SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers for Lynley Episode 3.

Lynley Episode 3 feels more like a classic installment of Midsomer Murders than the BritBox series, but that’s not necessarily a criticism. If anything, it’s proof that Lynley can be compared to some of the most well-known British crime dramas of all time. Episode 3 is a familiar tale, carried on the shoulders of Leo Suter as Tommy Lynley.

This episode has the most surprising introduction of the season, because the entire setup focuses solely on Lynley, without his partner Barbara Havers. It utilizes an idea that Midsomer Murders has done quite a few times: having one of the show’s protagonists discover the crime. But instead of Joyce Barnaby stumbling into trouble, it’s Lynley who comes across a dead body while on his morning run. This is more effective for obvious reasons, since Lynley is much better equipped for spontaneous murder scenes. It’s also telling that the first few minutes feel so jarring—not only in terms of bucking the typical procedural format, but because audiences are already so used to Lynley and Havers as a dynamic duo.

Beyond that, Lynley continues to echo Midsomer Murders in how it depicts a seemingly quaint small town with dark secrets. The episode is at its weakest when it focuses on the group of teenagers and their relationships, unable to transcend the typical melodrama of similar stories. But from the local police officer who doesn’t want to upset the town’s rich and powerful, to the fact that the case of the week is connected to another crime from the past, this is the kind of story that would be perfect for Midsomer County.

There’s a clear “haves versus have nots” narrative, too, between the affluent Larwood family that controls the town and the more blue-collar Kerne family. Audiences are not going to be surprised by the themes that are explored, or by how the case of the week resolves. Even the fact that the prime suspect turns out not to be the actual killer won’t be a shock to anyone who’s watched enough crime dramas, and thus knows there’s always a fourth-act twist.

But while Lynley Episode 3 has the least surprising storyline of the three installments that have streamed so far, the plot does provide an able platform to keep developing the main characters. Helen Clyde returns for a one-scene cameo appearance, to remind viewers that Lynley hasn’t forgotten about her. And this is an episode that’s particularly great for Suter, because seeing the grip that the Larwood family has on the community is a way to explore Lynley’s own background and the way he’s choosing his own path. It all leads to a closing scene in which Lynley calls his parents—opening the door to introduce them, or at least more about them, in the back half of the season.

Suter juggles a lot in the episode—whether it’s conveying what’s going on in Lynley’s head through his reactions to others, continuing to build Lynley’s romantic chemistry with Helen, or doing some considerable running in the opening sequence. Episode 3 shows how well-rounded an actor he is and why he was the perfect choice for the role, similar to how Episode 2 gave a spotlight to Sofia Barclay as Havers. Lynley could benefit from stronger guest characters around them, yet as long as it stays true to its heroes and the actors playing them, it’s always worth a watch.

Lynley streams Thursdays on BritBox. Photo Credit: Courtesy of BritBox.

Article content is (c)2020-2025 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.