Creator Rachael New and Cast on What’s Ahead in Season 4
The explosive Season 3 finale was full of shocking moments and major surprises that surely will shake things up in Season 4. Miss Scarlet and The Duke Creator, Writer, and Executive Producer Rachael New plus cast members Kate Phillips (Eliza Scarlet) and Felix Scott (Patrick Nash) offer a few teasers about what we can expect in Season 4, including the new turn in Eliza and Nash’s relationship, how the Duke will handle his massive realization in the Season 3 finale, and more. [Warning: Contains major spoilers from the Season 3 finale.]
- 1.
Rachael New
MASTERPIECE: The Season 3 finale leaves us with quite a few major changes ahead. Eliza finally taking up Nash’s offer to work with him with him, Arabella and William’s breakup and why she did it… What does that all mean going forward?
Rachael New: I can tell you that Season 4 does set a few hairs running with both of those things. I don’t want to give too much away, but it does set Eliza on a different track, and it does bring home to Duke what he really does want. He’s got to seize the day. So, it brings things to a head. Like Eliza’s got to decide: “Do I want to carry on in this kind of small business that I’m struggling with? Or do I want the weight and the clout of the most successful private detective agency in London behind me?” That opens a box for her, like Pandora’s box. That sets her on a different trajectory than she would’ve probably been on had Nash not come on the scene.
And with the Duke, it’s having somebody out loud for the first time vocalize his feelings, which he’s never done and no one’s ever said those things to him before. That’s like a sharp kind of slap in the face. That’s going to make him wake up and smell the coffee and realize that, you know, is it time to do something about it? So yes, Season 4 sees them both go on a slightly different journey.
For more, read Rachael New’s Season 3 interview with MASTERPIECE here.
Plus, you can listen to New’s in-depth Season 3 interview with the MASTERPIECE Studio Podcast here.
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Kate Phillips
MASTERPIECE: What will Eliza’s decision mean for her relationship with Nash? Will they be closer ever than ever? Or will they butt heads even more?
Kate Phillips: There’s a whole lot more of them butting heads, which is how I feel like the show really works, in a sense. You know, in Season 3…all I seem to remember is just playing a lot of frustration, a lot of fury, particularly at Nash. But then there are moments of real hilarity, very funny sparring, that kind of finally ends in a very sweet resolve. So, you know, their relationship obviously gets more familiar with each other [in Season 4], but there’s always going to be that tension, in the same way that there is with her and William.
MASTERPIECE: Can you give us any more teasers about what we can expect in Season 4?
Kate Phillips: There’s a little bit more about Eliza and William’s history, how they came to be. There’ll definitely be some more fun characters for you to meet that are really great and you’ll just love them. And more sparring and back and forth than ever!
We’ll definitely see Eliza more in action mode, which…Rachael [New]’s finally listened to me —I mean, she’s doesn’t need to listen to me, but she’s definitely heard my cries of like, “I want more action!”
MASTERPIECE: What was your reaction when you got the Season 4 scripts?
Kate Phillips: The opener to Season 4 is absolutely cracking. It’s really good. It’s really playful and really shows her at her best, where she’s really in performance mode, but also you can tell she’s struggling. It’s a very, very funny opener! So, yeah, I was thrilled to get the script for that one and people have got a lot to look forward to when that lands.
For more, check out Phillips’ Season 3 interview with MASTERPIECE here.
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Felix Scott
MASTERPIECE: What do viewers have to look forward to in Season 4?
Felix Scott: I think what you are going to see, particularly from Season 3 and into Season 4, is the development of the relationship between Eliza and Patrick in both friendship and a business sense. You’re going to see more action, more intrigue, more suspense, more detective work, and even more fun arguments between the two of them. Because frankly, that’s the pattern that they have between the two of them and the repertoire that really drives forward their friendship and their working relationship, as well.
So, if you enjoyed Season 3, which I hope you did, because I thought it was a great [season]… then tune into Season 4, which is what we’re shooting at the moment [Edit: At the time of this interview, the cast and crew were still filming Season 4]. I think it is some of the best stuff we’ve done, and anything that I’ve done so far.
I loved shooting Seasons 2 and 3, so it’s a real pleasure to be doing Season 4 and seeing where things are going and how things are developing. I would suggest tuning in, and getting excited for what’s going to happen in the future!
Learn more by checking out Scott’s Season 3 interview with MASTERPIECE here.
