The Acorn TV series Inspector Ellis concludes its first season with “Brindleton,” an episode that looks set to deliver a hearty dose of grim British crime drama. DCI Ellis (Sharon D. Clarke) and her reliably stalwart DS Harper (Andrew Gower) find themselves dispatched to the titular small town to lend their expertise to a seemingly straightforward missing persons case: two honeymooners have vanished without a trace.
Initially, it’s all very milk-and-honey—or perhaps scones-and-tea—as Ellis and Harper deal with the small-town relationships. But things turn bloody awful (literally) when a severed hand is found in the honeymooners’ camper van. Say goodbye to those cute “Just Married” decorations and hello to a full-blown murder investigation.
Of course, no contemporary crime drama would be complete without a hefty dose of media frenzy. The case has already grabbed the attention of the press, adding even more pressure to an already tense situation. Ellis and Harper must now wrangle not only with the grim realities of the case but also the ever-present risk of trial-by-public-opinion.
With its focus on a contained, unsettling mystery and the added weight of external pressures, “Brindleton” is shaping up to be a fitting conclusion to Inspector Ellis’s debut season.
Inspector Ellis: Brindleton Premieres Monday, November 18 at 3:00 AM EST on Acorn TV.
