In the fourth installment of Netflix's intriguing series "Bodies," titled "Right Up The Wazoo," the intricate web of connections spanning four timelines unfolds with each passing moment, peeling away layers of deep-seated family secrets and the ominous ramifications of time travel. The episode kicks off with Detective Shahara Hasan (played with nuance by Amaka Okafor) diving into the enigma surrounding the name "Hillinghead," ultimately uncovering Alfred Hillinghead, a detective from 1890 who had previously tackled the very same case involving the mysterious body discovered on Longharvest Lane.
Hasan's quest for enlightenment leads her through dusty archived police records, where she stumbles upon not just the 1890 case file, but also a intriguing 1941 file pertaining to the same deceased individual. This revelation fortifies her conviction in the cryptic hints Elias Mannix had previously dropped, hinting at a shadowy conspiracy that spans epochs. During a tense discussion with Chief Inspector Barber, Hasan unveils her startling findings, which initially met with skepticism from him. However, as they both decipher the significance of the Harker Legal card intricately linked to the Morleys, Hasan's resolve to delve deeper into the mystery is reignited.
Sneaking into the eerie confines of Harker House, Hasan encounters Andrew Morley, who unburdens himself with disturbing truths about the Morley family's century-old ties to the Harkers. He guides her to a clandestine chamber where a chilling sight awaits – multiple iterations of Gabriel Defoe from diverse timelines, preserved like specimens in glass tanks. As the tension mounts, Andrew's emotional turmoil becomes palpable, ultimately culminating in him locking Hasan in a pitch-black room, forcing her to ponder the gravity of their conversation amidst the encroaching darkness.
Elsewhere, in the 1941 timeline, Detective Charles Whiteman (portrayed with depth by Jacob Fortune-Lloyd) is grappling with the weight of his decisions concerning the innocent young girl, Esther. Initially driven by a noble intent to shield her, Whiteman finds himself precariously perched on the edge of a perilous precipice when he realizes that Esther's life hangs by a fragile thread. Amidst the chaos of a bombing raid, Whiteman's desperate attempts to keep Esther safe lead to a heart-wrenching twist – he discovers that she has been poisoned by Polly Hillinghead, a woman whose connection to the clandestine organization orchestrating these cross-timeline manipulations is now undeniable.
In the forthcoming chapters, Iris Maplewood (portrayed by Shira Haas) delves deeper into the enigmatic theories of time travel, engaging in intellectual sparring matches with Gabriel Defoe (embodied by Tom Mothersdale). Their burgeoning bond blossoms as they unravel the intricate implications and perilous pitfalls of temporal journeys. However, their nascent connection is abruptly disrupted by Lorna, Maplewood's seemingly ordinary neighbor, who is unveiled as a covert member of the enigmatic Chapel Perilous organization. This revelation adds an extra layer of sophistication to the tale, intertwining the destinies of the protagonists across the labyrinthine corridors of time.
"Right Up The Wazoo" stands as a cornerstone episode, enriching the mystery shrouding the mysterious corpse discovered on Longharvest Lane and the interlinked existences of the sleuths. As Hasan, Whiteman, and Maplewood grapple with their individual predicaments, the episode shines a spotlight on the tangled web of concealed truths, manipulations, and the dire repercussions of tampering with time. With each stunning revelation, the tension escalates, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the moment when these myriad plotlines will converge in the unfolding saga of "Bodies."
