Newly Rechristened 'Miss Scarlet' to Get Early PBS Passport Release

Television series reinvent themselves all the time. Whether for narrative or behind-the-scenes reasons, change is hardwired into the nature of this business, and anyone who's loved a long-running series knows this. However, for PBS's Miss Scarlet and the Duke fans, some considerable adjustments are headed their way in the series' forthcoming fifth season, which follows the adventures of Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips), the only female detective in Victorian London. For one thing, it's just Miss Scarlet now. The title change comes on the heels of the exit of star Stuart Martin, a move which alters the core DNA of the show in ways that will likely take many episodes to be fully felt. After all, the show's original premise was built on the relationship in its (former) title, and the answer to what it will ultimately look like without it is still a work in progress.  

However, Eliza won't be entirely alone in the new season. The show has also cast Tom Durant Pritchard (This Is Going to Hurt) as the handsome former soldier turned new Scotland Yard Detective Alexander Blake, who strangely bears a striking physical resemblance to William Wellington and a surprisingly progressive attitude toward women in the eighteenth-century workplace. If this sounds like the show is simply swapping one flavor of crime-solving sexual tension for another, well... they may well be.

But at least fans won't have to wait much longer to find out. Masterpiece has announced that Season 5 of Miss Scarlet will officially arrive on our screens on Sunday, January 12, 2025, immediately followed by the fifth season premiere of All Creatures Great and Small. However, for local PBS station members, the wait will only last a few weeks, as the series will receive an early release on PBS Passport beginning Sunday, December 8, 2024, the second time the series has arrived early on streaming. (The series did this once before when Season 3's premiere arrived on PBS Passport a mere week after Season 2 concluded.) 

Also, for the first time, PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel subscribers can stream the new season as an early release starting the same day. However, it will stream new episodes weekly on Sundays instead of a binge, with the final episode dropping on Sunday, January 5, 2025.

That means the only way to watch all six episodes on December 8 is to become a PBS member. For those who have not heard the good word about PBS Passport, it is a member benefit offered to those who support their local PBS stations. It is also, arguably, the best deal in streaming: $6 for a single month (no need to cancel; PBS assumes if you only pay for a month, you don't want it past the end of the 30 days!) and $120 for a year. PBS Passport already offers thousands of hours of programming online, including exclusive access to new shows and fan favorites like full seasons of Walter Presents imports and other popular dramas. 

Whether this move will inspire fans to spread the word about Detective Blake's arrival or bemoan the show's state without the Duke remains to be seen, but the early access is a nice gift for the show's most ardent fans, who've been chomping at the bit to see what's next, for good or ill. 

Here's the Season 5 synopsis. 

In the new season, Eliza’s agency is thriving and her professional life is on a successful path. On the personal side, however, Duke has now been away in New York for several months and Eliza is forced to make a difficult decision. Meanwhile, a new Detective Inspector comes to Scotland Yard and Eliza must navigate building a relationship with him if she’s going to continue having access to police resources. All these changes and decisions beg the question: Can Eliza Scarlet have it all?

In addition to Durant Pritchard and Phillips, the bulk of the series' primary cast is back for Season 5, including Evan McCabe (Berlin Station) as Detective Fitzroy, Cathy Belton (Hidden Assets) as Ivy, Felix Scott (Our House) as Patrick Nash, Paul Bazely (Such Brave Girls) as Clarence, Simon Ludders (The Capture) as Mr. Potts, and Tim Chipping (The English Game) as Detective Phelps. 

Season 5 is written by Rachael New and Ben Edwards, with Ivan Zivkovic and Milos Kodemo serving as directors. New, who created the series, is also an executive producer, along with Simpson, Harvey Myman, Jin Ishimoto, Patrick Irwin, and Patty Lenahan Ishimoto. The Irish co-producer is Jim Duggan, the Serbian co-producer is Andelija Vlaisavljevic, and the senior series producer for Masterpiece is Erin Delaney. 

"This new chapter in Eliza’s story is going to bring our audience more of what they’ve come to love about this series – mystery, humor, potential romance, and most of all, Kate Phillips’ terrific performance as Miss Scarlet," Masterpiece Executive Producer Susanne Simpson said in a statement when the series' fifth season — and title change — was first announced.

All six episodes of Miss Scarlet Season 5 will be available to stream as an early release binge for members with PBS Passport and on the PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel beginning Sunday, December 8, 2024. The show's official premiere will arrive a month later on most PBS stations and the PBS app on Sunday, January 12, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET, directly ahead of the All Creatures Great & Small premiere at 9 p.m. ET, and will air and stream in weekly installments through mid-February. (The series to follow in the 10 p.m. slot has not yet been made official.) As always, check your local listings and streaming services.