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Coming into Season 3, UK series Whitstable Pearl still excels in storytelling, weaving comedy and drama in several coastal mysteries. The Acorn TV original focuses on restaurant owner Pearl Nolan (Kerry Godliman) and her dream of running a private detective agency. During her investigations, she flips between equal parts helping and annoying Detective Chief Inspector Mike McGuire (Howard Charles).
I enjoyed the Season 2 cases, but those in Season 3 are better. The crime scenes aren’t as bloody, but in some ways, the stakes also seem higher because Pearl and Mike feel the impacts at a more personal level. That takes shape directly in “Prisoners of the Past,” when Pearl wants an honest conversation with her son, Charlie (Rohan Nedd).
At other times, Pearl and Mike separately encounter dark turns taken by other law and order professionals (and others), whether an attorney, a police officer, or a psychic. Godliman and Charles portray that struggle so well, as Pearl and Mike wonder where the point of no return came for those individuals. It adds a rich level of depth to the series that balances well against the lighter moments.
Where Things Stand
As Season 3 opens, we find out that Mike has been away for three months, seeking other ways to address his grief over his late wife. Because he’s lost a lot of weight, Pearl admits that he looks better. Her mother, Dolly (Frances Barber), pokes fun at her for noticing it. However, Pearl insists that she’s doing fine. After all, she’s in a great relationship with Tom (Robert Webb), a schoolteacher.
While Tom and Pearl are more serious in their relationship, it’s not clear at first where they’re heading. There are humorous moments, as when Tom consults a tarot card reader. It’s clear that Tom and Pearl care about each other, yet circumstances throw challenges in their path. The moment of stating their concerns outright is a long time coming, and Godliman and Webb treat the exchange delicately.
Meanwhile, Mike doesn’t have a girlfriend this season. Although he’s still brooding and sad, now he’s working on his late wife’s bucket list, and he’s exercising. He struggles through the highs and lows, but he wants to find peace.
Other Detectives on the Case
Another intriguing aspect of Whitstable Pearl is how the writers spotlight other recurring characters from the series. That’s particularly true in the episode “Prisoners of the Past.” We learn a little more about Mike’s partner, Detective Sergeant Nikki Martel (Sophia Del Pizzo). As she and Mike dive deeper into a 30-year-old case after a convict is released, they uncover information that may or may not involve her mother (Kate Robbins), a retired detective. Rather than merely supporting Mike or Pearl, Nikki has a larger role this time around.
It wouldn’t be Whitstable Pearl without Dolly, feisty and hilarious as ever. We often learn about Whitstable past and present from her. In “Prisoners of the Past,” that extends further as Dolly feels a certain responsibility to look out for the daughter of an old friend. And while Dolly is fiercely protective and holds strong opinions that can lead to clashes with others, her desire to help ultimately puts situations back on track.
Although she mostly co-manages the restaurant with Pearl, Dolly gets a chance to flex her private detective skills this season, too. The case arises in “Oysters Kilpatrick,” when a food critic dies at their restaurant and Pearl is away. You may find yourself wondering about Dolly and what it’d be like if she devoted more time to Pearl’s detective agency. I hope we’ll see more from Dolly on that note in future seasons.
From glimpses so far, Dolly proves to be as adept as Pearl in chasing down clues and conferring with Mike about the investigation. And she knows it. As Dolly tells one witness she’s interviewing, “My daughter is a private detective. I taught her everything she knows.”
Final Thoughts
Whitstable Pearl continues to offer intrigue and surprises, showing why it’s still one of the best among the newer mystery shows. Whether she’s in her restaurant or out solving cases, Pearl cares deeply about the town of Whitstable. She displays empathy for people and connects with as many as she can, whether that person caused a misunderstanding or committed a terrible crime. Those moments can be heart-wrenching—have some tissues ready—but they also offer a sense of hope whenever a person accepts Pearl’s help and turns away from another bad decision.
Whitstable Pearl is available on Acorn TV.
