My Life Is Murder – Season 2 Finale (Pleasure and Pain)
The job of a season finale is to wrap up the season’s story arcs and establish new ones for the next season (if there is another one). In that sense, the finale technically didn’t do its job, however this series isn’t really obligated to, as each episode is self-contained and there were never any story arcs.
This episode has Alexa investigate the death of a self-help guru, Otto Klein, who ran the self-help program, Hex, with his wife, Clarissa. Otto was found dead in a motel room two weeks ago, naked and handcuffed to a bed. The cause of death was ruled as accidental autoerotic asphyxiation. One of Hex’s employees, Sarah Halbeck, was in the room with him when the fire alarm went off. She tried to uncuff him but couldn’t find the key, so she left the room to get help. When she came back, she tried to resuscitate him but it was too late. Sarah was originally part of the self-help program and went on to become an employee, and despite Otto’s death and having had an affair with him, is back at work.
Alexa and Madison join the Hex program to investigate further. They meet Sarah, Clarissa and Cameron, Clarissa and Otto’s son and Hex’s security guy. Sarah explains that Hex operates on a Solon system, there are eight Solon levels and each time a Hex member progresses through the levels, they receive a charm. Clarissa and Otto are the only people to have reached the top level, Alpha Solon.
Alexa and Madison learn that every member has to sign a non-disclosure agreement, and they both have one-on-one time with Clarissa. Clarissa knows that Alexa was a former detective and moved from Australia. Madison also meets Cameron and notices that he seems to have a crush on Sarah. When they’re back at home, Alexa and Madison discuss the fact that Cameron was cut out of Otto’s will a year ago and question why Sarah would have an affair with Otto as she wanted to run Hex London. They also realise that Otto was killed before he was hung up.
When Alexa and Madison return to Hex to ask more questions, a video of Otto plays, which upsets Sarah so much she runs off to the bathroom. Clarissa comes to see her and tells her that no-one can touch her and Sarah said she made a terrible mistake. Afterwards, Clarissa tells Alexa to leave her, her family and Sarah alone.
After Sarah commits suicide by jumping off the roof of her apartment building, Madison discovers that Hex’s security records were doctored and Cameron was seen outside of Sarah’s building. Madison talks to Cameron, who reveals that Otto had multiple affairs. While Alexa and Harry examine the clothes Sarah was wearing when she died and Alexa finds the Alpha Solon charm sewn into Sarah’s jeans.
When Alexa meets one of Otto’s other mistresses, Chantelle, it’s revealed that Otto was obsessed with Sarah. Sarah fell for Otto too, but knew it was a dead end relationship and wanted to run Hex in London. When Chantelle also reveals that her and Otto used the same motel room that he used with Sarah and that Otto recorded videos of his trysts with them, Alexa finds a hidden camera in the motel room. She also concludes that Otto would have hidden the recordings.
Alexa and Madison wait for Clarissa and Cameron to leave their house so they can sneak in. When they do, they eventually find a hard drive hidden in the ceiling. When Alexa and Madison leave the house with the hard drive, Clarissa and Cameron return, revealing that because of hidden cameras in their home, they knew they were there.
Alexa eventually figures out that Clarissa set off the fire alarm to get Sarah out of the motel room, so she could sneak in and kill Otto herself, when Sarah returned, she noticed that Otto was on the wrong side of the bed and realised what had happened. Alexa shows her the footage of his death, recorded by his own hidden cameras. Harry then arrests Clarissa, with Alexa reassuring Cameron that he is young and talented, and can carve out his own future, his family doesn’t have to define him.
The episode and the season ends with Alexa, Madison, Harry and Reuben having dinner together, with Alexa revealing she has opened up an Instagram account so she can post pics of her bread, aptly named, Deadly Dough.
Overall I felt that this episode fell a little flat. While Sarah was the most obvious suspect, it was too easy for it to be her. I also felt that Cameron’s crush on Sarah didn’t really add anything to the story, especially as he wasn’t the murderer, and Otto cutting him out of his will was never explained. I also felt that Clarissa’s characterisation as threatening was a waste considering how quickly she folded when confronted with the footage of Otto’s murder. However I did enjoy seeing Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Connor working together again, as well as the running gag of Alexa’s hatred of people posting photos of their food on social media, only to give in to the trend herself.
As for the season, I felt it was solid with interesting cases of the week and well-executed running gags. I felt that the setting change from Melbourne to Auckland was pulled off seamlessly. Harry and Reuben brought some fresh air to the new season. I would have liked Will and Alexa’s relationship explored further, especially after Alexa rescinded her support for Will’s parole application, and as it was the reason for her move back to Auckland.
I’ve enjoyed reviewing this season and I hope that there is another one in the future.
Stray Observations:
Running gag – Alexa’s hatred of people posting photos of their food on social media.
-This episode reunites Xena: Warrior Princess stars, Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Connor (Clarissa).
-Cameron is portrayed by Renee O’Connor’s son, Miles Muir. According to O’Connor’s Instagram account, the opportunity for her to appear in this episode came about through Miles’ acting classes in New Zealand.
-Madison has a fear of frogs.
Loveday Writing 