Loveday Writing

A witness identified Tamara Innes as the shooter but Harry believes she was set up, and that she received two phone calls before the shooting. Alexa calls Madison and gets her to trace the calls, but is surprised when Madison shows up at her apartment. While she’s there it’s revealed that Alexa is still making and selling bread, this time to a café down the road, and that she still has the stray cat that made itself at home back in Melbourne. It’s also revealed that Alexa left Melbourne without telling Madison.

Later, Alexa goes to see Lydia, Michael’s wife, who tells her that Michael ran every day at the same time in the same outfit, but thought he had been followed a couple of times. Afterwards, on their way to see Tamara at her textiles store, Madison tells Alexa that the calls were made from computers. When Alexa sees Tamara, she ends up buying some materials and Madison copies the contents of Tamara’s phone to hers. Madison finds that Tamara had a regular appointment with a therapist, Dr. McMaster.

When Alexa goes to see Dr. McMaster he tells her that he didn’t think Tamara was capable of violence and that she suffered from trauma after her husband died. Before Alexa leaves, Dr. McMaster asks her out. When Madison calls her, she tells her that Tamara takes the same route home from work everyday but stopped at the Harbour on the day of the shooting. When Alexa and Harry go to the Harbour, a police diver finds the gun.

Alexa goes to see Tamara again and tells her about the gun. Tamara tells Alexa that she found the gun in her pocket and had no idea how it got there. When she saw the news of the shooting, she panicked and threw it in the Harbour. Later, Alexa goes to dinner with Dr. McMaster, who tells her that grief has profound affects and she tells hm about her reasons for becoming a consultant.

When Alexa gets home, she finds Madison making a blouse for her out of the silk she bought from Tamara. Alexa looks at photos on Michael Suzman’s social media pages and finds a photo of him, Lydia and Dr. McMaster at a rate payer’s meeting. Lydia tells her that Dr. McMaster was against her and Michael selling their house to developers, as the developers were planning on building an apartment block and it would affect the value of his investment property.

Alexa gets Madison to pose a patient to get access to Dr. McMaster’s computer. She starts talking about her work situation with Alexa (without mentioning her name). Dr. McMaster asks her to think about the last time she had one of her anxiety attacks that she told him about. We then cut to Alexa starting to worry as two hours have passed, and then Madison leaving the session. Dr. McMaster reveals that he knows she works for Alexa and gives her a note to pass on, detailing his alibi. Madison tells Alexa she has no idea how Dr. McMaster found out she works for her, and she forgot to go through his computer. Alexa then calls Harry and asks whether Tamara has been released.

Alexa goes to see Tamara and tells her that Dr. McMaster argued with Michael Suzman before she started seeing him. Tamara tells her that Dr. McMaster treated her by giving her pills, an exercise regime (running), and hypnotherapy. Alexa tells Harry her theory that Dr. McMaster hypnotised her into shooting Michael Suzman but he doesn’t believe her. Alexa then asks Madison to check the location data on Tamara’s phone to see if she had ever been to Makarau.

Later Alexa and Madison go to Dr. McMaster’s property in Makarau, where they find a piece of purple fabric and shell casings in a tree. As they are leaving, Dr. McMaster arrives and tells them that he’s reported them to the police. Later, Alexa gives Harry the shell casings.

We then cut to Dr. McMaster driving back to his property and arriving to see Alexa shooting at the large Newton’s Cradle. Alexa then tells him (and the audience) that he hypnotised Tamara and trained her to shoot at a target based on the colour of Michael Suzman’s purple shirt and using a special ringtone. Alexa reveals she brought Tamara and Harry with her and tests her theory by spraying Dr. McMaster with purple paint and playing the ringtone. Tamara shoots him as he tries to run away, but she only fired blanks.

Towards the end of the episode, Alexa puts on the blouse Madison made for her, as Madison is about to leave. They play a game of chicken, before Alexa lets Madison stay. The episode ends with Harry bringing Alexa some wine and informing her that Tamara is getting help and Dr. McMaster has been charged with Michael Suzman’s murder.

Overall this was an entertaining episode and a good season opener, I felt that the crime of the week itself was predictable. I suspected the therapist was responsible and that he would have hypnotised his client about halfway through the episode, although admittedly his motive was different then I expected, I honestly expected him to be having an affair with Lydia.

I enjoyed the humour in this episode, specifically between Alexa and Madison. I honestly didn’t expect the series to be relocated to Auckland, however due to the obvious reasons, I wasn’t entirely surprised either. Realistically, Kieran wouldn’t move to New Zealand for the same job, so Bernard Curry not returning wasn’t a surprise. It will be interesting to see what Jobe will bring to the series as Harry – the rapport will be different because he’s not a former colleague like Kieran was, however as Kieran recommended her, he was willing to accommodate her and was friendly. I’m looking forward to seeing how their relationship develops over the season.

Stray Observations:

-Madison has nine siblings.

-Madison joined the police force at 16, she is the youngest data analyst ever, and she joined to avoid being charged for illegally accessing the government’s inquiry into climate change. Madison tells Alexa she only did this because she could.

Best one liners and interactions:

• “I asked you to trace a couple of calls not emigrate!” (Alexa to Madison)
• “That is the second biggest Newton’s Cradle I have ever seen.” “Where have you seen a bigger one?” “Get Smart.” “I am smart!” (Alexa-Madison going back-and-forth on a large Newton’s Cradle at Dr. McMaster’s property)
• “Looks like you’re in the market for a midlife crisis!” (Alexa to Dr McMaster on his sports car)
• “Like any good narcissist, when you’re told to get stuffed, you think revenge is the only option.” (Alexa to Dr McMaster)