TV Review: ‘Whitstable Pearl’ Season 2

I loved the first season of seaside mystery Whitstable Pearl when it premiered in 2021. So I was excited to find out recently that two more seasons are available on Acorn TV for streaming.

Season 2 picks up a few months after the end of Season 1, with restaurant owner Pearl Nolan (Kerry Godliman) forging ahead with her private detective agency. DCI Mike McGuire (Howard Charles) still looks irritated, yet at times grateful, when Pearl brings vital context to the cases he and DS Nikki Martel (Sophia Del Pizzo) are trying to solve. Pearl usually knows who the suspects are, what the tide conditions might have been, and other curious yet relevant details about the town.

However, as with any picturesque British mystery series, two central characters, in this case Mike and Pearl, have a complicated relationship. And that’s no matter which way you look at it, professional or potentially romantic. Both of them have significant others. Pearl is seeing Tom (Robert Webb), a teacher, while Mike is dating Kat (Emily Head), whom he met through grief counseling. It makes for an interesting secondary plot about whether they’re happy in their new lives.

Friendly Faces Return

It wouldn’t feel cozy and fun without the other cast members from the first season. Rohan Nedd is back as Charlie, Pearl’s son who works in the restaurant. This season brings the focus onto Charlie’s desire to travel and reconnect with his father. Pearl may have to confront her fears sooner about inching closer to an empty nest. Nedd shines during the “Babylon” episode, offering critical assistance in locating a missing child.

Another assistant is Charlie’s girlfriend and Pearl’s employee, Ruby, portrayed by Isobelle Molloy. With Charlie contemplating travel, Ruby steps in memorably to gather information for Pearl on a case in “Hidden Treasures.” As dedicated as everyone is to the restaurant, they’re just as serious about Pearl’s venture as a private detective. Aside from the banter, it’s nice to see the strong friendships and family bonds again as they evolve.

On that note about family, it’s worth mentioning Frances Barber’s standout performance in Season 2. Barber’s acting balances immensely well with Godliman’s as they delve into the rich layers of Dolly and Pearl’s mother-daughter relationship. Be prepared to feel pulled into their emotional and hilarious moments, particularly in “Hidden Treasures” when there are strange events happening at Dolly’s property. Dolly remains a fully fleshed-out and complex character with an arc that’s sensitively and beautifully treated, which also means that Barber’s talents are well employed.

On New Beginnings and Grief

I wasn’t sure what to make of Tom initially, but both Webb and Godliman convinced me that Pearl’s new relationship could hold up. Tom seems to care genuinely for Pearl and he’s a source of comedy and fun. However, there are some cracks showing which could complicate things. While Tom is happy to help with cases, he regards Pearl’s private detective business as “amateur” detective work. I can’t put my finger on it, but maybe there will be different aspects of Tom revealed in the next season.

Meanwhile, the series takes a closer look at Mike’s grief through the lens of group counseling. The theme is revisited several times without feeling overdone. Rather, Howard Charles navigates into Mike’s struggles adeptly, bringing that closer to the surface with his silence and furrowed brows. Mike genuinely wants to overcome this challenge and feel happier, but there’s still a lot for him to process in his relationship with Kat.

Final Thoughts

In this season, Mike and Pearl take on new cases that are quite bizarre and even jarring sometimes. The body discovery in “To Those We Love” isn’t actually any bloodier than in the rest of the series, but it was enough to rattle Pearl. That episode also included some intense moments near the end when the killer’s identity is revealed.

The weirdest case for me was in “Night Terrors” because it presented itself in the vein of Rear Window. Mike is stuck at home with a broken leg. However, it very quickly shifted into something completely different and genuinely horrifying, even if you can nearly guess who the guilty party could be. Mike and Pearl’s banter also stands out in that episode, to counter the darker events at the neighbors’.

While the cases are interesting, the best part of Whitstable Pearl is the dynamic between Pearl and Mike as they solve the mysteries. Whitstable may look gorgeous as a seaside town, but investigating cases is still dangerous. And that continues to pop up as the source of tension and mutual respect between them.

Whitstable Pearl is available on Acorn TV.