The season’s core theme is . With the Duke gone, Inspector Frank Jenkins (Andrew Gower) steps up as the primary Scotland Yard contact. Unlike the Duke, who often swung between protectiveness and admiration, Frank is a wildcard—sometimes an ally, sometimes a jealous adversary. Their dynamic injects fresh tension into the procedural elements of the show. The New Face: Mr. Alexander Blake Perhaps the most significant addition in Miss Scarlet and the Duke - Season 4 is the arrival of Detective Alexander Blake, played by the charismatic Tom Durant-Pritchard. Blake is a former army surgeon turned detective. He is soft-spoken, observant, and deeply empathetic—a stark contrast to the Duke’s gruff, bulldog approach.
★★★★½ (4.5/5) Best for: Fans of Victoria , Enola Holmes , and Ripper Street . Skip if: You need a romance resolved immediately. This is a slow, rewarding burn. Stream all episodes of Miss Scarlet and the Duke - Season 4 now on PBS Passport. For the latest news on Season 5 and cast interviews, subscribe to the Masterpiece Insider Newsletter.
This decision was controversial among purists, but it serves a crucial purpose: it forces Eliza to evolve beyond her reliance on the Duke’s badge. Without the Duke to open doors or intimidate suspects, Eliza (Kate Phillips) must rely entirely on her wits, her charm, and her growing reputation. Miss Scarlet and the Duke - Season 4 is arguably the best season yet for showcasing Eliza’s detective skills. She tackles cases that range from a high-society poisoning to a labyrinthine railway fraud. Miss Scarlet and the Duke - Season 4
In a bold narrative move, the writers chose not to resolve this distance quickly. For the first several episodes, Eliza and the Duke operate on opposite sides of the Atlantic. He appears via telegram and brief, aching voiceovers, but the physical chemistry that crackled across their shared desk at Scotland Yard is now an ocean apart.
Critics are calling their chemistry "electrifying but refined." While Duke was fire, Blake is water. This juxtaposition creates a love triangle that doesn't feel forced. Eliza seems genuinely torn: loyalty to her past with William versus the comfort and respect of a new future with Blake. Midway through the season, the Duke returns to London. His homecoming is not romantic. He arrives to find Eliza running a successful agency without him, with a handsome new partner by her side. Stuart Martin plays the jealousy with a quiet devastation that is palpable. The Duke sees that Eliza has built the life he always feared she couldn't handle—and she did it without him. The season’s core theme is
But Season 4 is not business as usual. It is a season of radical independence, heartbreaking distance, and the introduction of a magnetic new love interest. If you haven't caught up yet, prepare for spoilers—and prepare for a season that proves Eliza Scarlet doesn't need a partner to steal the show. The most pressing question on every fan's mind entering Miss Scarlet and the Duke - Season 4 was simple: Where is the Duke? Following the emotional finale of Season 3, William (played by Stuart Martin) made a life-altering decision. Instead of continuing to circle around Eliza’s orbit, he accepted a promotion to become the Chief Inspector of a new police force in New York.
Blake arrives at Nash & Sons (Eliza’s agency) seeking help with a case that has haunted him since the war. Instantly, he recognizes Eliza’s genius. More importantly, he respects her autonomy. Their partnership is built on mutual intellectual admiration rather than bickering. Their dynamic injects fresh tension into the procedural
The gas lamps of Victorian London have flickered back to life. After a cliffhanger that left fans reeling, Miss Scarlet and the Duke - Season 4 has finally arrived, bringing with it a seismic shift in dynamics that redefines the beloved PBS Masterpiece series. For three seasons, audiences have been enchanted by the tempestuous will-they-won’t-they relationship between Eliza Scarlet, the city’s only female detective, and William “The Duke” Wellington, the stoic Detective Inspector of Scotland Yard.