The fourth chapter of Season 8 of "Shetland" delves ever deeper into the tangled tapestry of deception and age-old rituals that shroud the murder of Ellen Quinn. Detective Inspectors Ruth Calder and 'Tosh' McIntosh pursue the truth with unwavering determination, blurring the boundaries between allies and adversaries.
The episode opens with the grilling of Peter Ayre, the primary suspect in Ellen's grim demise. Peter defiantly maintains that his actions were an integral part of an arcane religious rite, asserting that it was a fulfillment of Ellen's own desires. Meanwhile, a forensic team uncovers a cache of eerie artifacts in Peter's humble abode, including animal skulls and macabre contents within his freezer. However, it is the discovery of a chest filled with letters that serves as a crucial turning point in unraveling the mystery.
At the Bain farm, the family's outrage boils over at the police's botched handling of Ellen's remains. Calder and Tosh visit to quell their fury, but instead uncover a bombshell: Ellen's mother, Stella, is stunned to learn of her daughter's friendship with Tom Knox, a family adversary. This revelation adds another intricate layer to the already labyrinthine case.
Calder is confronted with a personal dilemma when a background check on her sister-in-law, Amma, implicates her in Ellen's murder through distinctive cigarettes. Tosh is incensed at Calder for keeping this vital information from her, further fraying their professional rapport. Calder harbors a shocking secret—her father may have had an affair with Stella Quinn, rendering Ellen her estranged half-sister. This revelation stands as a ticking time bomb that could dismantle the entire investigation.
Amma's connection to Ellen is further illuminated when Tosh unearths that not only did Amma converse with Ellen on the fatal day, but they were also acquainted with Kirsty Bell, a woman previously seen with Ellen in London. Amma concedes to introducing Ellen to Kirsty and to Ellen's plea for assistance in disposing of stolen money. Amma's unwavering insistence on her innocence in Ellen's demise adds another perplexing fragment to the enigmatic puzzle.
The investigation takes a sudden and dramatic turn when Cora verifies Ellen's cause of death and detects sage-colored fibers clinging to her body. However, Peter's alibi, supported by phone records indicating his consistent connection to his home WiFi during the murder, casts a shadow of doubt over the proceedings. The police, deducing that Peter couldn't have acted alone, begin a meticulous examination of a mysterious box of letters discovered at his residence, each bearing the enigmatic symbol etched into Ellen's tattoo.
The intrigue deepens as revelations unfold that Liam Kenmuir, Rosemary's lover, might be Peter's pen pal, particularly after his hospital pass coincides with the night Ellen's body mysteriously disappeared. The police grill Liam, but his fabricated tales only fan the flames of their suspicion.
In a stunning revelation, Rosemary storms into Tosh and Calder's interrogation of Liam, her appearance disheveled and a bloodied knife clutched in her hand. She confesses to slaughtering sheep for sport and being the anonymous author of the admiring letters Peter has received for years, revealing a twisted jealousy-laden connection to Ellen and Peter. Yet, despite her confessions, Rosemary steadfastly maintains her innocence in Ellen's murder.
The episode crescendos when Calder, amidst brewing a cup of tea, receives a phone call that shatters her world—DNA results confirm that she and Ellen are not sisters. Tosh's anger at Calder's deceit prompts her to insist on Calder's removal from the case. This bombshell not only disrupts the investigation but also sends shockwaves through Calder's personal journey.
As the episode draws to a close, Cal's van is spotted crashed and abandoned, his lifeless body lying beside it, hinting that Bobby may have tampered with his vehicle to silence him about Stella's dark past. This chilling conclusion leaves viewers on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the next thrilling chapter in this gripping crime drama.
"Shetland" Season 8, Episode 4 masterfully intertwines ancient rituals, family secrets, and contemporary crime, captivating and perplexing audiences until the very final moment.
