DIPBritish Network Television & Radio
What possible secrets could Father John be keeping from the Mother Superior?
‘Death in Paradise’: S2.E2. “An Unholy Death”…
“An Unholy Death”, first televised in the British Isles on Tuesday, 15 Jan. 2013, revolved around a compelling story penned by accomplished writer Colin Bytheway.
The instalment, directed by Alrick Riley, saw Therese apparently die of smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in her room at Saint Marie’s Sacred Heart Nunnery. The presence of a cigarette suggests the Sacred Heart nunnery postulant, despite well-established rules, had been smoking in her room and had caused the fire herself.
It is soon revealed, noting Detective Inspector Richard Poole’s eye for detail, Therese had not met her end as a result of an accidental death. It was murder and Poole is determined to get to the bottom of the case. A threatening note, as Poole sees it, is the linchpin. It had been sent to Therese prior to her death.
Kenneth Cranham, a highly respected thespian and actor of film, television, and radio, guest stars as Father John. Cranham’s other credits, of which there are many, includes Oliver!, Up Pompeii, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Chocolat, and Layer Cake. The actor brings to this episode the same degree of professionalism he does with everything else he does.
“An Unholy Death”, further to Cranham, also guest stars Gemma Jones, Rowena King, Georgina Campbell, Patrick Baladi, and Caroline Langrishe. Jones, King, Campbell, Baladi, and Langrishe, in Riley’s episode, respectively portrayed Sister Anne, Sister Marguerite, Therese, Daryl Dexter, and Laura Masters.
Sister Anne, the Saint Marie’s Sacred Heart Mother Superior, had feared Father John might have had his head turned by a young face. It had happened before. Sister Anne had been convinced, with Therese’s presence at Saint Marie’s Sacred Heart, it was happening again. Little did Sister Anne realise the special bond that existed between Father John and Therese.
Poole, continuing to dig ever deeper, finds a series of false identities and dirty secrets. No stone is left unturned. Some of the details Poole discovers leads him to Strasburg and Father John’s past relationships.
The family secret, noting Father John had been Therese’s biological father, is soon discovered. There is no way Sister Anne, not looped in on the family secret, could have known what was going on between Father John and his daughter. Sister Anne had done what she had done in an effort to save Father John from himself.
Father John, subsequently, had been deprived of a meaningful relationship with his daughter. It was his desire to become better acquainted with Therese. Sister Anne took all that away from him.
Meanwhile, as a secondary storyline, Saint Marie’s Sacred Heart is seemingly famed for having miracle waters within its grounds. The nunnery, seeing financial issues mount, hired entrepreneur Daryl Dexter to promote these so-called miracle waters.
The spring itself, even though the location and its proximity to Saint Marie’s Sacred Heart, is actually owned by Laura Masters. Masters and Dexter, equally dodgy, are engaged in a romantic relationship.
Closer to home, as the police investigate Therese’s murder, Officer Dwayne Myers discovers one of his previous love interests is a member of the order. Elodie now goes by the name Sister Marguerite.
Music Used in Alrick Riley’s “An Unholy Death”…
- Looking Hot performed by Patrice Roberts
- Tarantula performed by Pendulum
- Cry Fi Dem performed by Wasp
- Voodoo Man performed by Vin Gordon and The Upsetters
- Ojala! performed by Kassav’
- Sexy Boo performed by Trini Jacob