The 'Miss Scarlet' Season 5 Teaser Gives Us Our First Look at Eliza's New Partner

The first teaser for the newly rechristened Miss Scarlet is here and, despite the dramatic behind the scenes changes that took place following the series' fourth season, the first footage from Season 5....doesn't feel all that different from what's come before. 

The teaser trailer does includes a reference to the departure of former lead Stuart Martin, in a quick line clarifying that Inspector Wellington won't be returning from America. But it contains little in the way of details about Eliza's reaction to this news. Instead, it essentially serves as a mini-introduction to the man who'll be taking his place. 

Tom Durant Pritchard (This is Going to Hurt) plays the handsome former soldier turned Scotland Yard detective Alexander Blake, a man who repeatedly insists he doesn't use private detectives in the same way his predecessor did. Eliza seems determined to change that, understandable since most of her business came through her connections with the Yard, and the brief clip highlights the tension between them as they cross paths at a crime scene and banter in a stairwell. 

If this sounds like the show is simply swapping one flavor of crime-solving sexual tension for another with the departure of the Duke and the arrival of Blake well... it's very possible that's what's happening. Though we've not seen much of this new relationship yet, the vibe in this clip certainly feels very similar to that once shared by Eliza and William --- she's pushing at him, he's pushing back, and there's a brief moment where they stare at each other, kindred spirits of a sort over candlelight. Let's put it this way: It certainly appears to be less of a cleaner break from the series' previous premise than many might have expected. 

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. 

All six episodes of Miss Scarlet Season 5 will be available as an early release binge on both PBS Passport and the PBS Masterpiece Prime Video Channel beginning Sunday, December 8. The series will premiere on-air on Sunday, January 12, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET, ahead of the new season of All Creatures Great and Small.