing episode.
In this past week’s “Death Comes Knocking,” Phryne and Jack investigate some spiritualists after an unfortunate murder in a graveyard that leads them to look into the death of her Aunt Prudence’s less-than-stellar godson from back in the war.
RELATED: Read my TV Review: Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries Series One
But this mystery of the week is so fantastic because a spiritualist psychic allows for some fun romantic play in the script. Case in point, when Jack first meets the psychic, she grabs his hand and warns him:
PSYCHIC: True love must never be denied Detective Inspector.
Of course, Miss Fisher is looking on, very interested at this point. Even Jack can’t help but glance over at Phryne, the subtle glances revealing the hidden emotions behind the pairing and implying who he considers his “true love.”
As the episode continues, Phryne typically has a new dalliance with a man, the psychic’s manager, who later becomes a suspect in the case.
When he does, Jack can’t help but learn of their time in the ‘boudoir,’ much to his clear distaste with maybe even some jealousy going on not too deep beneath the surface. This ‘jealousy’ and hand-reading of Jack’s led to my choice for a romantic moment of the week.
Almost every episode of the series ends with a drink and witty banter between Phryne and Jack. This week was no different, but I especially loved the subtext in this one. After talking about their case of the week, Jack can’t help but bring up Phryne’s lover as being in the clear. Phryne cheekily responds:
PHRYNE: I presumed as much. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have let him leave the country.
Jack takes a drink because she and we know exactly why Jack helped the romantic threat leave the country—he even points it out. Now that Hamilton is out of the way, he changes the subject.
Jack can’t reveal TOO much of his inner feelings, returning to more flirty sparring between the two, claiming ‘disappointment’ about the psychic for now he would “never know what the future holds for” him. Phryne just laughs and holds her hand out with a psychic story of her own.
PHRYNE: A fortune teller once told me that I would marry well, have 4 children, and play a lot of croquet. What do you think of that?
JACK: I can almost seeing you play croquet.
Jack takes out his hand and Phryne takes it as if she is now the fortune teller, boldly offering her insight into the Detective Inspector, she taking a more serious tone of voice and expression.
PHRYNE: I see a very careful man who professes to be cynical in the face of mysteries he can’t explain. (Pause). And claims to have no passions despite a heart that runs as deep as the Pacific Ocean.
The atmosphere sizzles with chemistry and attraction. Their hearts clearly belong to one another as they stare into each other’s eyes for this one quiet moment. Of course, this moment cannot last if the writers want to continue with their teasing and buildup.
Jack breaks the mood and leans down to stare into his hand, making sure to have the last word as he snarkily and flirtatiously adds with tongue-in-cheek:
JACK: That’s strange. All I can see is another martini.
Their eyes meet again but this time with more sensual and playful looks, the episode ending on two sassy smiles.
I don’t know about everyone else, but the sparring with each episode just gets better, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next with Australia’s best Lady Detective and Handsome Detective/Inspector!
Does anyone else love Jack and Miss Fisher?
Photo Credits: Acorn/Every Cloud Productions
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I just wanted to thank you for this excellent recap. I found it by way of searching for images in this episode. I’m in the US and have been bitten by the MFMM bug. Have seen all of Season 1 and am watching 1 episode of Season 2 per week (to string them out). Death Comes Knocking was my viewing this week!
Just to let you know- it has just been renewed for season 3! Celebrate!
Great recap of this episode and captures the hot hot chemistry they have. It can only get better in my opinion!! Love the principal characters-all of them. This show is practically perfect in every way.
Love the show.
Love love love these two. Perfect for each other