The Marlow Murder Club, which has drawn comparisons to Death in Paradise and whose boss acted as an executive producer for the BBC show, is back for a second season.
We are here to report that it's just as entertaining and as cosy as ever… bar one important detail.
The detective show's second outing sees the return of the formidable trio – Suzie (Samantha Bond), Judith (Jo Martin) and Becks (Cara Horgan) – as the amateur detectives resume their self-appointed duties of protecting the village of Marlow.
This time around, Marlow's civilian advisors to the police face a new slew of bewildering murder mysteries that never seem to cease. And as they tackle some nefarious characters that plague their village, it's hard not to get a kick out of the bold confidence with which they bulldoze their way into a case they have no business being a part of. It is deliciously and entertainingly brazen.
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The chemistry between the ladies is just as enjoyable. Judith's off-beat personality continues to play well against Suzie's warm and cheeky sense of humour, with their combined charm unified by Beck's endearing, if not slightly bumbling, nature.
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Equally, the idyllic backdrop brings a familiar comfort that exists in a lot of these murder mystery shows, with malicious intent lurking just beneath the surface of pristine beauty.
Yet, while ticking all these mandatory boxes, the second season of The Marlow Murder Club feels less engaging because it has zero stakes.
The mysteries themselves are still pleasing, with creator Robert Thorogood's ability to make sense out of some winding and implausible cat-and-mouse games. However, the structure of these stories is designed in such a way that the audience cares more about the mystery than the episodic characters, so there is little emotional connection.
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The burden of emotional stakes therefore falls on the main three, and in this season there isn't enough tension in that regard. By comparison, season one engaged audiences on a deeper level when an attempt on Judith's life was made.
With her fate hanging in the balance, it was easier to feel more invested – and this is sorely missing from this season.
That being said, The Marlow Murder Club can save itself a little on that front; for a few fleeting moments, we do get closer to the main characters on a less superficial level. We were just left hoping for more of that.
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There isn't a lot of room awarded to this across the season. Instead, these meaningful moments are peppered throughout and not really expanded on, which is a missed opportunity because this is when the watch becomes the most rewarding.
We won't spoil anything here, but we will give the season finale a special mention for centring one of the key characters in such a way that offers a deeper insight, and this does land.
Still, after completing the entire season, there remains the desire to know these women more. And sadly, season two of The Marlow Murder Club just doesn't dig deep enough.
The Marlow Murder Club season 2 debuts on Wednesday, March 19, at 8pm on U&Drama and U and will air weekly. Season 1 is available on U now.
TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
