Loveday Writing

This episode was all about fish.

The episode kicks off with Alexa waking up to find enough plants and trees to make an enchanted forest in her living room, which her brother, Will, moved into her apartment.

Alexa leaves to meet with Harry to be given the case of the week – Tiffany Maddox, General Manager of Captain Pete’s Aquarium, who was found floating in a freshwater fish tank in the Aquarium, two months ago. Her death was ruled a murder, due to the murder weapon being an Irukandji jellyfish, which is not native to New Zealand, nor part of the Aquarium’s exhibits. The prime suspect is marine biologist, Jake Brookwell, who was hired by the Aquarium only to be made redundant and replaced by Suzette Crumb, and who has the knowledge and means to bring the Irukandji jellyfish into the country. When Alexa asks him why Jake is still free, Harry tells her that the evidence against him is circumstantial, but he did rant about being let go and Tiffany online before her death.

Alexa goes to see Jake on his boat, with the jellyfish, and he tells her he didn’t smuggle it into the country. Meanwhile, Madison goes to see Tiffany’s husband, Evan, at his restaurant. He tells her that Tiffany made a lot of enemies through her work of “corporate downsizing”. Later, Alexa and Madison speak with Suzette at the Aquarium, where she tells them that Tiffany believed in her, that Evan hasn’t picked up any of Tiffany’s things from her office, and that she’s certain that Jake wasn’t involved in the murder. Madison also asks Suzette about the empty fish tank that should contain spiny sea dragons.

When Alexa goes to see Jake again, he tells her that Evan thought that he and Tiffany were having an affair. When Alexa and Madison speak with Evan about his accusation, he tells them that he found a burner phone of hers, and messages between her and a Canadian man named Randy. Alexa notices Evan and Tiffany’s white gold wedding rings, which reminds her of the fact that it wasn’t on Tiffany’s body when it was recovered. Meanwhile, Madison goes to Tiffany’s office and takes photos of documents.

Later, Will tells Alexa that he got scammed by his tree and plant supplier, and Madison tells her that she can’t find anything on Randy online, outside of the messages between him and Tiffany. Later, Alexa meets Jake on his boat for lunch and shows him the pictures of the documents from Tiffany’s office. He tells her that the vet bills have gone down, which could mean that there are fish possibly being sold. He also tells her that he doesn’t believe Suzette would have anything to do with the murder or the selling of fish.

Back at Alexa’s, with the “enchanted forest” now gone, she tells Madison that Tiffany’s affair seemed out of character for her. Madison informs her that Tiffany’s IP address and Randy’s IP address are of the same place, Evan’s restaurant. When Alexa confronts Evan about it, accusing him of making up an affair and fake suspect, he tells her he didn’t do it, but know who would have. Alexa and Madison go back to the Aquarium and confront staff member/mermaid, Angel Strawn. Angel admits to having an affair with Evan and catfishing both Tiffany and Evan, to get Evan to leave Tiffany. Angel tells Alexa that she was with Evan on the night of Tiffany’s murder.

Later, Harry tells Alexa that Jake broke into the Aquarium. Jake tells Alexa that he broke in as he was worried about the Aquarium’s marine life as he noticed a blue damselfish, Stephanie, missing. When Alexa asks Suzette about Stephanie, she tells her that Stephanie was mistakenly believed to be female when she was first acquired, however Jake tells her that Suzette was lying, and that the Aquarium would acquire marine life through an Australian company who offered tank-bred fish or catch them themselves sustainably.

Later at Evan’s restaurant, Alexa asks Suzette if she and Tiffany were selling fish. Suzette tells her that the Aquarium were missing six crabs as well as Stephanie. She also mentions that Waru (the octopus) stole her watch off her desk and found it in his tank, and that Tiffany thought that Evan was having an affair. Alexa then sneaks into Evan’s office and finds an access card and a stain on his blazer. Alexa later goes back to the Aquarium and finds a set of keys for the Rosebank Business Park in Waru’s tank.

Alexa goes to the Rosebank Business Park and finds a storage room filled with pools and fish tanks. Evan arrives shortly after her. Alexa confronts him and tells him (and the audience) that he killed Tiffany after she discovered his illegal marine wildlife smuggling operation, and that he threw her into a pool filled with Irukandji jellyfish, which stung her to death. When Evan tells her that she can’t prove it, she tells him she can as Tiffany’s wedding ring is in the bottom of the pool.

The episode ends with Alexa on Jake’s boat, with the reveal that he got his job back and the Aquarium is being renamed.

Overall, I felt that this was a much more interesting case of the week than the previous one, however I felt that Will’s reappearance was wasted, as he only appeared briefly with the plants and trees he bought off Facebook Marketplace, and disappeared with them without explanation. His appearance, whilst funny, didn’t add anything to the plot. I also appreciated Jake and Alexa’s flirtation throughout the episode, maybe he will be a new love interest for her.

Stray Observations:

Running gag – nearly everyone finding Jake attractive, and Alexa’s bond with Waru.

-Reuben doesn’t have any pets.